Today’s post is a guest post from my colleague, Lisa Arie, founder of Vista Caballo, the innovation ranch located in Dove Creek, Colorado. You can learn more about Lisa and her equine team at www.vistacaballo.com. Take it away, Lisa.
No matter how hard I try I can’t fool my horse. Which can be simultaneously [...]
Horse Sense
Shortchanging Authority?
Ineffective delegation. Micromanaging. Poor accountability. Bulldozing. Performance shortfalls. Blaming and complaining.
It’s no secret that most Type A top guns are prone to causing collateral damage in their relentless pursuit of results.
But here’s something you may not know.
One of the most common mistakes Type A leaders make is shortchanging authority.
They define job responsibilities. They spell out [...]
Two Heads Are Not Better
“I can’t believe this. My direct reports scored me really high. My supervisors scored me low. This is confusing. I don’t understand.”
I run into various flavors of this two-headed Type A monster all the time when debriefing the results of the Tilt360 Leadership Predictor. Sometimes the direct reports score the [...]
Gagging Down Oreo Cookies
“I use the oreo cookie method.”
The manager’s confident words raked across my eardrums like fingernails across a blackboard.
Now I understood why his direct report didn’t trust him.
This HR holy grail is needlessly destroying millions of boss-employee relationships.
Are you using the oreo cookie method to deliver employee criticism? Take a look at these 3 [...]
What Most Type A Leaders Forget to Do
What are you forgetting to do in the hullabaloo of deadlines, distractions and demands that has the power to sink your ship?
You give direction.
You give feedback.
You ask for opinions.
You problem-solve.
You make big decisions.
You strategize.
What’s missing?
More than likely it’s asking for commitment.
Here’s the deal. Too often we skip right over that step and just assume [...]
Barking for Trouble
“I corrected the mistake for her and told her I expected it would not happen again.”
The triumphant Type A manager leaned back in her chair and licked her lips like a satisfied lioness savoring the fresh blood after the kill.
“Did you ask for the employee’s commitment that she would not make that mistake again?” [...]
Don’t Take the Bait
There it is. Dangling in front of your nose like a scrumptious morsel of self-indulgence. Taunting you with its seductive aroma.
Revenge.
Righteous indignation.
Blistering anger.
Backstabbing retaliation.
Intimidation.
Sarcasm.
Criticism.
Arrogance.
Cold indifference.
Passive aggressive sabotage.
What’s your poison of choice when someone pushes your hot buttons?
Make no mistake. Nothing makes a smart and talented Type A superstar look like a donkey’s backside [...]
Untangle the Triangle
Backstabbing. Blindsided. Back channeling.
What do all of these nasty situations have in common? Triangular communication.
Triangles create drama, destroy trust and sabotage relationships.
Let me prove it to you.
Your sixteen-year old asks you if she can spend Saturday with her friends. You tell her no and remind her [...]
“I Just Want To Do My Job.”
“I just want to do my job.”
Hang around with hard working, high achieving Type A’s long enough and you’re bound to hear that. Heck. You may even be the one saying it!
On the surface the sentence is deceptively benign and easy to ignore.
“Duh. Of course, you want to do your job.” [...]
Check the Label
Frustrated that a direct report is not performing up to par? Exhausted trying to get your message across? Wondering why in the Blue Sky Vodka she doesn’t get on board?
Before you blow a gasket and end up in a casket, do a quick label check.
What label are you wearing when you talk to [...]