Embrace the X
anetschay
A consequence of being a leader is inevitably wearing a target on your back. You’re going to make difficult decisions that will not be popular with every member of your team. When I started delivering projects years ago, I used to dread that aspect of …
Are You Comfortable?
The term resilience is being used a lot lately. It’s hard to find a post on LinkedIn without it. A search on Google produces the following definition: The capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness. Resilience is a core requirement for courageous …
The Opportunity Dictates the Strategy
During my years of intensive MMA training, I was taught that: The opponent dictates the fight. This was a liberating concept as it removed the pressure to remember ‘moves’ or complicated combinations. The concept was relatively simple; the opponent would present openings through his positioning …
Ready to Launch
New Year, New Project? Are you about to kick off a new program or launch a new product? Do you have a new team to build or onboard? Are they local, remote, or working in another hemisphere? What’s the risk profile for this new program? …
Be Your Own Leader
If you’re reading this, you’re probably constantly on the lookout for new ways to effectively lead your team. You most likely worked through some challenges this past year as your company adopted a ‘hybrid work-style’ Getting your remote team aligned with your on prem resources …
Fear, Interrupted
Have you ever held on to a fear long enough that your mood and physical state changed? Have you fixated on negative thoughts, replaying a disaster-based scenario in your mind over and over to the point where you were incapable of moving forward? You weren’t …
What’s the Problem?
Have you ever had an approved project cancelled mid-stream? Has a client changed their mind about signing a contract with you? Your initial reaction probably was to ask yourself what had you done? How did you mess up that deal? Did you fail to clearly …
Speed vs. Timing
What is more important, speed or timing? Is it preferable to act very quickly or to take potentially slower action at the right time? In the combative arena, a properly timed punch (i.e., when an opponent reacts to a feint or drops his guard) will …
Have You Ever Been Told To “Calm Down”?
Have you ever been told to calm down and not understood why? You think your emotions are in check and your words are not inflammatory, yet you’re being urged to relax. What Am I Missing? Your colleague is reacting to your emotional state via your …
Have You Ever Been Ambushed…
… by a dissatisfied client during a quarterly check-in? Have you had your business case for a new project get crushed by your CFO during your presentation? Both situations were unexpected and put you in a surprised mind set as you mentally scrambled to figure …
