“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”
I really enjoyed this conversation with Graham Salinger of Salinger Coaching Solutions. We discussed many topics including finding your passion, the lifelong journey of positive change, leadership impacts on employee workplace engagement, the importance of relationships, leadership during crises, creating positive work environments, authenticity and openness to feedback . . .
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Two of your best employees have always worked well together, but more recently their political differences have led to diminished cooperation — and it is affecting your business. You notice them having heated discussions about the upcoming election or, alternatively, avoiding each other altogether. What’s a business leader to do? Here are a few suggestions:
Read MoreWhile we all admire courage in theory, enthusiasm may diminish when we actually need to apply it at work. In his Harvard Business Review article “Cultivating Everyday Courage,” James Detert acknowledges that people who fight for workplace change may be ostracized or even lose their jobs. But when people manage the process well, they often see their work status and reputation rise. You can read the full column at https://www.nhbr.com/embracing-courage-in-the-workplace/
Read MoreThis workshop follows the June 30 session “Practical Steps to Up Your Leadership Game.” Are you spending the work day focused on your priorities or responding to other people’s needs? Do you wish you had more time to spend on planning, building positive relationships, and seeking new opportunities? This workshop will provide skills to help you better manage your limited, precious time. Admission is by donation. For more information or to register go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/118545740501/.
Read MoreIn my leadership workshops, I emphasize embracing personal change in order to grow. The recent death of George Floyd at the hands of law enforcement is a wake-up call that leaders need to look deeper within ourselves for unconscious bias. We need to get out of our comfort zones and courageously encourage meaningful conversations. You can read my full column at https://www.nhbr.com/how-we-can-lead-on-race/.
Read MoreWhen a crisis strikes, will you be ready? During the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, I learned some powerful lessons from US Ambassador Alex Laskaris. You can read the full column here: https://www.nhbr.com/leadership-during-a-pandemic/ .
Read MoreThis 1.5-hour workshop will explore methods to instill passion at work, promote a sense of belonging and connection, and optimize workplace relationships. Friday, May 22, 2020, 12 noon - 1:30 pm. Admission is by donation. For more information or to register go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/leadership-lunch-learn-thriving-creating-meaning-at-work-tickets-104062192820.
Read MoreTeamwork is critical to business and organizational success, yet often teams operate with suboptimal effectiveness and team members who are underutilized or even frustrated. This online workshop l will explore methods to create team cohesion and support a positive team work climate, including tips to both lead teams and ways to effectively contribute as a team member to enhance team effectiveness.
Read MorePeople problems and work conflicts are among the most challenging aspects of being a supervisor, but successfully managing these situations is an important aspect of leadership effectiveness. The power and beauty of the leadership role is turning these kinds of challenges into positive opportunities that develop human potential and increase business success. You can read Dr. Teschner’s full column here https://www.nhbr.com/developing-employee-potential/.
Read MoreLeadership is challenging enough in normal times, but requires additional skills and focus during periods of uncertainty (such as we are presently experiencing with the COVID-19 pandemic). The 1.5-hour session will provide practical tools to build trust and confidence to enhance motivation, collaboration, and productivity.
Read MoreIt is common business practice to move successful employees up into supervisor roles, but, far too often, this happens without the training and support to ensure that they will be successful. A better approach was taken by the small manufacturer in Vermont that engaged me to train and coach a 29-year employee promoted to supervisor.
Read MoreThe ability to create and sustain successful teams is a key leadership skill. “You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don’t play together, the club won’t be worth a dime," Babe Ruth once observed. Too often teams operate with suboptimal effectiveness with members who are underutilized or frustrated.
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"Building Effective Teams and Being an Effective Team Member" workshop Thurs. March 12, 2020, 5:30 – 7:00 pm at Space on Main, 174 Main St. Bradford, VT. Dr. Douglass Teschner will share methods to create team cohesion and support a positive team work climate. You can register here: https://www.facebook.com/events/457124048529264/
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Dr. Teschner’s latest column explores leadership lessons from two great football coaches: Bill Walsh of the San Francisco 49ers and Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots. Author Michael Lombardi postulates that the biggest reason for their successes is that both proactively focused on organizational culture and relentlessly drove that culture every day. You can read the full column here: https://www.nhbr.com/lessons-from-2-great-coaches/
Read MoreGrowing Leadership LLC was engaged to provide leadership training for the Customer Service Managers (CSMs) of the Department of State, Consular Affairs Passport Office. The initial day-long training was held in New Orleans on Dec. 3, 2018, and three follow-up webinars were conducted in 2019. Feedback included: ‘I found the workshop interesting and inspiring,’ and ‘The instructor was very prepared for all questions, keep the lectures interesting and engaging. Great presenter and speaker.’
Read MoreSince the workshop on “Everyday Actions that Build a Positive Work Climate,” one participant shared that he has been actively writing positive notes to staff and working on having a more positive impact at his educational workplace. Another wrote that she has new ideas to improve the work culture, and she requested follow-up coaching to help put her ideas into action.
Read MoreWhen things aren’t going well at work, it is easy to fall into a pattern of blaming others, gossiping or playing the victim, but, even when frustration is justified, these are self-defeating strategies. Things may not be perfect at work, but it is up to each of us to apply self-leadership skills to find solutions that work for ourselves (and hopefully for others as well).
Read MoreOn September 25, Dr. Teschner conducted a webinar for State Department Passport Customer Service Managers as a followup to the December 2018 leadership training in New Orleans and two prior webinars: “Using Influence to Create a Positive Work Climate” (on February 13, 2019) and “Effective Delegation (on May 22, 2019). Author Susan Fowler observes, “In a world crying out for effective leadership, you need to begin with the most obvious source. . . yourself.”
Read MoreA positive work climate with a sense of belonging enhances employee motivation, and an important component is a leader who helps people see meaning and purpose amid their daily work tasks. How many people do you know who go through the motions when it comes to work, doing the minimum required and keeping their heads down? They survive in the workplace, but don’t thrive and are not your high performers.
Read MoreA comprehensive evaluation documented 5 levels of training impact, including significant positive growth in Becket Family of Services leaders, their programs and staff with comments such as, ‘This training has had a huge impact on me and the way I approach work and life.’ The evaluation documented a return on training investment of $127,000 for 7 MA Adult programs, and a 44% drop in staff turnover in the NH Adult program.
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