Savvy strategies for leaders to survive “traffic control days”
There are days, as a leader, when it feels like all we’re doing, all day long, is directing traffic.
Getting individuals unstuck by answering their questions, course-correcting projects by providing needed feedback, slowing some down who might be skipping a few steps and getting a little too far ahead.
And when that happens, it’s also usually when there’s an audit of some sort that suddenly pops up requiring a bunch of documentation “tomorrow” and the day is filled with meetings and you’re supposed to be working on the next strategic move.
So what are a few things that leaders can do to get through these “traffic control” days as best as possible?
Recognize that part of our role is to support the team
Whether we like it or not, it's part of our role to support the team. Being a leader does require a lot of energy for us to generate and dedicate that energy to guiding and supporting the team.
Unfortunately, it tends to happen in big...
Ignite Engagement Through the Art of Leadership Storytelling
Story is a powerful business tool.
As a writer/screenwriter, I formally studied the art of writing and storytelling. From Stephen King’s On Writing, to Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces, to Aristotle’s Poetics. Which, by the way, is so tiny when you pick it up, it’s tempting to think it’ll be an easy read… It is not. It’s super packed with insight and requires a lot of reflection as you’re reading if you really want to really understand the material.
Maybe you’re thinking: “You just need that for fiction. That’s not for business.” Not so fast! Storytelling is what will captivate an audience, will attract your clients and will inspire your team.
So what basic structure could leaders use to help carve a more powerful business story?
Potential uses for these stories
Before we just jump into that, let's start with the potential uses for these stories.
I know that it gets tossed around a lot....
