It's the time of the year that we look back on what we've accomplished and look ahead to setting goals for the future. With that in mind, I developed a column for Poynter.org to help you. I've been asked by so many people to help them focus on which of many leadership skills they should focus on in these times of change and challenge. And since change will now be a constant part of our lives, this list should be helpful (perhaps with some tweaks) a year from now, when it's once again time to take account of our achievements.
Here's hoping you'll have a great year ahead -- and that these ten skills will play a role in your leadership success. To read the column, just
click on this link.
December 6, 2012
"Jill Geisler", "What great bosses know", "work happy", 2013, leadership, skills
Want to boost your team's performance? Spend a great day at Poynter for our Great Bosses Boot Camp: Performance Management. My colleague Butch Ward and I will help you learn the secrets to providing the kind of feedback -- both positive and negative -- that employees say is lacking in most workplaces today.
Your day at Poynter will be one of the most interactive, fun and practical learning experiences of your management career. You'll learn skills you will be able to put to work immediately.
You can register for this program online. Here's
a link to information and registration.
See you in November!
October 16, 2012
"Jill Geisler", "What great bosses know", "work happy", Boot Camp, Nov. 9, poynter, workshop
My latest column on Poynter.org blows the cover on something many people don't know: Their bosses keep secrets from them. In fact, great bosses keep very specific secrets from employees. They do it not to be mysterious or misleading. They do it to help people. So, what are those secrets?
I made a list of ten of them for my latest "What Great Bosses Know" column on Poynter.org. I wrote it in recognition of a holiday I didn't even know existed: National Boss Day -- which the calendar (and greeting card companies) say is October 16.
Here's a link to the column. Perhaps, after reading it, you'll take a moment to thank a great boss, on October 16 -- or any day of the year.
October 15, 2012
"Jill Geisler", "What great bosses know", "work happy", leadership, management, poynter, secret
Gwen Moran, a columnist for Entrepreneur.com, recently contacted me to talk about "WORK HAPPY: WHAT GREAT BOSSES KNOW" and the lessons it holds for improving workplaces. From that interview, she developed a useful list of tips for managers who want to improve quality and productivity, by making the workplace better for employees. I like the way she synthesized some of the many pages of advice from the book into three key ingredients to a happy workplace:
- A supervisor who cares
- Sincere and specific praise and feedback
- A supportive and fair workplace culture
Here's
a link to Moran's full column, "Three Secrets to Happy Employees" and my advice for developing those key ingredients. Of course, to really know how to make it happen, I think you just have to read the book. Keep leading, friends.
October 5, 2012
"What great bosses know", "work happy", book, entrepreneur.com, geisler, Gwen moran, leadership, poynter, work
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
I'm looking forward to a great evening of conversation about leadership and management on July 24th, when I speak at the Grafton, Wisconsin public library. A great friend of mine works at this library. She's a former employee who's the kind every manager hopes to hire - talented and a team player. Debbie invited me to do a reading from the book and take questions from the audience and I was delighted to say yes.
This is what visitors to the library's website (
click here) see when they log on. The event is at 6:30pm. Hope to see you there!
July 21, 2012
"book talk", "Jill Geisler", "What great bosses know", "work happy", grafton, leadership, management
It's the time of the year that we look back on what we've accomplished and look ahead to setting goals for the future. With that in mind, I developed a column for Poynter.org to help you. I've been asked by so many people to help them focus on which of many leadership skills they should focus on in these times of change and challenge. And since change will now be a constant part of our lives, this list should be helpful (perhaps with some tweaks) a year from now, when it's once again time to take account of our achievements.
Here's hoping you'll have a great year ahead -- and that these ten skills will play a role in your leadership success. To read the column, just click on this link.
