The Sharpening Stone – Would You Want You for a Boss?

Have you ever seriously pondered what it is like serving under your leadership in the workplace?  Would you want youfor a boss? I spend most of my days providing executive coaching for leaders of businesses and other organizations, and as I get to know these individuals, I can’t help but ask myself, [...]

The Sharpening Stone – Would You Want You for a Boss?2023-04-12T16:16:57+00:00

The Sharpening Stone – Friction to Fire

Conflict avoidance and conflict management are frequent topics in executive coaching. People most often avoid conflict because they are trying to circumvent undesirable reactions or ongoing relationship contention that can result from confrontation or challenge. Unfortunately, when we avoid dealing with things that are aversive to us in some way, it tends to [...]

The Sharpening Stone – Friction to Fire2023-03-07T01:56:02+00:00

The Sharpening Stone – The Right Stuff: Elements of a Well-Designed Incentive Plan

When I was a boy, my dream was to be a pilot, and I was enamored with flying and outer space.  In fact, one of my favorite movies growing up was, “The Right Stuff”, which chronicled the stories of American test pilots like Chuck Yeager and astronauts like Alan Shepherd who put [...]

The Sharpening Stone – The Right Stuff: Elements of a Well-Designed Incentive Plan2023-01-10T01:44:48+00:00

The Sharpening Stone – Minding Your Family Business

If your family is in business together, you already know some of the special joys -- and challenges – of working with relatives.  A family-owned business can be a great vehicle for generating family wealth, for providing jobs for family members and the opportunity to work together. While the rewards can be [...]

The Sharpening Stone – Minding Your Family Business2022-10-11T00:22:53+00:00

The Sharpening Stone – Who Leads When You Leave?

Maybe you’re thinking of selling your business.  Now, or maybe ten years from now.  Here are some considerations that have probably crossed your mind already: What is my business worth? Who could I sell it to? How can I be sure I’ll get paid, especially if the next owner is not successful [...]

The Sharpening Stone – Who Leads When You Leave?2022-03-11T19:15:21+00:00

The Sharpening Stone – Know an Abrasive Leader?

Many of us have had the distinct displeasure of working with, or for, an abrasive leader.  You know the type --  prone to emotional outbursts, overcontrol, threats, public humiliation and condescension, and general misuse of their power and authority.  They have a reputation for getting the job done and may therefore be [...]

The Sharpening Stone – Know an Abrasive Leader?2022-01-18T22:13:06+00:00

The Sharpening Stone – Accountability AND Compassion

Why do so many of us, leaders included, find it difficult to hold people accountable or address issues firmly and directly? I am convinced it’s because we see confrontation as some variation on harsh, intolerant, unkind, aggressive, or uncompassionate, and that we fear creating hard feelings. We feel we have to choose [...]

The Sharpening Stone – Accountability AND Compassion2021-11-15T03:09:24+00:00

The Sharpening Stone – Pay Attention to Retention

When business leaders were surveyed about the top threat to their business for the rest of 2021, it wasn’t inflation or supply chain disruptions to production that came out on top.  The majority of respondents said “Hiring and Retention”. In fact, 77% of companies expect to encounter a talent shortage; and according [...]

The Sharpening Stone – Pay Attention to Retention2021-10-05T12:00:23+00:00
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