Need Your Team to Be More Innovative? Ask Madeleine

Dear Madeleine I am fairly new director in a large global organisation. We are a liaison team designed to work in tandem with product development and marketing. I have a great team—all inherited and all very skilled and experienced. Their former boss (who was let go) was very rigid and very focused on process and…

8 Keys to Re-engaging a Fatigued Workforce

Reading about how tired we are is fatiguing. So let’s try something different. We’re built to want to be part of something that’s meaningful. We’re eager to learn. We love wrestling with a challenge. It’s in our nature and we can’t help it. So instead of focusing on how everyone is depleted, why not appeal…

New Leader Burning You Out? Ask Madeleine

Dear Madeleine, I work as a senior manager reporting to a new EVP who was brought in from outside the company. She has a lot less experience than I do. She constantly talks about how strategic she is, but all I see is a lack of discipline around execution—and she seems to have no memory. …

Lost Your Motivation? Ask Madeleine

Dear Madeleine, I am a director in a global manufacturing company. I manage managers and I am responsible for about 300 people around the globe. I was trained as an engineer and I really loved my job— until recently. I am not sure what happened, but about a year ago—long before the COVID crisis—I noticed…

Nine Lies About Work with Marcus Buckingham

Marcus Buckingham believes some basic assumptions about work are simply no longer true in today’s business environment. He shares his insights in his latest book, Nine Lies About Work: A Freethinking Leader’s Guide to the Real World, coauthored with Ashley Goodall. Lie #1: People care which company they work for. Many companies use their corporate…

Learn How to Master Your Motivation with Susan Fowler

Do you ever wonder why you reach some goals easily and struggle with others? In her latest book, Master Your Motivation, Susan Fowler explains the three scientific truths behind motivation that will help you achieve your goals. Distilling many years of research, Fowler fashioned a condensed description of three basic needs we must create in…

Trying to Avoid a Bad Hire? Ask Madeleine

Dear Madeleine, I have an amazing team except for one person. I’ve provided ample opportunities for this person to step up and she just isn’t picking up on them. I can’t tell what is going on. She seems bright enough. She can work hard—I’ve seen it—so I don’t think it is laziness. Also, I’m about…

Frustrated with Poor Management? Ask Madeleine

Hi Madeleine, I work in a membership organization with a very old-fashioned outlook and a hierarchical structure. I am not a manager, but I did have one direct report at a previous employer. I am very interested in management and leadership and intend to have other management roles in the future. Management practices here, although…