It Could be As Simple As This

by | Apr 17, 2014 | Blog, Uncategorized

Creating culture and developing talent can be tricky. But, tricky doesn’t mean necessarily complicated. The best companies have very simple policies. For instance Netflix’s Five Talent Tenets: 1. Hire, reward, and tolerate only fully formed adults. 2. Tell the truth about performance. 3. Managers own the jobs of creating great teams. 4. Leaders own the job of creating the company culture. 5. Good talent mangers think like business people and innovators first, and like HR people last. Only one one more I would add – from Four Seasons core principles: The Golden Rule : Treat others as you want to be treated. There, you have it!  Do you think it is as simple as...

5 Green Lights for Leaders

by | Apr 11, 2014 | Blog, Uncategorized

If you are a leader, here are 5 things you should be acting on every day! 1. Thank 5 people every day for something they are doing: great attitude, following through, solving a problem, helping someone else. 2. Change before you have to
.  Have enough self-awareness and situational awareness to know when you re causing problems instead of solving them. The willingness to change is one your most effective tools. 3. Fight bureaucracy of all kinds
.  Clear the way for others, then you get out of their way. 4. Forgive:  that means let it go! 
How many times have you seen immature  behavior in the workplace because someone just won’t let something go?  Forgiveness doesn’t mean you ignore the issue.  Be the adult in the room and talk about how to come to an understanding and then don’t pick it up again. 5. Extend trust first
: People make mistakes and  will disappoint you. Get over it – everybody has been burned and everyone has burned someone else. Get beyond your own discomfort and show people you actually care and have enough grace to let them screw up.   What do you wish your leader would get a move...

A Point in History Where Culture and Techonology Collide

by | Feb 12, 2014 | Blog, Uncategorized

In his new book, Fifth Age of Work , author and management consultant, Andrew Jones, writes about trends in how work will be performed and what the new workplace will look like in the 21st century. He predicts that by 2020 40% of the workforce will be independent contractors and freelancers. Traditional institutions face a dilemma of attracting and leveraging top talent in the growing environment of the ‘human cloud’. The best and the brightest have many options that will provide flexibility and the option of  being involved in work that is meaningful.  How will this gap be bridged? On February 18, Entera Partners, will host an Exectuve Breakfast addressing these very real issues.  Andrew Jones, consultant with Entera+Partners, Tony Budet, CEO of University Federal Credit Union and Aaron Bramwell, Founder and CEO of Monkee-Boy Web Design will discuss in a roundtable session these very issues. If you are being afffected by changes in the workplace, or you own a business and are facing these issues, you will want to be part of this conversation:   click here to sign...

Leaders: If You Don't, Who Will?

by | Jan 3, 2014 | Blog, Uncategorized

When managers complain of shifting priorities handed down from leadership, the culprit behind the confusion is more often than not a lack of clarity on the part of leadership about the organization’s vision.  The one common behavior I find most often  is that  leaders crowd their calendars, their desks, their minds with an overflow of activity (have you counted how many meetings you attend, lately?)  “Busy leaders are a dime a dozen, but highly productive leaders are not so common” says Mike Myatt in his newest book, Hacking Leadership. My question to the leader is always: “If you, the leader, are not doing the thinking, the visioning, the planning; then who do you think is?” Therefore, my ONE resolution for a leader in 2014  is to dedicate regular time to Reflect, Assess and Prioritize.   Your job is to lead others. You must take time to reflect on what went well and what needs more (yours or someone else’s) attention. This is your thinking time. Time to imagine how the company’s vision will look. I’ve known leaders who do this daily, weekly, or even monthly. The best of the best will take time at the end of each quarter as well as at the end of the year. Tools to have handy:  the strategic plan, your monthly goals, list of most persistent problems, or an inspirational book you are reading. If you can do this  in an environment that fosters imagination and innovation, you will definitely gain some momentum.  And, if none of these do it for you, grab a blank notebook and a pen. Go to your calendar right...