Many years ago, I had a boss that drove me crazy. He insisted on micro-managing me. He wanted to know every move I made. I had to furnish daily status reports with every call, every conversation, every project, etc. It really got to me. I tried to be patient, but I eventually quit. I just couldn’t succeed in that environment.
Archive for Leadership
20 Things I Learned from My Bosses (Even the Bad Ones)
I’ve had more than 20 bosses in my career. I worked well with nearly all of them. Most of them were surprisingly average—even forgettable. One was brilliant and became a role model. But he was the exception.
Do You Know What You Are Especially Good At?
This is probably the most important question you could ever ask. The answer will determine how fast you advance in your career and, more importantly, how happy you are in your job. Many of us have had to figure it out the hard way—by trial and error.
The Importance of the Quarterly Review
The secret to staying on top of your personal and professional life is to schedule regular times for review and reflection. You need to assess where you’ve come from and where you are going.
Don’t Take Life for Granted
Every now and then we are reminded how fragile life is. You just can’t take it for granted. For example, a few years ago I was attending the early service at our church. My family was coming in a separate car and had not yet arrived. About ten minutes into the service, one of my friends walked up behind me and whispered in my ear, “Mike, your family has been in a car accident. You need to leave … now!”
Taking Responsibility for Your Mistakes
One key to leadership is the willingness to stand up and take responsibility for your mistakes. Good leaders do this even if they are guilty of 10% of the accusation or problem.