Leadership | Varga & Associates

Do leaders need to show they like their job and us?

by maripat | Apr 10, 2021 | Communication, Employee Engagement, Leadership, Personal Development | 0

When someone attains a leadership position – whether in politics or business – we assume they’ve worked hard to achieve that role and are likely being compensated well. Should we expect them to like the job and us? I say yes.

In his new book An Effort to Understand David Murray’s essay “We deserve leaders who act like they like us” caught my attention. We’ve all had the experience of working with or for individuals who look like, sound like and feel like they’d rather be doing almost anything else than leading. It can show up in any number of ways:

Shackleton: Crisis Leadership Lessons for Today

by Varg_Admin | Apr 14, 2020 | Communication, Leadership | 0

I find it instructive to look back and review ‘profiles in courage’ that describe leaders who acted with bravery and integrity in times of crisis. These stories remind me that no matter how bleak things may get we can be blessed with leaders who stand strong, speak the truth, and care deeply about those they lead.

One of the most captivating crisis leadership stories I have ever come across is that of Ernest Shackleton’s ill-fated Antarctic Expedition in 1914.

Vision Engagement: Transformative communication that puts everyone on the same page

by Varg_Admin | Jul 15, 2014 | business strategy, Communication, Employee Engagement, Leadership, Vision Engagement | 0

Every organization goes through change that needs to be communicated in a comprehensive, congruent manner. Perhaps yours is

* Emerging from a merger or acquisition
* Recovering from a crisis
* Preparing to enter a new market or re-branding

Whatever the change, it is essential not only to manage the immediate logistics and requirements inherent in that change, but to also bring your employees and the organizational culture along with you.

Stuff Authentic People Say

by maripat | Jun 23, 2012 | Career Development, Coaching, Communication, Employee Engagement, Leadership, Personal Development | 0

Jack and Suzy Welch’s recent opinion piece in FORTUNE (April 9, 2012) shares three guidelines for how any leader can tap into and communicate their authentic self.

First, quoting the famous philosopher, Popeye, they site that you often hear authentic people give you some version of “I yam what I yam, and that’s all what I yam.” Authentic people are deeply comfortable with themselves. They acknowledge both their weakness and their strengths without apology.

Hoop Dreams – Revisiting the essence of teamwork, one basket at at time

by maripat | Nov 18, 2010 | Communication, Employee Engagement, Leadership, Personal Development, Teamwork | 0

I hadn’t spoken to Loretta in what felt like ten years. I hadn’t played basketball with her…well let’s just say, in a very, very long time. So, when she called out of the blue and asked me to join a new women’s basketball league at a local park district in Chicago, I responded with a stammering “ok” that likely communicated equal amounts of excitement and terror.

What Wooden’s words communicate

by maripat | Jul 26, 2010 | Career Development, Communication, Leadership, Personal Development, Teamwork | 0

Former UCLA Basketball Coach John Wooden died at age 99 on June 4, 2010. His legacy as a coach will live on and even in retirement – through speeches and books – he translated the lessons he shared with his championship teams to business professionals and anyone who wanted to discover the champion within themselves.

What do leaders need from their leader?

by maripat | Aug 31, 2009 | Leadership | 0

Ideally, individuals are assigned to a leadership position within an organization because they are trusted, highly competent, great with customers and know how to enlist and engage their people.
With that high level of competence comes an assumption that they don’t need much guidance or handholding. They are big boys and girls, being paid accordingly and know what to do and simply need to be given the runway to make it happen.

What then, is the role of their boss – the CEO, President or Business Head? The obvious answer is to provide strategy, direction and clear goals and to allow that individual to accomplish them. Beyond that, what else would support their success? Here are a couple of ways the leader of leaders can stay connected and provide additional support: