Leadership Mistakes

Measure twice, cut once

July 23, 2021
It can be difficult to convince staff that your product or process must undergo prolonged testing before it’s launched. You’ve got to overcome both burgeoning optimism and the sense that a project must get underway now. But heed the experience of the former president and COO of Ritz-Carlton Hotels, Horst Schulze.

The WeWork movie: What’s the real lesson?

June 9, 2021
“WeWork: or The Making and Breaking of a $47 Billion Unicorn” fits nicely alongside other recent management disaster documentaries like “The Inventor” and the two Fyre Festival exposés that were offered on streaming last year. What starts out one way—a bold mission led by a single visionary and hyperfocused charisma machine—ends up in a decidedly other way, with a cascade of fated events.

Don’t mistake kindness for leadership

May 12, 2021
Managers gain power and influence by treating their employees with kindness and respect. Some managers, though, can’t tell the difference between kindness and accountability. You can’t abdicate the needs of leadership, however, so stay clear of these traits that can steer you astray.

Small business? Dodge these pitfalls

February 10, 2021
In a large corporation, you may have an HR department and layers of management to help you deal with your workforce. But if you run a small business, you’re on your own, and a single misstep can paralyze you. A good employment law attorney will save you from some mistakes, but be careful to steer clear of these mishaps.

Is your workforce drenched in fear?

January 13, 2021
Strong leaders motivate employees by inspiring and empowering them. Weak ones rule by fear. Which are you? Be on the lookout for these signs that your workplace is overwhelmed by fear.

Avoid these errors, and gain respect

December 9, 2020
Leaders are human, and they make mistakes. Most aren’t catastrophic, but even small errors can grow to dangerous proportions if you don’t cut them off quickly. Pay attention to these common missteps before they trip you up.

The anatomy of a bad decision

August 24, 2020
I often say “You don’t know what you don’t know.” This may seem obvious, but multimillion-dollar organizations make decisions every day based solely on the information they’re looking at, discounting factors that may not be addressed by the research being conducted.

Hiring a manager? Avoid these 3 mistakes

August 13, 2020
Choosing a new manager for a team is a big responsibility. When considering candidates, whether they’re from your current workforce or outside, guard against these mistakes that can trip you (and your new manager) up.

Avoid these feedback gaffes

August 13, 2020
Feedback can be powerful, but it can backfire if you’re not careful. Don’t confuse it with these counterproductive forms of communication.

That’s no way to run the show

July 9, 2020
Even the best leaders make mistakes from time to time. What makes them stand apart is a willingness to face up to their flaws and correct them. Take a good look at your performance, and guard against these shortsighted errors.