Have you ever watched modern fencing? It’s a fascinating Olympic sport of controlled swordplay—the “act of defending.” Fencing garb is pretty intimidating: a tough nylon or Kevlar jacket, plastron (under arm protection), knickers, a chest protector (just for women!), gloves, and a mask—all puncture resistant. Fencing is serious business.So how about the “fencers” you work with? The people always in the act of defending the...

Remember “The Emperor’s New Clothes” story by Hans Christian Andersen? Two weavers promise to make the Emperor a suit of clothes invisible to people unfit or incompetent for their positions. The Emperor slips into his new outfit and while parading before his subjects, a child yells out, “He isn’t wearing anything at all!”It’s a classic story of being afraid to confront the truth, even when it makes us look stupid or comprom...

Do I have to say it too? “Communication is the backbone of good leadership.” Hasn’t it been said enough already? Aren’t there enough books, training programs, and speeches out there to drive home the point?Then why are so many people in leadership positions clueless? Why don’t they communicate well, at the right time, and with the right message?It must be faulty wiring.There seem to be four extremes. Leaders who:• Have noth...

They make us think we’re the problem. We produce work our managers assign and they throw it back.“Revise this,” they say.“What am I missing?” we ask.“It doesn’t quite address the issues,” they answer. “When it’s right, I’ll know it.”We go back to our desks deflated, believing that somehow we’re just not grasping things. We still don’t have a clear idea of how to “fix” anything. We start to worry that our career will suffer...

Specialties—they’re everywhere! The more we hear about them, the more excited we get about the prospects. Surely, there’s a way to align our education and training to get a job doing something exciting.The old days of generalist jobs are waning. Today you can become a forensic accountant, reading specialist, triage nurse, “green” builder, news media blogger, or packaging engineer. The options are intoxicating.Jobs brand the...

I loved that TV game show, “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” emceed by Drew Carey from 1998-2006, featuring masterful comedy improv artists like Ryan Stiles, Colin Mochrie, and Wayne Brady.In each episode, the performers were given surprise, off-the-wall situations to enact, making up dialogue off the top of their heads. They had to take on peculiar roles and follow weird rules. The pace was frenetic. Their creative antics were h...

I often hear this: “I don’t have enough: • experience for that job• knowledge to lead a team• years with the company to advance• know-how to start my own business.” Exactly, who says we aren’t good enough? Most of the time, we’re the guilty party.Doubt is our enemy.Negative self-talk is often riddled with self-doubt. We look at what others are achieving, compare ourselves, and question whether we have what it takes. We self...

Remember the old joke about the little boy whose parents took him to a psychiatrist because they worried he was too optimistic? The psychiatrist took him into a room piled high with horse manure. Instead of recoiling, the boy ran to the pile and began digging frantically.His reason: “So much manure. There must be a pony in here somewhere.”You have to dig to find hidden job opportunities.If you’ve confined your job search to...

Being there when expected. Stepping up when needed. Always delivering the goods. Dependability counts big time for getting a job, a good performance appraisal, and a promotion. So, are you? The way we perform is a measure of the standards we bring. Dependability showcases commitment. Are we as good as our word? When we agree to do job, will we give it our best no matter what the circumstances? This can be a big test....

In the dumps? Disgusted? Feel like no one’s struggling with career frustrations and business uncertainties the way you are? Makes you ask yourself, “What’s my problem?” Well, that’s how I felt.It doesn’t matter whether you’re an employee, a business owner, a budding entrepreneur, college student, or unemployed. We just don’t have all the answers.Finding answers is about accumulating knowledge.And it isn’t just about informa...