In our last post, we began the discussion on how to actually make the shift from consensus or compliance (depending on your tendencies) to commitment. The first of three focus areas was to provide intentional and structured communication to help win the hearts and minds of your people. 

The second, outlined here, is to explain "The Big Why." 

In our last post, we began to explore the second mindset shift that leaders need to make to successfully navigate the transition into senior leadership. It’s a shift from a problem orientation to an outcome orientation.

The three components to actually making this shift are (1) cross-organizational advocacy, (2) driving strategic vision, and (3) building people capacity. We’ll explore the first component in this post.

As we wind down the year and look toward the next, there isn't a better time to step up and engage more effectively with your people. One the simplest and most overlooked tools that leaders have to enhance their coaching is the 1-1 Coaching Session. 

The latest workplace communication craze called "Yes and" has recently been popularized by team builders and improv folks who've never stepped into the business board room. It's a technique that minimizes disagreement and encourages agreement. So, instead of responding to a team member's idea with a "No" or a "But," people are trained to respond with a "Yes and…."

In our last post, we began exploring the first shift leaders need to make to be successful in senior leadership roles - from being smart to being aware.  

So, what does this shift of being smart to being aware look like? It will seem easy on the surface, but it's a lifetime of work. And it’s comprised of 3 parts:  

So, you are a leader in a matrix organization. Perhaps you are the Line Manager to whom a Team Member reports directly, although you rarely see each other.

One of the challenges senior leaders face is that for the first time in their career they may find themselves on multiple teams. For example, they lead their own team of managers who run the function of an organization such as Sales or Engineering. And, they may also belong to a leadership team comprised of fellow hard-charging peers from other functions of the organization that report up to a General Manager or CEO.