Are you an arrogant boss? What if you work for one? That was the core of the conversation on the Labor Day edition of the "Regina Brett Show" on WKSU, the Ohio NPR station. I appeared on the program with Professor Stanley Silverman of the University of Akron, who has recently published research on the problems caused by arrogant bosses. I was asked about a good number of aspects of "WORK HAPPY: WHAT GREAT BOSSES KNOW" -- including the "Evil Twin" problem many bosses face. We also discussed the "20 Questions about Your Boss" exercise in the book that helps people do a better job of managing their bosses, both the great ones and those who, unfortunately, rank high on Dr. Silverman's arrogance scale.
Here is a link to the program's web page, where you can hear or download the program.
September 1, 2012
"Jill Geisler", "Regina Brett Show", "What great bosses know", "work happy", book, leadership, management, poynter, WKSU
KQED radio in San Francisco is one of the country's most popular NPR member stations. One of its signature programs is "Forum" with host Michael Krasny. On Thursday, August 24, I spent a delightful hour discussing the joys and challenges of management and leadership with Krasny and callers. We discussed the skills and values of
bosses, both bad and good. We took calls from listeners asking for advice. Later that night, at a book signing in Palo Alto, several attendees told me they were drawn to the event because of what they heard and learned while listening to Forum that morning. T
his is a link to the audio of the show, along with a summary of the conversation.
This shot was taken after the program. With me are my friend and San Francisco host Dawn Garcia, Deputy Director of the Knight Fellowships at Stanford, then right are Raul Ramirez, News Director of KQED and Forum host Michael Krasny.
August 25, 2012
"Jill Geisler", "What great bosses know", "work happy", book, Forum, KQED, management, Michael Krasny, poynter
Repeat after me. "I am a power hungry leader." Those words sound more like a confession than an aspiration, don't they? But I'll argue that true leaders are indeed power hungry and they should be, provided it's for the right reasons. That's a message I make clear time and again in "WORK HAPPY: WHAT GREAT BOSSES KNOW' and the message I shared in a recent commencement address I delivered. I listed ten distinct powers I wanted the graduates to have and to share.
I turned that commencement address into a column and podcast for Poynter.org.
Here's a link so you can read all ten -- and even one bonus power, too!
August 9, 2012
"Jill Geisler", "What great bosses know", "work happy", Duquesne, leadership, power, poynter
Saturday, August 4, I had the honor of delivering the commencement address to the 2012 graduates of the Duquesne University School of Leadership and Professional Advancement. Graduates assembled in the University's Palumbo Center to receive graduate and undergraduate degrees in a variety of leadership study areas of concentration. Many were working professionals who combined their studies with full time jobs, including a good number from the military. The University live streamed the event for those who could not attend in person.
My hosts from the School of Leadership were living proof of the values they teach. Smart, collegial, proactive and fun. They made the weekend extraordinary. Here are a few pictures from the weekend, beginning with the book signing and talk on Friday night at the campus Barnes and Noble.
The Friday night crowd included alums, faculty and members of the graduating class.
When I sign books, I like to personalize the message, even if I'm meeting a person for the first time. A few questions and there's always a story or a connection to note.
Dean Dorothy Bassett of the School of Leadership and Professional Advancement welcomes the crowd and introduces the speaker.
I shared thoughts from one of my favorite columns, "Ten Things Great Bosses Know" with the group.
Saturday, it was time for commencement ceremonies.
The proud graduates.
My commencement speech was titled "More Power to You." I plan to turn it into a column and podcast soon, so stay tuned!
August 6, 2012
"Barnes and Noble" Facebook, "Jill Geisler", "What great bosses know", "work happy", Duquesne, leadership, management, poynter
In "WORK HAPPY: WHAT GREAT BOSSES KNOW", I explore the impact of the words managers say. Sometimes bosses don't even realize how powerful an offhanded comment can be. Your words can make someone's day or persuade them they are worthless. You can make rules you never knew you made. You can also do damage to your own reputation if you don't truly think before you speak or don't notice your employees' reactions to things you say. There are also things you shouldn't say at work, beyond the obvious ones your HR department warns you about.
I recently was asked by Forbes. com to write about things you shouldn't say. These the far more common things that managers proclaim -- that can keep people from being happy at work. They can also get in the way of a manager's success, perhaps without you knowing it.
Here's a link to the Forbes.com column called "T
alking Yourself Into Trouble, Boss: Things Not to Say at Work."
July 23, 2012
"Jill Geisler", "What great bosses know", "work happy", forbes, forbes.com, leadership, poynter
The Penn State story is a nightmare, first and foremost for the young victims of Jerry Sandusky. The former assistant football coach was convicted of multiple counts of sexual abuse of boys. Compounding the tragedy, an independent investigation commissioned by the university found that the top leaders at Penn State covered up the wrongdoing over a long period of time.
These were leaders who appeared to all the world to be men of strong values. In the end, according to the investigation, they placed protecting the reputation of the organization above all else. Sadly, the same thing could happen where you work, if the conditions are right.
In my latest column for Poynter.org, I list 8 ways your own organization may lose its moral compass, setting the table for the kind of leadership and ethical meltdown experienced at Penn State.
Click on this link to take you to the column and accompanying podcast.
July 16, 2012
"Blind Spots", "Jill Geisler", "Penn State", "What great bosses know", "work happy", ethics, management, poynter
To get to be a great boss, you need to master one of management's top challenges and responsibilities -- having tough conversations. The reasons for them vary, from negotiations to negative feedback on performance to the daily disappointments that happen in the workplace. What do you say? How do you say it? Your approach to these conversations makes a critical difference.
It's especially important to learn how to respond when the other person in the conversation says or does something that could derail things. I call them the 4 D's. They are: denial, deflection, disruption, and dumping on the boss. I take a look at each of these, and provide tips on how to respond, in this column on Poynter.org.
Just click here and you'll be taken to the column and its companion podcast.
July 9, 2012
"difficult conversations", "Jill Geisler", "What great bosses know", "work happy", leadership, management, poynter
This is a copy of the July 1 Best Seller list from "The Straits Times," the English-language newspaper published in Singapore. "WORK HAPPY: WHAT GREAT BOSSES KNOW" is enjoying a spot in the top ten! In fact, this message came today from Hachette: "Wanted to let you know that our export edition of Work Happy is making its third appearance this week on the (Singapore) Straits Times best seller list."
Third appearance! I would love to know the story behind the book's popularity in Malaysia. I had received a message a few weeks ago from a journalist in Singapore, an alum of a seminar, telling me the book was selling well. I thought she was just being nice! If you'd like to see what the "Straits Times" publication looks like,
here's a link to its website.
The "
Straits Times" Facebook page says it is "Malaysia's most widely-read newspaper." The Facebook page alone has nearly 54,000 "likes." By comparison, the
"WORK HAPPY: WHAT GREAT BOSSES KNOW" Facebook page just broke the 450 "likes" mark. Clearly, I should be reaching out to Malaysia. Then I might find out from folks there why the book has developed its following.
July 3, 2012
"Jill Geisler", "What great bosses know", "work happy", Best-seller, Malaysia, management, poynter, Straits Times
I'd like to stamp out a particular, time-honored management saying. It's one that I think does more harm than good. I wrote about this troublesome mantra today in my "What Great Bosses Know" column on Poynter.org. The saying is well-intentioned, but I argue that it's actually an invitation to an unhappy workplace and unhappy employees. Okay, so I've kept you in suspense long enough. What's the phrase I'm challenging? It's one I know you've heard and may even have said: "Hire good people and leave them alone."
If you'd like to check out my arguments against it,
here's a link to the column and podcast on Poynter.org. I'd love your feedback. Are there other management bromides that you'd like to see go out of use?
July 2, 2012
"Jill Geisler", "What great bosses know", "work happy", hire, leadership, poynter
It's much easier for managers to give positive feedback than to tackle those tough conversations that are such an important part of the job. That's why Chapter 10 of "WORK HAPPY: WHAT GREAT BOSSES KNOW" is titled "You Can't Be Too Nice for a Tough Conversation."
On July 11, at 2pm ET, we're going to share some of the key lessons of that chapter -- and much more -- in a live webinar.
I'll guide you through a step-by-step process that helps you deal with challenging conversations and deliver positive results. To register for the webinar on Poynter's NewsU,
just click on this link:
Here's what we will cover in the session:
- The key steps to prepare for a tough conversation and why skipping a step can trip you up
- Why your first words are critical – and how to choose them wisely
- How to deal with the “4 D’s”: denial, deflection, disruption and "dumping on the boss"
- The surest ways to sabotage yourself in a tough talk
- How to wrap up a conversation so it ends well for everyone
- Why your ability to have difficult conversations can make for a happier workplace
To make things even more practical and interactive, we will set up a series of common scenarios managers face. Working with NewsU's Vicki Krueger, we will play out the scenarios -- but pause to let the participants in the audience decide how Vicki will respond. Will she argue? Shut down? Become highly emotional? You will decide -- and I will have to respond right there, the right way.
There will also be a Q & A session afterward. This webinar is open to aspiring great bosses in any field and every workplace.
Once again, for more information on the webinar and to register,
just click this link.
June 29, 2012
"challenging conversations", "Jill Geisler", "What great bosses know", "work happy", feedback, leadership, NewsU, poynter, webinar
