Preston Leadership Blogtag:typepad.com,2003:weblog-17305022013-02-28T16:49:34-05:00Innovative and useful ideas and discussions on leading edge leadership.TypePadSo You Want to Start Your Own Business?tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e554e40f3d8833017ee8cfd140970d2013-02-28T16:49:34-05:002013-02-28T16:49:34-05:00People who know me know that I am generally an optimist. And I enjoy helping people get where they want to go in their careers and their lives. That's what coaches do. But when someone says, “I’m thinking about starting my own business”, my reaction is always the same: “Are you sure?” If you’ve read “The e-Myth Revisited”, you know...Preston Leadershiphttp://prestonleadership.typepad.com/leadingedge/2013/02/so-you-want-to-start-your-own-business.htmlThe Work in Studying a Situationtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e554e40f3d8833017ee8122b67970d2013-01-30T17:15:07-05:002013-01-30T17:15:07-05:00I find myself rushing to conclusions more often these days. Sometimes I worry that I’m missing important considerations, sometimes I don’t. Fortunately, like the vast majority of us, I’m right more often than I’m wrong. If humans were wrong more often than right, the universe would move at a snail’s pace. If we had to think about routine tasks every...Preston Leadershiphttp://prestonleadership.typepad.com/leadingedge/2013/01/the-work-in-studying-a-situation.htmlCommunicate Differently in 3 Ways in 2013tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e554e40f3d8833017d3f432889970c2012-12-28T10:42:07-05:002012-12-28T10:42:07-05:00Whether you’re hoping for significant advancement in your career or maybe in your personal relationships, time spent on three key communication skills will be time well spent. There have been 9 zillion books written on communication techniques, so you may decide to start with a good one. Or, if you don’t, you can start with these three essential ingredients. You’re...Preston Leadershiphttp://prestonleadership.typepad.com/leadingedge/2012/12/communicate-differently-in-3-ways-in-2013.htmlWow - a mistake!tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e554e40f3d8833017d3e4bfb88970c2012-11-29T20:37:49-05:002012-11-29T20:37:49-05:00One of my staff came to me this week and said, “Alan, I made a mistake.” I was thrilled. I said, “finally!” She was puzzled. You may know her; she’s one of those people who almost never makes mistakes. She’s petrified of making them. She works really hard, and puts a lot of pressure on herself. She worries constantly. Healthy?...Preston Leadershiphttp://prestonleadership.typepad.com/leadingedge/2012/11/wow-a-mistake.htmlA Reminder About the Solid Middletag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e554e40f3d8833017c32e82d87970b2012-10-29T10:42:57-04:002012-10-29T10:42:57-04:00We all have them. They’re not something we’d usually brag about. It would be rare to hear an executive sing their praises in public. No, I’m not talking about a spare tire or a muffin top. I’m talking about the armies, large and small, of people who form the very backbone of our organizations. Not flashy, these salt-of-the-earth types just...Preston Leadershiphttp://prestonleadership.typepad.com/leadingedge/2012/10/a-reminder-about-the-solid-middle.htmlGroupthink and the NFLtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e554e40f3d8833017d3c6cfdc4970c2012-09-30T20:57:22-04:002012-09-30T20:57:22-04:00Roger Goodell, the tough Commissioner of the NFL, is his own sub-brand. He has made his mark by being a proactive leader, but now he's exposed a weakness that may sully his legacy. The replacement Ref debacle was a terrible embarrassment for the NFL; and Goodell could have gotten a deal done in time for the season, but he didn’t....Preston Leadershiphttp://prestonleadership.typepad.com/leadingedge/2012/09/groupthink-and-the-nfl.htmlThe Power (or Not) of Talktag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e554e40f3d88330168e9651e25970c2012-03-29T13:11:37-04:002012-03-29T13:11:37-04:00I recently re-read Deborah Tannen’s groundbreaking article, “The Power of Talk: Who Gets Heard and Why”, which appeared in Harvard Business Review a while back (link below). Anyone who wants to improve their influence and effectiveness should read Tannen’s article and commit it to memory. The real meat of the article, for me at least, was the author’s description of...Preston Leadershiphttp://prestonleadership.typepad.com/leadingedge/2012/03/the-power-or-not-of-talk.htmlOpen Mouth, Insert Foottag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e554e40f3d883301630059a3dc970d2012-01-29T17:40:46-05:002012-01-29T17:41:55-05:00Who hasn't put his foot in his mouth? I know I have. This week a nice little reminder of the gravity of the situation at RIM came across my desk and I had to pass it along: RIM’s Heins Quickly Lodges Foot in Mouth New CEO drops a quote that will live in infamy Jan 23, 2012, 1:38 pm EST...Preston Leadershiphttp://prestonleadership.typepad.com/leadingedge/2012/01/open-mouth-insert-foot.htmlJust Say "No" to Loud Restaurants with Open Deskstag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e554e40f3d88330153935b929b970b2011-11-21T09:05:16-05:002011-11-21T09:05:16-05:00Last Tuesday I scheduled two appointments far apart and at either end of the day, meaning I would be wasting a lot of time driving back and forth. So, at 9pm the night before I searched for a Starbucks or Panera Bread where I could spend about 4 hours between meetings. Even if I could avoid the unnecessary driving, the...Preston Leadershiphttp://prestonleadership.typepad.com/leadingedge/2011/11/just-say-no-to-loud-restaurants-with-open-desks.htmlManage Up or Be Disappointedtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e554e40f3d88330154341e0338970c2011-07-30T11:36:39-04:002011-07-30T11:36:39-04:00The very idea of managing one’s boss (“managing up”) is quickly coming back into the mainstream. Subordinates the world over raise their eyebrows when we suggest that it’s not only OK to manage your boss, it’s something you really must do. The late Peter Drucker wrote about it in 1999, typically pushing the envelope in his time. Those who admire...Preston Leadershiphttp://prestonleadership.typepad.com/leadingedge/2011/07/manage-up-or-be-disappointed.html