HUMANERGY'S LEADERSHIP BLOG
LEADERSHIP INSIGHTS THAT WORK IN THE REAL WORLD
Explore our library of practical tools, tips, and stories. Drawn from decades of coaching leaders and teams.
Explore Humanergy’s leadership blog for proven tools, strategies, and insights to help leaders and teams thrive.
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Questions to activate growth
Humanergy spends a lot of time helping people ask powerful questions. We know that, in contrast with telling people what to do, questions can help people learn and grow. It's not just asking more...
Infotainment as best practice?
Stan returned from a training, saying, "Wow, that trainer rocked. He told the best jokes!" Stan's co-worker Jackie asked, "Did you learn a lot?" "Sure!" Stan replied. Two weeks later, the training...
3 tips to solidify learning
You're learning all the time, and if you're like most of us, you're teaching as well. From training an employee on a new procedure to mentoring a rising leader, your objective is to equip others to...
Why wellness matters
Feeling overwhelmed, exhausted and near the end of your rope? You're not alone. A 2006 study conducted by the Center for Creative Leadership found that "88% of leaders report that work is a primary...
The wisdom of sleeping on a decision
Being decisive is an important leadership skill. It's also good leadership to make that big decision tomorrow, rather than right now. Not only will you avoid impulsive decisions, you'll also get...
Performance or contribution?
Do you refer to your own or others' performance on the job? I read a comment posted by a member of the Organizational Development group on LinkedIn recently. It that said we should be using the term...
Facing an ethical dilemma?
Leaders are often faced with tough decisions and must resolve ethical dilemmas. They think about the ends - what will be the possible result of each alternative? Hopefully, leaders also examine the...
A free book…and a cup of tea!
Leadership is primarily learned by experience. It's also true that a good book can give you an emotional boost or an idea that you wouldn't stumble upon in daily life. To start off 2014 with a...
Make space
How many times have you asked a question - hoping to engage others - and the only response is silence? That can be pretty unnerving, and if you're like me, your first impulse is to keep talking, to...
Simple steps to build focus
Daniel Goleman has a new book titled Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellence. Goleman defines distraction as one of the most insidious barriers to performance and provides insight into how to...
What would the “best you” do?
I've been trying to decide how to mark the end of this year's blogs. Rather than reviewing the "best of 2013," I decided to share a post that I stumbled upon and loved. In essence, the minimalists...
Holiday thanks
The best gift for your people
It's not a plant, gift basket or commemorative plaque. The best gift you can give your employees this year is to help them make progress in their work. You might have thought that the key to...
Help others work through conflict
They're at it again. Bob and Stefan are arguing over a budget allocation. Last time it was the details of the team retreat. Janel, their boss, has tried telling them to work out their differences....
WAIT
I'm reading The Power of Questions by Scott Richards. One question I try to ask myself regularly is, "Why Am I Talking?" Easily remembered as WAIT, this could be a helpful mantra for many people....
Check your attitude
Karen, Humanergy's business manager was quoted recently, saying "I am so happy that I get to go to work." Not "HAVE to go to work," but "GET to!" That warms our hearts - and it is an attitude you...
Are you a snoopervisor?
I stumbled across this term and thought it probably summed me up pretty well early in my career. Yea, I was all about delegating to others, and then I found ways to check up on them. I would add...
Listen more, talk less
"The more you practice listening and simply saying less, the more you will learn." Those braniacs at Brains on Fire are at it again. Their blog is full of simple wisdom, including this post called...
Can you develop natural abilities?
Javier has been approached many times by his boss to consider applying for a supervisor job. "I'm not the type who can teach others," he routinely said. That might be true, or Javier could be...
Be awake
I thought I was awake. I was out of bed, dressed and attending an important meeting. Yet I was functionally asleep. My mind was wandering from the current discussion to things that happened in the...
Are you passionately stuck?
Tendonitis in my knee has resulted in a fairly long stint in physical therapy. During the course of treatment, my regular therapist took a vacation, so received treatment from a different therapist....