On Leadership, Laughs, and Lunch

Posted on November 13, 2011 by Greg Githens

The young project manager was feeling overwhelmed by the enormity of his assignment. He was struggling. So, I asked him… “Where do we find some small wins?” Small wins help to create an environment where the big goals become manageable tasks. In his 1984 article, Small Wins: Redefining the Scale of Social Problems, Karl Weick defines small wins [...]

Filed under: Coaching Corner, Leading & Developing Other Leaders | 1 Comment »

What Leaders Can Learn from Lt. Columbo

Posted on July 7, 2011 by Greg Githens

The recent passing of the actor Peter Falk (age 83) reminded me of a useful technique for leadership effectiveness, which I call “The Columbo Question.” The question is best used in a situation involving interviews with other people, so bear with me as I establish the analogy. Lt. Columbo Falk’s Lt. Columbo is a Los Angeles [...]

Filed under: Coaching Corner, Practical Steps to Influence | Tagged: , | 4 Comments »

Five Things Leaders Need to Know about Innovation

Posted on May 4, 2011 by Greg Githens

Leaders commonly speak the word innovation. It conveys a sense of excitement and newness that motivates people. But let’s be honest… Many times leaders use the word as filler in a speech or press release: a buzzword that occasionally engenders cynicism. The 5ive Things Innovation is important, and it deserves a spot in the leader’s toolbox.  [...]

Filed under: Coaching Corner, Leading Change, Practical Steps to Influence | Tagged: , , , , | 1 Comment »

Clearing The Leader Fog: Fighting Ambiguity!

Posted on February 21, 2011 by Greg Githens

When a person “fights with” ambiguity, does that means that they are on the same side, the opposing side, or that ambiguity is a tool for fighting? But of course… all of these meanings are possible… Both or Neither am·bi·gu·i·ty noun \ˌam-bə-ˈgyü-ə-tē\ A simple definition of ambiguity is that it signifies words, concepts, and situations that [...]

Filed under: Conflict Management, Leading Change, Professional Development, Team Building Leadership | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Action Items to Make You Sleep Better

Posted on December 27, 2010 by Greg Githens

Newsweek magazine called the opening guitar riff to the Rolling Stones’ (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction, the “five notes that took the world.” It has been widely reported that Keith Richards woke up in the middle of the night, recorded the riff and chorus on a portable tape recorder, and fell back asleep (he later described [...]

Filed under: Coaching Corner, Leading & Developing Other Leaders, Practical Steps to Influence, Team Building Leadership | Tagged: , , , , | 1 Comment »

Why Leadership Is A Tool

Posted on November 9, 2010 by Greg Githens

Getting stuff done within an organization requires resources, people, and planning. Sometimes it is easy, and sometimes… not so much. In any case, it always requires leadership. Something Easy Simple projects like finding out what office supplies need ordering and getting them into the stock room on the right shelf at the right time (and at [...]

Filed under: Leadership vs. Management, Leading Change, Practical Steps to Influence | Tagged: , , , , | 1 Comment »

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 10,411 other followers