If you read Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers- this won't be news to you: practice trumps talent. It feels blasphemous to write that here for some reason. Talent is important, no doubt about it. But too many studies have shown that people who practice (a lot) outperform those who merely have the good…

As a manager, can I afford to be open about my own Weaknesses with my team? How can I get people to be open about their own Weaknesses? 

Although it can be daunting to think about sharing your weaknesses with your colleagues — never mind those who report to you, what about your own boss? — it’s easier to…

We have been working diligently the past six months at the organization that I work for, Arc Greater Twin Cities to create a strengths based work environment.  As the Director of Human Resources, I have realized that our performance review materials are not complimentary in their scope.  Does anyone have any performance review suggestions, samples, resources that they might share that further enroll our staff and supervisors in the strengths based work?

Kyle…

Health care is an ongoing concern not just in the United States, but in countries around the world. Everywhere, it seems, there is a tension between improved treatments and medicines, rising costs and aging populations that require more and more of the very expensive health care that human ingenuity keeps improving. …

I don’t always agree with my boss’s opinions and decisions on work projects. Is it better to say something or stay quiet and just go with her way?

The only reasonable answer to your question is…

The work of the individual still remains the spark that moves mankind forward.

~Igor Sikorsky…

ENTJ? INFP? Sunshiny yellow? Driver? Maximizer? Connector? Abdicrat? (that last one is a new one for me/ Firo-B anyone?) The world of psychometrics. (P-metrics is the field of study concerned with the theory and technique of educational measurement and psychological measurement, which includes the…

Hello Marcus

I need some clarity please (excuse my ignorance). In our company it is policy that EVERYONE read your book, Now discover your strengths and then do the test to see there top 5 strengths.

Question 1: Will this book and test always be available into the future or will your new StandOut strenghts assessment (which is great by the way) replace it? We'vee got a few new employees who need to get going on their strengths tests.

Question…

For a guy who claims to be skeptical of studies, I sure read about a lot of them. This one caught my eye though because it's an indirect endorsement of the concept of strengths.

Researchers at UC Riverside turned up some surprising findings in a…

I make about the same at my freelancing gig as I do at my day job. How do I know when I’m ready to quit and go solo?

“Don’t quit your day job” may be sound advice for karaoke singers, but it…

"The intuitive mind is a sacred gift, and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift."

~Albert Einstein, born this day in 1879…

I'm facilitating part of a leadership program right now- 25 up and coming women leaders. Terrific group of women. A lot of talent in the room. On one of the first days of their year-long course, they studied male vs female leadership characteristics. Every time I think about it, something in me squirms. I don't…

It occurred to me a few years ago that television and movies have switched places. It used to be that advertisers loved TV because they were dealing with a more-or-less captive audience. Sure, you could change channels or turn the TV off altogether, but if you wanted to watch a show, you'd have to sit through ads to see it. Now, many of us (most of us) don't even watch TV as it airs live, but either use TiVo (my personal favorite) or another…

The strange fact is there are many leaders who are not aware of their strengths. Not only does this create a lack of self awareness but also brings out unintended behaviors and it can also lead to disengagement of the employees and create undue stress at workplace.

In Strength Based Leadership which was a product of extensive research by the Gallup Scientists and interpreted by best selling Tom Rath and renowned performance and leadership coach Barry…

How often should I have 1:1 meetings with my direct reports?

It depends on the individual. Some people prefer more frequent check-ins and more accountability; others prefer to check in less frequently. It’s important to work with your direct reports to figure out a rhythm of…

 “We become what we think about all day long.”

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

This week's challenge: Be conscious and intentional about what you devote your thoughts to each day. Be aware…

(Short and sweet this week - just like the 2 month-old who took up my whole day today!)

So, I was asked a really good question in a session the other day. In this day and age of layoffs and downsizing and having to do more with less - is it really realistic to be able to ask to focus on strengths when really, your boss is likely having to ask you to take on the tasks of the three people he just had to lay off? Like, "I can see how this would have worked, people volunteering for the…

I feel like I'm always being pulled in a million different directions. Everyone seems to want a piece of my time, and it leaves me with no energy at the end of the day. I enjoy my career and it's important for taking care of my family, but I'm getting to the point where I feel like  I am always short-tempered and frustrated. I would like to see my family more (let alone my friends), but I can't even understand why they'd want to be around someone who's so crabby all the time. My…