Recent Blog Articles

The Easiest Way To Screw Up Managing Part 1 - Clear and Open

The Easiest Way To Screw Up Managing Part 1

Sometimes doing nothing is doing something. I get it. You care. You know better than anyone else in the business. And so when you see something going awry, or even if you’re just curious, you offer your wisdom. You help. People seem to get a lot out of what you bring. Except when you talk…

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Common Sense Superpower Part Two: The Path to Awareness

In last week’s article, I introduced the idea that common sense is a super power that comes from diligent work in the realm of awareness. It comes from turning toward the pain of illusory beliefs, values, and ideas you have about yourself. Because, if you’re not willing to look at aspects of your internal reality,…

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Common Sense Superpower - Clear and Open

Common Sense Superpower Part One: It Isn’t So Common

“Common sense is not so common.” –Voltaire Can you define common sense? I know, it’s hard. What if the root of all your problems comes down to not understanding what common sense is? Merriam-Webster defines it as “sound and prudent judgment based on a simple perception of the situation or facts.” Sounds simple, doesn’t? But…

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Stock Language - Clear and Open

Stock Language: How You’re Lying Without Realizing It

“We must all efficiently Operationalize our strategies Invest in world-class technology And leverage our core competencies In order to holistically administrate Exceptional synergy” –Weird Al Yankovic “Mission Statement” This is what I call stock language. It means something, and it doesn’t mean anything. It could literally be the cause of all of your problems. It…

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Cut the Bullshit Epilogue: Pay For What You Get - Business Problems - Clear and Open

Cut the Bullshit Epilogue: Pay For What You Get

I know, you thought the series was over, but I got requests for more–and I’m a sucker for requests. (Especially when it comes to solving business problems.) If there was just one thing that was holding you back–just one thing–would you want to know what it is? No matter how uncomfortable the truth made you?…

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Diagnosing Business Trouble - Clear and Open

Diagnosing Business Trouble

So, what’s your business trouble? Not enough sales Cash flow is tight My people won’t listen I don’t have enough time This is what people say, but none of them are actually problems, and that’s why they don’t change. Huh? They’re not problems? These are symptoms, and to put it bluntly: You’ve been so brainwashed…

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Solve Business Problems - Clear and Open

Cut the Bullshit Part Five: Apocalypse

I joked last week that I’d call the finale of this series “Apocalypse” and a wise and dear friend of mine reminded me the word comes from the Greek meaning “uncover, reveal.” Funny how the revealing of truth came to mean the end of the world. This is how afraid we are as a species…

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High Performer - Clear and Open

Cut the Bullshit Part Four: Name the #$@*ing Behavior

“Why don’t you just tell them that?” “Huh?” my client invariably says. “You want high performers, but you think your employee is uncoachable, not listening, and acting out?” “That’s what I’m saying, yes.” “So just say that,” I say. “But how would they respond? They might quit! I can’t start a conversation when I don’t…

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Cut the Bullshit Part Three: They’re Not The Problem - Employee Problems - Clear and Open

Cut the Bullshit Part Three: They’re Not The Problem

Let’s talk about “employee problems.” Because they’re bullshit. There’s no such thing as an employee problem. I’ll explain. Last week in part two, I offered a simple question as a tool to create engagement for employees: “What don’t you like about yourself, and how can I help you use your job to change it?” A…

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Cut the Bullshit Part Two: Get Engagement in One Question - Employee Retention - Clear and Open

Cut the Bullshit Part Two: Get Engagement in One Question

I admit I was a bit afraid to hit “send” on last week’s article–not only because I wrote “bullshit” fifteen times, but because it deeply challenged leaders and managers to get real. But it got the best feedback this year, so I wrote a part two. Who knows, maybe it’s a series? Do you want…

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