Chuck, a maintenance guy, did some work for us the other day and we got talking about how he scheduled his job appointments. Since he was both friendly and skilled at his work, he had a few spare minutes to let me know the secrets of managing a contractor’s calendar. “It’s all about how I keep […]
Beth, the head of Human Resources in a law firm, was talking with me about the problem of management in an organization full of lawyers. She rolled her eyes, not wanting to criticize her attorney co-workers. “They know the law”, Beth said, “but do they know how to be a manager?” Good question. This is […]
Don’t just assume your Boss(es) want one kind of work from you. Three kinds of performance – Doing, Done, and Delivered – deserve to be clarified.
We agree to do things without making a good checklist of everything that is involved to satisfy the promise we made. The things on that checklist need to be scheduled too! Here’s how.
I got some feedback on where people “put their promises”. It is useful to see that we have many ways to manage our agreements, some smarter than others. But putting them on a schedule makes sure we have a time and place for them. If you have a better system, please let me know and I will publish it!
Where do you put the promises you make to other people? Do you simply hope you will remember them – or do you record them where they will remind you to honor them? Your reputation depends on your answers.
How to get what you want from others? Here’s how to make a more effective request. It takes a bit of practice, but you’ll see the benefits early and they will continue to increase.
Do what you say you’ll do. It’s worth your credibility and reputation – and that’s pretty much the foundation of all your relationships.
One manager in a recent MBA class was provoked by a discussion about the importance of using schedules, and offered her opinion on the difference between leaders and managers. “I want to be a leader,” she said, “not a manager. What does scheduling have to do with leadership?” Good question, actually. We were talking about […]
What happens when we ditch the negative or outdated parts of our lives? We make room for something new! Sometimes we know exactly what we want, and sometimes we just want to be lighter, more free and relaxed. Either way, something old may need to be given up to somebody else who will enjoy it.
Awarded "Best Management Book" by 800-CEO-READ.
Rated #5 "Best Business Book" by The Toronto Globe and Mail.