Culture

Start With Your Conclusions

When you’re trying to communicate something important to a group, begin at the end, by stating your conclusions and recommendations. Then get into the whys and the supporting data. People will focus b

Make Decisions at Meetings

Make sure no one leaves a meeting without making decisions on every recommendation. If there’s still concern or confusion, schedule a second meeting as soon as possible and hash over the remaining pro

Work For the Best Managers You Can

Throughout my career I was fortunate to be tutored by strong leaders and managers, when I worked on the family farm and in the cannery, in the army, and throughout my business career. Nothing beats wo

Excellent Managers are not Born

Some people think that leaders are anomalies, special people born with the skills and talents that evade the grasp of the rest of us. But excellent managers are not born. They develop by learning: lea

All Worthwhile Enterprises are Human Systems

Merging the management of human systems with a complex world is crucial. The details change, the motivating forces may cycle, and the tools that we give to our employees may get dramatic upgrades. But

Develop Your Own Management Toolkit

I have always encouraged people to develop their own management toolkit or set of guiding principles. For many years I collected articles, lists, notes, and ideas I picked up reading, listening to spe