Years ago, I worked for a boss who would have told you how much he admired, encouraged, and inspired discretionary effort. And he would have been wrong on all counts. However, he would have also told you that he went to great lengths to hire highly motivated people who would ensure his success as aRead more
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If you played sports in school, did the coach play everyone equally? Create an egalitarian form of governance in which each person had a say? Or, did the stars, the one who had the innate athletic ability and drive to put it into action receive a disproportionate amount of playing time and the coach’s attention?Read more
When exceptional people lack ethics, empathy, remorse, and loyalty, we start to think of them as tragic losses–virtuosos that have gone bad. Often these top performers snake their way into an organization, initially looking look like the fulfillment of the company’s wishes. Certainly, they can represent a dream come true–right up until they turn intoRead more
In a previous newsletter I advised “Beware snakes in suits.” I suggested you have two alternatives: get away from snakes or get bitten. I stand by that advice. However, as alert readers notified me, sometimes these options don’t exist. The snake happens to share DNA, family associations, or leadership positions. Sometimes you don’t want aRead more
How often have we heard, “Our people are our greatest asset”? The facts tell a different story. Only some people are true assets. These people will make the difference between surviving and thriving-between outrunning your competition and tripping at the finish line. Yet, most companies continue to struggle in their attempts to identify and developRead more
