Executive Development & Coaching

That line (in fact, the only line in the entire 30 second spot) is taken from a public service announcement which ran on television some years ago. The spot featured a group of young men in a diner having a discussion and although there is no audible dialogue (only background music) the discussion/debate is quickly becoming heated and may even come to blows. Just then, another young man walks in, calmly joins the discussion and very quickly, all involved cool down and listen to what must be words of great wisdom. Frowns turn to smiles and nodding of heads, even handshakes. The camera pans in to reveal a paperback book in our hero’s back pocket, followed by the narrator’s voice intoning “know what you’re talking about: Read!”

I’ve often heard this question discussed and debated both in the classroom and in organizations. If senior leadership is an essential component of a winning culture, what role do managers and supervisors play?

I read a review of a newly released book titled “Q”: The Hidden Power of Questions.” The author, Lani Watson offers interesting insights, the application of which takes many forms.

At a recent Graphic Communications Leadership Institute (GCLI) Workshop (gcleadershipinstitute.com), the subject of individual assessments came up. While there are many to choose from, all agreed that these can be helpful and in ways beyond assisting in the hiring process.

“The toughest decisions in organizations are people decisions-hiring, firing, promotion, etc. These are the decisions that receive the least attention and are the hardest to un-make”, according to renowned management expert Peter Drucker.

I recently read with great interest a front-page article in The Wall Street Journal about credit card debt reaching an all-time high. Several factors have contributed to this trend, including challenging economic conditions. But there is more to the story.