Collaboration

Another look at brainstorming

April 11, 2019
Sure, you realize brainstorming can yield some results, if you can get your team—and for that matter, yourself—past that initial “groan” phase.

3 reasons to carry a business card

May 23, 2018
If you think you no longer need a business card in today’s high-tech, “there’s an app for that” world, think again. Here are three reasons you should always carry some.

Welcome dissent from everyone

August 25, 2017
The highlight of engineering firm Burns & McDonnell’s Principals Day is when the CEO presents a specific business problem to the 120-year-old company’s top employees and gives them one hour to come up with five potential solutions.

For the good of the group: Run meetings with social grace

June 30, 2017
The etiquette of a meeting counts. Think of it as a performance with no faux pas. Follow these rules when leading your next meeting.

Why can’t we be friends?

March 9, 2017
It’s counterintuitive, but CEOs who befriend their rivals may do better than those who don’t.

Make your voice heard

November 9, 2016
Using a practice called “shine theory,” a group of female leaders in the early Obama administration did just this.

Seeking counsel pays off for new CEO

May 30, 2016
When Roger Crandall became CEO of MassMutual in early 2010, he had spent 22 years at the life insurance company impressing his managers.

Execs and admins: Working in partnership

September 23, 2015
Office Dynamics founder and Presi­­­­­dent Joan Burge has been coaching administrative assistants for more than 25 years. Over time, she realized she was teaching the same things over and over, which gave her the idea to develop an operational guide to help executives and their assistants work together more effectively. This year, she partnered with career coach, writer and speaker Chrissy Scivicque to write Executives and Assistants, Working in Partnership: The Definitive Guide to Success.

Patagonia CEO: Agent for change

June 29, 2015

Corporate financier Rose Marcario worked in various shops, from private equity to tech. She was successful by any measure. But Marcario began to question the meaning of success, leading her to the outfitter Patagonia.

The reality of collaboration

February 16, 2015

Many leaders view “collaboration” as a way to get buy-in. That’s not collaboration. It’s about asking people their input up front, when what is done and how it’s done matter. It’s about using a team to distill the best ideas, not necessarily your ideas.