Blanchard LeaderChat
A Forum to Discuss Leadership and Management Issues
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Read ArticleToo Many Demands for Your Time? Ask Madeleine
Dear Madeleine, What should I do about all of the requests I get from people who want to “pick my brain” or schedule an informational interview? My friends’ kids are all reaching the age where...
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Read Article4 Keys to Great Customer Service
Think of a time when you experienced truly excellent service. It may take you a few minutes—I don’t mind waiting. Got it? Now compare that to a time when the service you received was just...
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Read ArticleStop Being Perfect at Work
I’ve been coaching executives for about six years now. Recently I was working with a leader who proudly identified himself as a perfectionist. He considered it a badge of honor that he routinely...
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Read ArticleBoss Is Constantly Breathing Down Your Neck? Ask Madeleine
Dear Madeleine, I am the general manager of a hotel property. I have always received great performance reviews, have high employee retention numbers (a big issue in my business) and my teams seem...
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Read ArticleFocus on Competence and Commitment to Improve Productivity
Most people will tell you they are working as hard as they can, says bestselling business author Vicki Halsey. “The problem is, they still aren’t able to keep up with the workload. Today, people...
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Read Article7 Coaching Steps for Managing a Hot Temper
In my role as an organizational coach, from time to time I am asked to work with leaders who struggle to manage anger and emotional outbursts. Amazingly, they often don’t realize that going on an...
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Read ArticleConfused about Coaching a Bad Apple? Ask Madeleine
Dear Madeleine, I heard somewhere that as a manager I should reward good behaviors and coach negative ones. I have been trying to do this, but I realize I’m not really sure what it means. While we...
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Read ArticleNot Sure How to Save a Struggling Employee? Ask Madeleine
Dear Madeleine, I’ve been a manager for over twenty years and I am facing a situation I just can’t handle. I have an employee—my hire—who has always been great, done great work, learned fast, had...
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Read Article4 Questions to Help You Clarify Your Core Values
We all have those times when we feel out of focus or off track. When this happens to you, do you ever consider that it could be due to poor self-management practices? For example, perhaps you were...
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Read ArticleThinking the Stress at Work Might Kill You? Ask Madeleine
Dear Madeleine, A couple of years ago I moved from working in the bio/life sciences private sector to a government agency. It was a big adjustment, as you can imagine. Then, nine months ago, my...
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Read ArticleThe Big Impact of Small Leadership Gestures
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Read ArticleJust Want to Be an Introvert at Work? Ask Madeleine
Dear Madeleine, I am a subject matter expert in an engineering company and, well, a technical genius. I am aware it isn’t politically correct to put it that way, but it is the truth—I have an...
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Read ArticleSo You Think You Want a Coaching Culture?
If someone asks my opinion about their organization making a shift to a coaching culture, I won’t say “think again, my friend”—but I will say “let’s think this through before you go spending a lot...
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Read ArticleBoss Is Making You Afraid? Ask Madeleine
Dear Madeleine, My boss is really tough—I would say borderline abusive. It isn’t just to me. He is awful to everyone. Because of this, I am in a constant state of anxiety and my work has...
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Read Article3 Ways to Help Managers and Direct Reports Collaborate to Achieve Goals
Want a more purposeful, aligned, and engaged organization? “Make sure managers and direct reports are taking a collaborative approach to performance,” says Susan Fowler, senior consulting partner...
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Read ArticleManaging a Team That’s in Constant Turmoil? Ask Madeleine
Dear Madeleine, I was recently hired into a manufacturing company in the engineering department. I am leading two different teams. One of the teams is running smoothly, and the other one is a...
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Read ArticleYour Managers May Not Be As Trusted As You Think They Are
How can an organization have a problem with low trust yet none of its leaders consider themselves untrustworthy? Sounds crazy, right? It must be possible in some sort of cosmic, twilight zone kind...
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Read ArticleRecent Graduate Too Smart for His Own Good? Ask Madeleine
Dear Madeleine, How do you guide a recent graduate—someone new to the work world—to not be so confident of his own work? How do you convince him to check his work, question his solutions, and...
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Read ArticleTrying to Have a Life in Addition to Work? Ask Madeleine
Dear Madeleine, I am an entrepreneur trying to grow my business while trying to also have a life. I know I have some bad habits that I should probably correct and I want to develop good habits...
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Read Article4 Ways to Provide Individual Attention Like a Coach
For most, if not all organizations, their employees are their number one asset. This makes the wellbeing, the engagement of employees very important. Why? Because engaged employees are passionate...
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