Insights: Productivity
“Leading in Place” During the Covid-19 Crisis
Leaders are experiencing the Covid crisis in a variety of ways. Some are overwhelmed with skyrocketing workload and fire drills, some are pinched between full-time child care and working from home. Some are isolated and anxious. Others are actually happier than before. A recent HBR article on grief seems to have hit a chord—many are […]
How to be a Collaborative Member of the C-Suite
One of the biggest challenges for C-level leaders is collaborating with peers. A driving factor is that for most organizations, senior leaders’ interests are not fully aligned. They may be competing for resources, the CEO’s attention, or opportunities. Also, senior executives are extremely busy, making constant tradeoffs with their time. This makes it hard to […]
So Your Boss Has a Coach? Here’s What That Means for You
As part of the team that ensures leaders are effective, productive, and happy our goals are exactly the same. So how can we work together? Let’s start with what I do. As a coach, I play three roles with your boss. Sounding board. Job one for me is to listen deeply, ask good questions, and […]
Five Habits for Senior Executives
Years ago I coached a new manager who was frustrated by the amount of time he spent in meetings. “I don’t have any time to do my real work!” he said. I walked him through an exercise. On the bottom half of a whiteboard, we brainstormed all his previous individual contributor work, the things he […]
Manage Stress and Boost Your Well-Being
The idea that well-being is a crucial underpinning of good leadership has gained a great deal of attention in recent years. And it makes sense: physical health and positive emotions go a long way towards helping leaders be their best. In 2017 Sierra Leadership reviewed the stress management literature, and we came across a real […]
Sleep On It: Improving Your Bottom Line Through Better Sleep
Nearly half of executives struggle with sleep deficiency, according to research published in the Harvard Business Review.
Time Management Tips: Be Efficient (but Remember You’re Not a Machine)
There are a number of strategies I recommend to help people improve efficiency and time management–a hot topic on the minds of many leaders. But I also recommend that executives remember that no matter how efficient they become, they are not machines. People who manage their time well know that life happens and plans change. […]
Time Management Tips: Take Time to Save Time
Most of the leaders that I work with, at one point or another, ask me about time management. Usually the question arises because they’re stressed and overwhelmed. Often they are balancing high-pressure leadership roles with the commitments of having a family with small children. Their partner often also works. It’s just a lot to juggle. […]
Time Management Tips: Help Others Help You
Most executives feel overloaded, at least some of the time. When a client tells me that they need to work on time management, I go through a “Productivity Checklist” with them, looking for areas they can further improve to make their lives more sane. One place to look is at the people around you. If […]