performance

The Pen Is Mightier Than The Phone: A Case For Writing Things Out

Paper, with your handwriting on it, makes the best idea space, to-do list, and performance anxiety reliever. Here's why.READ»

Don’t Let Work Relationships Become Emotional Minefields

The extent to which someone perceives he or she has a supportive relationship with a manager is one of 12 factors that lead to intentions to perform at a higher level. If some of your reporting relationships aren’t what they should be, here's a roadmap to creating the type of working relationships that meet the needs of employees, leaders, and the organization as a whole.READ»

Above The Law: Do As I Say, Not As I Do

Like a cancer invading the human body, it appears that more and more people, especially those who occupy responsible positions in both government and major corporations, believe and act like they are above the law.READ»

Innovation That We Can Believe In

Let's make 2011 the year we actually make innovation happen--innovation that we can believe in!READ»

How to Spend $100 Million to Really Save Education

It's Not as Easy as Zuckerberg Thinks. (Tweet your ideas here!)READ»

• Forget $100 Million. Michelle Rhee Wants to Spend a Billion!

The Spirit of Authentic Dialogue

The word "dialogue" is often misunderstood, misused, and even abused. Indeed, the process of real dialogue is something that is much easier said than done. Here's why.READ»

The Magic of Intuition at Work

Most discussions about innovation and, by implication, creativity would be remiss if they did not in some way touch upon the topic of intuition.READ»

Four Reasons Why Power Enhances Your Performance

The people with power in any organization are usually its top performers. It's natural to assume that the reason they've ended up with so much power is precisely because they are top performers. But in many cases, it’s the other way around--power creates peak performance.READ»

The Meaning of Friendship in a Social Networked World

In an era of Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other social network platforms, what is the meaning of true friendship?READ»

Hypatia: An Inspiration for Leaders and Managers

Hypatia was one of the few notable Greek female scholars of Classical antiquity, and was brutally murdered because of her boundless curiosity, her unique perspective on the meaning of life and the workings of the cosmos, and her unbridled influence on those around her. Such attributes made her a clear and present danger to the existing power structures.READ»

What can Winnie the Pooh teach us about Leadership?

Conventional thinking teaches that to survive we must be knowledgeable (like Owl), cunning (like Rabbit), and fearless (like Tigger). But these approaches often fail or, at best, promote mediocre results.READ»

Valuable Soul Searching in Times of Economic Crisis

You don't have to be Sherlock Holmes to uncover clues that our country, as well as many other nations around the world, are going through difficult economic times.  The unfolding political dramas, both nationally and ...READ»

3 Words I Wish Washington Would Learn

Recent surveys have shown that trust and regard that Americans hold for their elected officials in Washington is at historic lows. And those government officials wonder why they are aren't on anyone's Most Popular list these days. Let me count the ways: bailouts, backroom deals, tax cuts for the wealthy, extreme partisanship, election-year politics, the list goes on and on. This behavior among those who purport to represent us is really just business as usual in the Beltway. But this wanton disregard feels like a real betrayal lately given that most ordinary Americans are having a hard enough time without being kicked while they're down by the very elected representatives who are supposed to be helping them up.READ»

Architecture Goes to the Opera

The Swiss architects bring their rough-edged, aggressive style to the Met as set designers for Attila.READ»

When Poor Performance Persists

Leaders have a responsibility for addressing poor performers and helping them overcome their challenges. However, many leaders need help understanding the nature of persistently poor performance and what to do about it.READ»

Searching for the Soul of Government

It sure looks like public trust and confidence in government in the United States are suffering.  Indeed, Americans in large numbers today seem not only to distrust but also resent their government.  And I'm not just ...READ»

Good-Bye 2009: Reflecting on Meaningful Values & Goals

As we approach the end of the year, it is a good time to reflect upon the meaning of our lives and work, as well as focus on the things that and people who really matter the most to us.  Of course, there are many folks ...READ»

Lessons From Adam Lambert

Gosh, I wish I'd seen Adam Lambert's performance at the American Music Awards. Instead, I woke up to an uproar -- faces in crotches, girls on leashes, big, fat, same-sex kisses! Oh my. As a former professional performer, I ...READ»

Economics: Economists are Irrational!

I would love to put these economists on the couch and explore what is going on in their heads that enables them to observe the objective reality of the recent economic devastation, yet still hold as sacred their most basic, yet obviously flawed, beliefs about a free-market-driven financial system.READ»

Psychology of Technology: Horse or Cart: Technology is Actually in Front

A fascinating new book, The Nature of Technology: What It Is and How It Evolves, by the economist W. Brian Arthur, was just published that challenges much of the conventional wisdom that we hold about the relationship between science and technology. Most notably, the notion that science is the horse to technology’s cart; in other words, scientific advancement results in technological innovation.READ»