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…."

Imagine this. 

A new Vice President joins your organization from a similar company in the same industry. Only his former company is bigger and arguably more successful. The leader has a grand vision that if implemented will have a significant impact on the company's end customers and shareholder value. He comes in blazing and doesn't just want to move the chairs on the deck, but wants to shift the direction of the boat. 

In the past 3 posts I've made the case that the most important mindset shift a leader has to make to be successful in a senior leader role is to make the shift from being Smart to being Aware. 

If you missed Part 1 and Part 2, read those first. Then come back here for more details on the shift from being Smart to being Aware.

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:  

In our recent survey about senior leadership, we asked senior leaders the following question. "What do you wish you knew more about prior to being promoted to senior leadership?" 

Here are a few summary quotes of how they responded…

My wife Rachel and I have an 8- month old. During Rachel's  9 months of pregnancy, everyone kept saying to us – “everything is going to change.” Frankly, that "advice" wasn't helpful. It didn't help me understand how things would be different as a father and as a parent.

Meet Peter. 

He is a force to be reckoned with. 

He silently follows you around. Lurking. He watches you when you aren’t looking. He waits patiently. And then he strikes when you least expect him. 

Last week, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I shared some information on how to recognize people in the workplace. So, to continue on the theme of recognition, here is another video. 

The way that leaders recognize their people matters. Comments like "great work" and other general accolades almost never have a positive impact. In fact, they may unintentionally backfire.

Want to learn a more effective way to deliver recognition?  Watch here...

Thanksgiving is a time to express gratitude. As leaders, we can show our people that we are grateful for their contributions to the business by recognizing their efforts. Recognition is a core component of building team member commitment. But, most leaders struggle with how to effectively recognize their people. Watch this video to learn a simple framework on how to recognize people in a way that actually impacts business results.