Top Transformational Leadership Posts of 2014
Looking back on 2014, it’s clear that the US workforce is drastically changing. The freelance workforce is at 53 million strong and rising, women are increasingly leaving the corporate world to start their own businesses (which are growing 50% faster than new business growth overall), a new majority is in the mix (formerly known as the minority), and the clock ticks for Baby Boomer retirement (which just happens to make up 40% of the U.S. workforce). As I watch these four major workforce trends unfold, my question is always the same: Leaders, are you ready for the future of work?
This rapidly changing workforce gave me ample opportunity and inspiration to discuss how leaders and managers can help their organizations and teams thrive. Here’s a snapshot of what I’ve covered this year – my five most popular blog posts of 2014.
Top 5 Most Popular Blog Posts of 2014
5. Leadership Guide for Managing Conflict
Conflict happens, whether we want it to or not. Most of us have a strong, visceral reaction to conflict, including (but not limited to) fear, avoidance, excitement and/or dread. However, when you boil it down, conflict is just when one person’s wishes and desires are different from another person’s. It’s the emotions that conflict evokes that can make situations seem explosive.
Leaders need to manage conflict when it arises. In this series of blogs, I explore the five conflict managing styles and what conflict handling styles to use and when. Then, I created a quiz to practice conflict management skills.
Start from the beginning of my series on managing conflict here.
4. How Values and Purpose Create Better Leaders
Values are like a compass that points us to our “true north.” Understanding our personal values helps us navigate decisions, make more fulfilling choices, and live in a way that is satisfying and meaningful. It is the road to finding our purpose. As a leader, personal values pass down to all levels of the organization, creating a cohesive mission and team, and informing the direction, decisions and culture of the company.
Start here to read more about what values are, how to identify your own values, and how to put those values into action.
3. MBTI as a Management Tool: Form More Productive Teams and Increase EQ
Need a powerful management tool to help you build high-performing teams? Try the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Leaders and managers can use MBTI to understand the behavior of their team members and leverage the varying personality types to everyone’s advantage.
Read here to learn about what MBTI is, and how MBTI can help you build more productive teams and increase emotional intelligence (EQ). You’ll also find practical tips for using MBTI, and great ways to deal with resistance you might face when implementing the MBTI assessment.
2. Four Leadership Lessons from the Kitchen
I dropped out of the Ivy League to go to culinary school.
This might not be so bad, except for the fact that my family is steeped in academia, with various relatives teaching at both Cornell University and Georgetown University. So you can imagine my parents’ reaction when I said I wanted to drop out of Cornell in the middle of my third liberal arts semester…to become a chef.
While the lessons I learned from both schools were invaluable, it was the kitchen that taught me my early leadership and management lessons. Read here to learn four of my favorite leadership lessons from the kitchen.
1. How to Manage Difficult Employees: Starring The Rude-Nik and The Excuse-Maker
There are certain employees that some managers may consider “difficult.” Sure, difficult employees give managers a chance to refine their skills, but that doesn’t make it any easier to deal with them. And judging by the fact that my blog posts about iconic types of difficult employees were the most popular of 2014, it would appear that managers have no shortage of those “difficult” employees. In particular, reading about how to manage The Rude-Nik was my most popular blog, with The Excuse-Maker not too far behind.
The good news is, managing these “difficult” team members doesn’t have to be very difficult. Read here to learn how the 5Cs will help you effectively manage even the most difficult employees. Yes, even The Rude-Nik.
I want to sincerely thank you for all of your support this year. I appreciate every one of you for following my blog. In fact, I’d love to know what topics you’d like to see in 2015. Let me know in the comment section below, send me an email, or give me a shout on Twitter. Looking forward to hearing your ideas!
