Author Archives: orbergld

Leadership Lesson #16 – Coach More Than You Correct

Great leaders don’t just correct performance. They develop people. One of the easiest things for a manager to do is identify what someone has done wrong. The order wasn’t completed correctly. A customer complaint wasn’t handled well. A deadline was missed. A procedure wasn’t followed. A goal wasn’t achieved. The manager sees the problem, tellsContinue reading “Leadership Lesson #16 – Coach More Than You Correct”

Leadership Lesson #15 – Teamwork Is Built Through Trust

Leaders cannot demand teamwork. They must create the conditions in which trust between team members can grow. A group of talented individuals does not automatically become a strong team. People may work in the same department, report to the same leader, attend the same meetings, and pursue the same organizational goals without truly working asContinue reading “Leadership Lesson #15 – Teamwork Is Built Through Trust”

Leadership Lesson #14: Recognition Fuels Performance

People want to know that their work matters. They want to know that their effort is noticed, their contribution is valued, and their performance makes a difference to the team and the organization. This does not mean employees need constant praise or expect recognition for every routine responsibility. Most people understand that performing the jobContinue reading “Leadership Lesson #14: Recognition Fuels Performance”

Leadership Lesson #13: Diversity of Thought Makes Better Teams

A team is not stronger simply because everyone agrees. A team in which everyone agrees may appear to be working well. Meetings are comfortable. Decisions are made quickly. Conflict is limited, and the leader’s ideas receive immediate support. But agreement is not always evidence of alignment or effective teamwork. Sometimes people agree because they genuinelyContinue reading “Leadership Lesson #13: Diversity of Thought Makes Better Teams”

Leadership Lesson #12 – Great Teams Need Clear Expectations

People cannot consistently meet expectations they do not clearly understand. One of the most common sources of frustration in the workplace is the difference between what a leader expects and what an employee understands. The leader believes the assignment was clear. The employee believes the work was completed correctly. When the result falls short, bothContinue reading “Leadership Lesson #12 – Great Teams Need Clear Expectations”

Leadership Lesson #11: Hire for Character, Train for Skill

Skills influence whether a person can perform the work. Character influences how that person will perform it Building a strong team begins long before the first team meeting, coaching conversation, or performance review. It begins with the decisions leaders make about who is invited to join the team. Hiring is one of the most importantContinue reading “Leadership Lesson #11: Hire for Character, Train for Skill”

Leadership Lesson #10: Leadership Requires Accountability

Everyone requires accountability. Even Leaders. One of the clearest tests of leadership doesn’t happen when everything is going well. It happens when something goes wrong. The sale is lost. The project misses its deadline. A customer is unhappy. An employee makes a mistake. A decision doesn’t produce the expected result. In those moments, leaders haveContinue reading “Leadership Lesson #10: Leadership Requires Accountability”

Leadership Lesson #9 – Lead By Example Every day

A leader’s most powerful communication tool is not their words. It is their behavior. After more than 40 years in leadership, I have seen countless examples of leaders who delivered inspiring messages, created impressive plans, and established ambitious expectations. But the leaders who made the greatest impact were the ones who personally demonstrated the behaviorsContinue reading “Leadership Lesson #9 – Lead By Example Every day”

Leadership Lesson #8 – Make Decisions With Courage

One of the most important responsibilities of leadership is making decisions. Some are simple. Others affect employees, customers, budgets, and the future direction of an organization. After more than 40 years in leadership, I’ve learned that the quality of those decisions depends on two things: Doing the work before the decision—and having the courage toContinue reading “Leadership Lesson #8 – Make Decisions With Courage”