Archive

As a manager, you’re supposed to be in charge, but of what? Shifting company strategy, markets changing with the wind, unclear priorities from your manager, even a direct report who may or may not be happy with her role in the long run. Ambiguity is everywhere at work. Here’s the tough truth for managers: You’ll […]

Frito Lay achieves changes in human behaviour with The Speed of Trust.

While you’re stressing out about whether your remote is working — Why hasn’t she sent an update? Why isn’t she on chat? —your remote could be stressing out about whether you trust that she’s working. And ironically, these doubts could be taking up precious time and mental space for both of you. Instead of letting your worry […]

The hardest thing a leader will ever do is drive a strategy or plan that requires a change in human behaviour. It’s even more difficult in turbulent times. Learn key behaviours that enable leaders and organisations to execute on their Wildly Important Goals®.

When we surveyed more than 300 direct reports, they revealed six effective ways that managers build trust. But what about manager behaviours that break trust — in some cases instantly and irreparably? Here we share three trust-destroying acts that have such a big impact, according to direct reports, that managers may never recover from them. […]

Temper flare-ups, passive-aggressive avoidance, and the other difficult behaviours that sometimes stem from conflict and intense emotions are a normal part of life. They don’t go away simply because people are at work. Many managers find this uncomfortable and inconvenient. You’re busy. Who has time for drama? But if you don’t act, things can take […]

By Scott Miller Julie Morgenstern shares enormous parenting wisdom in her On Leadership interview.  As the father of three young boys, I was captivated by her research and insights and have already begun implementing some of them in my home (to total early failure, but I am committed to endure). One of her most impactful […]

When was the last time you gossiped or disparaged someone behind their back? Dr. Covey said, “When you defend those who are absent, you retain the trust of those present.” To show loyalty: Live by the Platinum Rule. Beyond treating people how you’d like to be treated (the Golden Rule), treat them how they’d like […]

By Scott Miller “Every major disappointment is a failure to explain expectations.”  “Nearly all, if not all conflict in life comes from mismatched or unfulfilled expectations.” It’s such valuable advice that Stephen M.R. Covey, author of the book The Speed of Trust, included it as one of the 13 Behaviours of High-Trust Leaders (#9 is Clarify Expectations). Managers […]

These 13 Behaviours are common to high-trust leaders and people throughout the world. As you work on behaving in ways that build trust, one helpful way to visualise and quantify your efforts is by thinking in terms of “Trust Accounts.” Remember, just like relationships, each trust account is unique; all deposits and withdrawals are not […]