In my mind, nothing opens up possibilities for personal and professional growth more than receiving honest observations from a colleague, friend, or family member. However, I realize this sentiment is not widely shared. Ken Blanchard likes to say “Feedback is the breakfast of champions.” But if this is true, why is this meal avoided by…
In this episode of the Blanchard LeaderChat podcast, Chad Gordon interviews Dr. Brené Brown, researcher and author of three #1 New York Times Bestsellers: The Gifts of Imperfection (2010), Daring Greatly (2012), and Rising Strong (2015). Brown and her work have been featured on PBS, NPR, CNN, and at TEDx Houston, where in 2010 she presented…
Frankenboss – noun; 1. A mean boss that terrorizes his or her employees; 2. A boss whose behavior closely resembles that of a half-brained monster; 3. A jerk. With Halloween just four days away, I told my wife that I wanted to write an article about the bad, clueless behaviors that make a leader a…
This guest post is by Michael Glazer. If only I had a dollar for every time I heard leaders say they want the people in their organizations to “tell me what I need to know, not what I want to hear.” Speaking truth to power is easier said than done, but people who can do…
Good leaders are constantly striving for excellence. They start with themselves, then raise the bar for their team. It’s a journey that requires a combination of self awareness and growth. I had a chance to experience both of these things when I recently accepted a new position with my company. Eight months ago, I stepped…
Interviewing for a job can be a stressful experience. The first impression you create in the interview can make or break your chances of landing the job, so it’s important to show up with your A-game. Most hiring managers are asking themselves this question during the interview process: Is this person qualified and can I trust him/her to…
Dear Madeleine, I am a director in a large retail organization. Recently everyone at my level received an online 360° feedback. My report shows that my whole team is very unhappy with my hands-on style. All 14 of my people—not just 1 or 2— see me as a micro-manager. In the open-ended comments were phrases…
Yesterday, I was re-watching the movie Star Trek Into Darkness, and I arrived at one section toward the end where the crew of a crippled USS Enterprise was facing imminent destruction. Despite all of Captain Kirk’s pleading, the enemy continued to charge up their weapons. Faced with defeat, Captain Kirk turned to his crew and…
Dear Madeleine, I am a fairly new manager in a great organization. I just love the people side of being a manager. My problem is that I don’t really understand the numbers part of the job. I really want to ask my boss to help me understand, but don’t want to reveal my ignorance. I…
Dear Madeleine, My boss never gives anyone else any credit. It’s driving us all crazy. We recently completed an almost impossible job for him with an absurd deadline and very little direction. He didn’t give us any feedback along the way until swooping in at the last minute with all kinds of changes. A couple…