Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

In my teaching, I emphasize the need to overcome the status quo.  That not only applies to your organization, but yourself, as I said in today’s Wall Street Journal:

Pay attention to metrics. Lackluster progress reports and not hearing feedback from a supervisor is a good way to tell if your work has become routine. Aneil [...]

Whom do You Ask for Advice?

In an article by Carol Hymowitz in today’s Wall Street Journal, several CEOs talk about how they rely on their spouses for advice on important issues. I think this is a great idea, even if the spouse isn’t a business professional. Getting input from as many intelligent people as possible before making strategic [...]

I Found My Mate as a Date in College

Although”officially” Karen and began dating the summer before I went off to college, we dated each other throughout college and she was my “steady” (a term probably unheard of on today’s college campuses. So once again, I felt like I was a Neanderthal when I read this in today’s Wall Street Journal:

College life has [...]

Coaches can hold us accountable

Another benefit of having a coach is having someone who will hold you accountable to work toward a goal at a specific time.
When you are working with a coach, weekly meetings help to clarify your challenges and set new goals. Then, along with your coach, you can set a timetable towards meeting those goals.
When [...]

Time for a Fresh Perspective? Talk to Your Coach

We all need help once in awhile to reach old goals or to set new ones. Sometimes it is useful to bounce ideas off of someone who is a bit disconnected from your immediate situation to give you a fresh perspective.
We have coached folks in a variety of situations, including those who are job [...]

Be Cautious and Wise in Giving Free Advice or Favors

As professors, colleagues, and consultants, we are often asked for for free advice, mentoring, and favors (e.g., recommendation letters). We believe we have been generous in granting these requests over the years, and we’ve certainly never charged for these. However, as we have matured in our experience in these roles, it has become [...]

Going backward to get ahead

A great article in the Wall Street Journal this weekend addresses what we have done many times in our life: take a step back to get ahead. It takes courage to leave the known for the unknown, but our parents have set the example in our lives, all going back to school at [...]

Review Your Performance Reviews

Today’s Wall Street Journal has an article by columnist Jared Sandberg in which he discusses the limitations of most employees’ performance reviews. I am proud that our Babcock alums Bill Savage (FT), and Ed Smiley (Charlotte Saturday, on leave) were quoted. (Yes I was quoted too, and am grateful to our Trust Network [...]

Selling vs. Managing

Sales people know the score–sell and make money. They are motivated by the money and work hard to close each deal.
Sales managers want their people to make as much money as possible, but some companies are conflicted about the way they compensate their managers. Some sales people decline a promotion to manager fearing [...]

Ted Teague Remembers Doug Marlette

Ted Teague, one of my former MBA students and a very good friend, remembered his friend Doug Marlette, the Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist who passed away last week in a motor vehicle accident. As he told The Herald-Sun newspaper:
At the time of his death, Mr. Marlette had traveled to Oxford, Miss., for a high school [...]