2014

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The 9 Biggest Mistakes When Presenting to Executives

Let's Grow Leaders

'Executives are naturally a tough audience. They’ve got limited time, competing priorities, information overload, demanding bosses, and pressure to make great decisions quickly. Your job is to give them all the information they need in a way they can easily digest. Most of us have stories of times when the message we tried to send was not the message received, and the tidy PowerPoint presentation spiraled downward in a frenzied fiasco. 9 Mistakes To Avoid When Presenting to Executives. 1.

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10 Quotes from the big world of music – Music Thinking Quotes Vol. 1

Creative Companion

For quite some time I am collecting quotes that have a connection with what I call Music Thinking (more about Music Thinking click here).

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You have to fail to move forward

Penelope Trunk

'Kate and I are getting acclimated to each other. I am used to how when I was coaching Kate she thought everything I said was genius. But now that she lives with me she would like me to not be so bossy. Kate discovers that the best time to talk with me is late at night when the boys are asleep and I’m too tired to work—that’s when I’m the least stressed out.

Insurance 111
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A Better Way to Address Performance Issues

Let's Grow Leaders

'“Will or skill” is an insufficient question when addressing performance issues. This model works okay if it’s truly a “skill” issue because managers know what to do next. They train, coach, or assign a buddy. But the “will issue” answer often begins a slide down a slippery slope of assumptive questions: Why doesn’t she care?

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8 Pillars of Leadership Development

Great leadership development is the key to sustainable business growth. Are you ready to design an effective program? HR can use Paycor’s framework to: Set achievable goals. Align employee and company needs. Support different learning styles. Empower the next generation of leaders. Invest in your company’s future with a strong leadership development program.

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6 Simple Ways to Answer Tough Questions

Let's Grow Leaders

'Joe’s a bright guy and his idea was solid. His data seemed right intuitively, but we had a few questions. My peer started with a softball. Joe responded with a stutter, swing, and a miss. He made the cardinal sin of answering tough questions– he made stuff up. He wasn’t exactly sure of the answer, and he took a chance that we were dumber than he was on the topic.

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6 Reasons Your Team Yearns For Authenticity

Let's Grow Leaders

'If you bring all of who you are to the leadership table, some people will hate your style. In fact, it’s likely that a few “important” people will not “like” you. Authenticity is intimidating, and scares those with the most to hide. Far easier to lead like everyone else and be groomed to fit a mold. Similarly, letting people see who you are and hear what you really mean makes you vulnerable.

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The Biggest Mistakes Team Leaders Make

Let's Grow Leaders

'Go into almost any company and ask employees what annoys them most about the leaders in charge, and the list is unlikely to vary all that much. I love this Harvard Business Review video, The Biggest Mistake a Leader Can Make. Watch it, and I guarantee you’ll be singing along. . In fact, you may even think, See that! I’m a great leadership thinker too.

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9 Career Lessons I Wish I’d Learned Sooner

Let's Grow Leaders

'I’m sure many someones warned me and share their wisdom. But, sadly, most of my career lessons I learned the hard way. When you’re totally immersed it getting it done, it’s easy to lose perspective. Today I share my biggest career lessons- learned from years of angst and my fair share of stupidity. Looking forward to hearing your number 10s. 9 Career Lessons I Wish I’d Learned Sooner.

Career 504
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9 Ways to Be a Positive Force in a Negative Workplace

Let's Grow Leaders

'My German Father-in-law would call trying to fix this negative workplace, Furzen gegen den Donner, “farting against thunder.” I’ve got to admit, the description I got on the other end of the phone was pretty bad: little to no recognition, development, or teamwork…combined with long hours, limited resources, lots of finger-pointing, and the uncertainty of a new […].

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When Passive Aggressive Meets the Truth #meanit

Let's Grow Leaders

'He was the poster-child for passive aggressive (at least that’s my side of the story). In an effort to keep the peace, I’d tried to shake it off. I’d kept my mouth shut, and encouraged my team to take the “high road.” But the high road was getting bumpier with time. With all this #meanit […] The post When Passive Aggressive Meets the Truth #meanit appeared first on Let's Grow Leaders.

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The Hidden Skills That Separate Good Leaders from Great Ones

Speaker: Chandra McCormack, CPA, MBA, NACD.DC

Technical degrees might open doors—but it’s the soft skills that keep them open. In the face of disruption, evolving workplace dynamics, and rising expectations of leadership, soft skills like communication, emotional intelligence, and presence have become core business essentials—not nice-to-haves. Inspired by stories from her father coupled with her own career journey, seasoned executive Chandra McCormack breaks down how to lead with impact, connect with purpose, and cultivate a workplace cult

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How Not to Screw Up When You’ve Been Screwed Over

Let's Grow Leaders

'When I heard his story, I wanted to scream with him and for him. But screaming at water under the bridge just brings more rapids. I paused for what was an uncomfortably long time. Then, I whispered, “I know this hurts. But you have to stop. Kick and scream and get it all out, and then take a deep breath and take off on the high road.” It’s true that John didn’t deserve this.

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How to Succeed as Scope and Scale Increases

Let's Grow Leaders

'“Sam” was beaming with excitement as he told me about his promotion. He was in the throws of a transition from supervisor to manager, He’ll now lead leaders. ”…but it’s scary,” he added. “I know I have to handle this whole thing differently. I was very close to my team. We talked about everything […] The post How to Succeed as Scope and Scale Increases appeared first on Let's Grow Leaders.

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How to Recruit Leaders in Your Volunteer Organization

Let's Grow Leaders

'Shortly after joining a new church, the council president enthusiastically revealed that I was part of their “volunteer leadership succession plan.” I politely declined and spent the next month working to act less “leader-like” at church. Plus, I figured if I skipped coffee hour, I could dodge the recruiters. Busy people freak out when asked […] The post How to Recruit Leaders in Your Volunteer Organization appeared first on Let's Grow Leaders.

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Effective Networking: 6 Secrets Your Kids Know

Let's Grow Leaders

'We’d spent the last 5 days reconnecting as a family, completely dark from any semblance of social networking. Alright, I’ll be honest… all networking…each night my husband and I requested a table for 4 on this 5 night cruise to Mexico. It’s cool to meet other travelers… but not this time, we needed family and […] The post Effective Networking: 6 Secrets Your Kids Know appeared first on Let's Grow Leaders.

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Building Compliant Workplace Violence Prevention Across States: CA SB-553 | NY S. 8358B

Speaker: Speakers:

Workplace violence prevention laws are rapidly evolving, with California’s SB-553 and New York’s Retail Worker Safety Act (S-8358B) leading the way. Join WILL’s experts for a nationwide webinar covering compliance requirements, with a special focus on these key state mandates. We’ll guide you through developing and implementing effective prevention policies, building a compliant plan, and delivering the required annual interactive training.

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7 Ways to Deal with Employees Who Drive You Crazy

Let's Grow Leaders

'If you’re just tuning in, I’ve been teaching an MBA course on Managing Difficult Employees and gave these “students” (read that, really smart working millennials with big jobs in our nation’s capital) “homework” to developing an approach to manage their difficult employee and to journal about it. If you missed Monday’s post , best to start there.

Strategy 499
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8 Questions You Should Ask Your Boss

Let's Grow Leaders

'Every time “Elizabeth” asks her boss, “Carol” for feedback, Carol tells her she’s “doing great.” But this is Elizabeth’s 5th year in the same job and she’s starting to wonder. She’s watched peers who don’t seem any more qualified get promoted or selected for special assignments. Her performance reviews are always solid, but never outstanding. […] The post 8 Questions You Should Ask Your Boss appeared first on Let'

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5 Reasons Teams Lose Confidence

Let's Grow Leaders

'Great leaders help teams visualize a winning future. They arm their team with the courage and audacity to remove roadblocks and galvanize people toward “impossible” feats. Take John. John had been in tough situations before, but this time the cocktail of challenges was just too much. He needed more time, more resources, better systems, and the uncertainty of the restructure was distracting to everyone, including him.

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When Running Away is Running Toward

Let's Grow Leaders

'“Hello, How are Y…?” “Carl” interrupted my greeting before I could finish. “Karin, I have to leave my company.” Not your typical Saturday morning phone call. He was fired up. He’s an old friend, and he’d been with his company for nearly two decades. I figured he was calling to have me […] The post When Running Away is Running Toward appeared first on Let's Grow Leaders.

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Automation, Evolved: Your New Playbook for Smarter Knowledge Work

Speaker: Frank Taliano

Documents are the backbone of enterprise operations, but they are also a common source of inefficiency. From buried insights to manual handoffs, document-based workflows can quietly stall decision-making and drain resources. For large, complex organizations, legacy systems and siloed processes create friction that AI is uniquely positioned to resolve.

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14 Leadership Experts Reflect on Humor and Fun: A Frontline Festival

Let's Grow Leaders

'Welcome back to the Let’s Grow Leaders Frontline Festival. Our August Festival is all about Humor in the Workplace. Thanks to Joy and Tom Guthrie of Vixwerx for the great pic. “Everything is funny, as long as it’s happening to somebody else.” - Will Rogers. Humor and Leadership. “A sense of humor is part of the art of leadership, of getting along with people, of getting things done.” – Dwight D.

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How to Have a Difficult Conversation

Let's Grow Leaders

'When I ask leaders why they’re not telling people what they need to know, the most consistent response I get is “ Sh e or he didn’t ask.” Quite frankly that’s a cop-out. Yeah sure–ideally everyone would be ASKING for feedback. If you’re not asking, start asking now. It may be the only thing standing between you and the truth.

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Important Ideas on Change and Transitions: A Frontline Festival

Let's Grow Leaders

'Welcome back to the Let’s Grow Leaders Frontline Festival. June’s Festival is all about change and transitions. We have a record line-up of impressive thought leaders. Thanks to Joy and Tom Guthrie of Vizwerx for their awesome pic (see right). Follow @joy_guthrie. A special thanks also goes to LGL intern Ben Evans. Leading Change. “Change is the law of life.

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The Most Frustrating Mistake Managers Make

Let's Grow Leaders

'When managers see their role as a small cog in a bigger system they do whatever they can to fit in. They trade power for conformity. Their team yearns for bold vision, challenging questions, and scaffolding support. But they look up and see weakness, which makes them feel weaker and diminishes results. Nothing saddens me more than potential leaders who give away their power.

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The Everyday Donor: Unlocking Prospecting Segments Through Behavior Analysis

Speaker: Tim Sarrantonio, Director of Corporate Brand

Do you really know your donors? Not just what they give, but who they are? 👥 In this interactive session, we’ll break down how nonprofits can use behavioral indicators (affinity, recency, frequency, and monetary value) to build prospecting segments that go beyond wealth screening and actually align with donor identity. You’ll walk away with practical strategies to move beyond basic demographics and cultivate supporters based on how they already engage with you!

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Parents as Leadership Coaches

Let's Grow Leaders

'It’s interesting to see leaders who take their servant leadership philosophy seriously at work, but have a more hovering approach when it comes to their children. In an effort to protect and scaffold, they actually overlook natural opportunities for their children to emerge as leaders. The best way to learn the piano is to practice. The best way to learn to do a flip-turn is to get in the pool and get some water up your nose.

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Hillary Clinton and I Share This Concern

Let's Grow Leaders

'“Too many women in too many countries speak the same language — of silence.” Hillary Clinton Hillary Clinton’s noticed a pattern in her decades of work developing men and women staffers. As she shared it from the stage at the conference I attended last week, I felt […]. The post Hillary Clinton and I Share This Concern appeared first on Let's Grow Leaders.

Career 496
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Managing the Strong, Arrogant, Obnoxious Type

Let's Grow Leaders

'They come in all shapes and forms. Sometimes it’s talk dark and handsome, with an extra dose of charisma, and two expresso shots of attitude. Or blonde, with a great purse, an MBA from a top 25, and a sarcastic streak that makes everyone in her wake feel like crap. Or the balding dude from finance who can out-gun anyone with a spreadsheet at twenty paces, who won’t even hear your argument for more funding unless you can outwit his wittiness.

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Trickle Down Intimidation

Let's Grow Leaders

'Mark shuts the door and begins the emergency meeting. What he’s got to say isn’t easy, but these guys can handle it. That’s why they “get paid the big bucks.” He minces no words. Stock prices, competitive pressures… time to get it together. NOW. The intimidation factor is high. Fix it fast… or […] The post Trickle Down Intimidation appeared first on Let's Grow Leaders.

Shadowing 496
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The Ultimate Guide to Marketing Your Training Program

Learning how to promote your training courses online is key to growing your training business. In this Ultimate Guide to Marketing we cover effective and modern marketing strategies that will help you market your training program, and sell more courses. You’ll learn how to: Harness the power of SEO to drive website traffic Convert more website visitors to sales Create smart email marketing campaigns Get the most out of course marketplaces Establish a referral program And more… Get ready to see y

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13 Stupid Sentences That Will Derail Your Career

Let's Grow Leaders

'I wish HR would teach a course on the really stupid sentences people say at work. Oh, I’m not talking about he obvious stupidity: ”you look hot in that dress” or “hey baby…” there’s training and rules for that. But there’s no code of conduct to protect against the stupid, disempowering words I often hear […].

Career 495
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The Importance of Applauding Yourself

Let's Grow Leaders

'Confident, humble leaders take a moment to privately “applaud themselves.” There’s absolutely nothing wrong with a mini-time out to tell yourself “Wow! Great job.” Particularly for the incremental baby steps that change the game. Privately applauding yourself is vital if others aren’t looking or caring about your greater mission.

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Mean It Madness Month on LGL #meanit

Let's Grow Leaders

'Welcome to Mean It Madness Month on Let’s Grow Leaders. My sister, Jill Herr, works is a healthcare executive and speech pathologist, my nephew, Jared Herr (middle school) and son, Ben Evans (college), are active student leaders. We’re all disturbed by a pattern we see across many contexts. The severe consequences of people not saying […] The post Mean It Madness Month on LGL #meanit appeared first on Let's Grow Leaders.

IT 495
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The Biggest Reason Teams Get Stuck

Let's Grow Leaders

'Unsticking your team is one of the biggest challenges of a leader. When inertia sets in, there’s almost always a breakdown in belief at some level. When teams stop believing they stop doing. If your team has lost that magic feeling, look for signs of lostbelieving. 6 Reasons TeamsStop Believing. 1. They Stop Believing in You. This can take a variety of forms, but it almost always comes down to a matter of trust.

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Shaping a Better Future by Uniting Corporate and Higher Education Content

With the increased interest in reskilling and upskilling existing workforces, companies are looking for more training and development content and realizing that higher education has a lot to offer. Similarly, companies are finding value in providing training to students and preskilling their future workforce. The challenge is that the technology and platforms used to serve these two audiences have never had to work well together—until now.