Buddy or Bossy? Don't Oversimplify the Dynamics of Leadership

Some managers lead by dominating employees; others try to win them over. But the most effective leaders deploy the style best suited to the situation. This piece oversimplifies the dynamics of leadership, and as the title suggests a choice between being bossy vs buddy. What I advocate for all leading through respect. With respect a manager and leader can be very demanding and tough and people will positively respond. By being "bossy" people usually respond out of fear and by being "buddy" people respond only when the leader or manager is consistent with this style through good times and bad. I have witnessed a number of buddy leaders turn into barbaric monsters when times get tough. From the New York Times: Bossy vs. Buddy: Two Leadership Styles, Each with Its Place.

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What Businesses Could Learn About Competitiveness From Super Chickens

What does the traditional culture of competitiveness do to our workplaces? Business leader Margaret Heffernan discussed this on a recent episode of the TED Radio Hour using the superchicken study as an example. She discussed what a dog-eat-dog (or chicken-peck-chicken) environment does to productivity and emotional well-being within a company and how social cohesion is what makes for a truly winning team. I’ve long believed that a productive work environment comes from employees who know that their contributions are valued and are treated as respected members of the team. You can listen to her excellent talk here: Forget the Pecking Order at Work.

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Overcoming Ageism in the Workplace

As I’ve written about before, oftentimes, workplace bullying can disproportionately affect certain groups like older employees. Businesses seeking to cut costs by not paying older employees will sometimes put them in a position where their only option is to quit. I touch on this briefly in this AARP article, where I and a few other workplace culture specialists discuss strategies to stand up to workplace bullying. Shamefully, ageism is widespread, and quite often, it’s difficult to find help in courts. Check out the piece at AARP.com.

"Getting it Right: Pay Attention to the Mundane Things of Business Life"

Employees’ confidence in their employers is at a record low. It is no wonder that over 70 percent of North American workers are disengaged (according to Gallup Polling). The quality of leadership in the workplace directly affects those being led.

Read more at The Economist.