Lately I have taken to using the smiley face in my emails at work. Sparingly, of course. I’m not an idiot. It started a couple of months ago when sending an email to a colleague. I was in a bright and convivial frame of mind, so I finished off the last sentence with a smiley face. “John – I finally spoke to Kathleen about the fitchstrap initiative, and I agree that it would serve as a solid baseline for accountability. Aren’t you glad we... Read more
Charles Scharf, the former head of JP Morgan Chase’s largest division, recently left his post in a major management shake up within one of the financial industry’s most stable management teams. After two decades heading up the retail financial services, Mr. Scharf said the headaches of running the bank’s largest division was getting too much to bear. “You get to a point in life where you have to enjoy what you do when you come in every day,” he said... Read more
A few weeks ago a fellow executive and I were discussing a recently promoted manager’s leadership style. He described him like this: “It seems like Joe is more concerned with what others think about him leading the team, rather than leading the team.” This guy was not fooling anyone. He was tripping up all over himself trying too hard look good. As executives, we are constantly evaluating the talent of the up-and-coming leadership pool. Do they “get” our strategy? How do... Read more
I recently consulted with a colleague regarding the direction of a new business venture. My company had accumulated some cash, and I was hot for an acquisition. Or three. Kevin was good at this sort of thing. Kevin is a hearty and enthusiastic gentleman, with a lazy eye and a tendency towards colorful language. “Hey, Brad,” he’ll say, somehow managing to speak from only one side of his mouth, “Did you see the @!$*&# McKinney deal last week? Holy $#%#! Those #$$#*... Read more
I was doing an annual performance review last week with one of the managers, and, well… you know how these things go. We went over his objectives from last year, his areas for development, the priorities and accomplishments he is shooting for next year, blah blah blah. It was going stale, as these things sometimes do. So I threw in a zinger. “What is the biggest risk you took last year?” I asked. The droning stopped for a moment as he... Read more
Everyone knows I love a good matrix. As a former/recovering consultant, I am convinced that the secrets of the entire universe can be explained by a chart with four quadrants. No, but really. By and large, the matrix framework has proven to be a simple and elegant method to frame out a perspective of the world by getting to the essence of things. (Just ask Boston Consulting Group.) That being said, one of the foundational points of reference we used... Read more
Sometimes it seems like God is everywhere, except at work. We behold His glory in the sanctuary. We extol His handiwork in the landscapes, sky and sea. We consider His tender mercies in the warmth of loved ones. But now pan the camera over to the manufacturing plant floor, or to the rows of cubicles in the corporate office tower, and – Whoops! Where’d He go? Wasn’t that Him right there in the car with me when I drove... Read more
Last week, the New York Times magazine reported on a study by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life that looked at the links between economics and religious denominations. The results are in, and – surprise! – Reformed Judaism came out at the top of the heap, with over sixty-seven percent making more than $75,000 a year. And sorry, Pentecostals, but you were dancing around at the bottom of the financial-religious heap, right next to the JW’s and the Baptists.... Read more
When I was 29 years old I interviewed for a business development position as a step up from my current job. Although it offered more career opportunities, the title wasn’t any different: “Account Manager.” Before accepting the position, I decided to approach my new boss – a tidy and efficient woman with a cropped head of hair resembling burnt straw – with a bold question. Would she mind if I changed the job title to include the word, “Director?” That sounded so much... Read more
I always thought that posting about someone else’s blog post was lame and redundant, especially when all you are doing is repeating and summarizing the original blogger’s idea. Wouldn’t I rather be original and unique? Well. Yesterday that all changed after I read my friend Claire Burge’s post on her journey through career burnout, Three Things to Do When Your Career Hurts You. This is one of the best stories I have read recently on career. I can’t say what struck me most about this piece.... Read more
Shrinking the Camel
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