The Signal Leaders Send

The Signal Leaders Send

The last two weeks, we examined how a comment, nervous laughter, and the phrase “that’s just the way he is” created a culture that valued harmony over honesty. I was reminded of this situation recently, when after the winter Olympics I watched a public leadership...
“That’s Just the Way He Is”

“That’s Just the Way He Is”

Last week, I wrote about a lunch moment that produced nervous laughter. When I later apologized to my sponsor for not being more assertive and questioning in the moment, he shrugged. “That’s just the way he is,” he assured me. According to Edgar Schein, the most...
Does Your Teammate Talk Too Much?

Does Your Teammate Talk Too Much?

I was on a coaching call recently, and my client was agitated about her colleague. “Every time any topic comes up,” she said, “Pauline jumps in.” Pauline (name changed, of course) always contributes to everything. She shares her opinion in every discussion, even when...