The Gardener’s Shadow – Thoughts on the Importance of “Being There”
There’s an old adage that says, “the best fertilizer is the gardener’s shadow.” It’s easy to understand how that would be true. The presence of the gardener’s shadow is a good indicator of the gardener’s interest, concern, and willingness to do the work it takes to develop a great garden. That presence would be a … Continue reading
CLO: Start Development Sooner
Originally posted on CLOmedia.com on Jan. 25, 2013 Earlier this month Jack Zenger, co-founder and CEO of Zenger Folkman, a strengths-based leadership development firm, and co-author of How to Be Exceptional: Drive Leadership Success by Magnifying Your Strengths, wrote an article for Forbes in which he lobbied for leaders to invest more heavily in Gen … Continue reading
HBR: Bad Leaders Can Change Their Spots
Originally posted on Harvard Business Review Jan. 24, 2013 We have many ways to describe the common belief that a person’s behavior is relatively fixed: “A leopard can’t change his spots.” “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” You could probably add a few more old saws yourself. This view, we’ve found, seems especially … Continue reading
Forbes: The 3 Forces That Drive Improved Productivity
Originally posted on Forbes.com on Jan. 17, 2013 A few months ago, I wrote The Productivity Improvement Steering Wheel. I addressed the fundamental issues with productivity improvement, and what leaders can do to make the biggest immediate difference. Now I’d like to delve into the “how.” Our research points to three contributing forces that lead … Continue reading
FORBES: Should Your Company Be Investing More Heavily In Its Gen Y Execs?
Originally posted on Forbes.com on Jan. 12,2013 I was talking recently with the executive responsible for leadership development in a prominent Silicon Valley software firm that has been a long-term client. This organization has done a remarkable job of identifying their top talent and providing ongoing development experiences to this high potential group in addition … Continue reading
The Power of Teams: A Lesson In Leadership From A Siberian Husky
Originally posted on Forbes.com Dec. 26, 2012 As we reflect on 2012 at Zenger Folkman, we think of the opportunities we’ve had to observe the way many organizations are able to operate as teams. Invariably, the companies that focus on teamwork and collaboration are the companies who maximize the strengths of individuals as well. Why? … Continue reading
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