It has often been said that you don’t develop leaders or champions on feather beds.  The “eagle approach” works best.  Eagles build their nests high on mountains, exposed to the first rain, the first snow, the strongest winds.

I speak to a lot of organizations on the importance of positive leadership and the benefits of building a positive culture that fuels performance. Yet, the most common question I receive after my talk is: “Jon, this makes so much sense but my boss isn’t that kind of leader/manager. So how do I stay positive when my boss isn’t?”

It’s a fact that men of genius are admired, men of wealth are envied, men of power are feared -but only men of character are trusted.  Integrity is the key.

There is an old saying, “That which can be misunderstood will be misunderstood.”  This resolution, passed by the Board of Councilmen in Canton, Mississippi, in the mid-1800s brings that into focus.  “Number one: Resolved by this Council that we build a new jail.  Number two: Resolved that the new jail be built out of the materials of the old jail.  Resolved that the old jail be used until the new jail is finished.”

It's one thing to hear criticism from your mother at home; and another thing to hear it from the people you work with. So want to know how to handle criticism in the workplace?

Too many managers focus on fixing people’s weaknesses -- or worse, they simply ignore employees altogether. This doesn’t boost performance.

The old rules still apply. But to win in the new world, leaders must understand their constituents’ state of mind, says Gallup’s chairman and CEO.

As much as 20% of the German workforce is actively disengaged. But don’t blame the affected employees for this.

According to a study I read, the way we look has a direct bearing on our paycheck. Employment data from 7,000 adults was analyzed. Interviewers divided the group according to looks and then compared what those working similar jobs in each category were paid. Those who were below average in appearance earned less than those rated “average.” Those who rated average earned less than those who were rated “above average.”

You know you need to practice the art of listening when you can't seem to take instructions properly anymore. Or when your officemate bonks you on the head with a rolled up copy of yesterday's paper because she's been calling your name for five minutes now and you haven't heard a single thing.

Richard Kerr of United Technologies Corporation explains the difference between leadership and management: “Leaders clearly know that people don’t want to be managed, they want to be led.  Whoever heard of a ‘world manager’?  ‘World leader’?  Yes.  Educational leaders, political leaders, religious leaders, Scout leaders, community leaders, labor leaders, business leaders - they lead, they don’t manage.  The carrot always wins over the stick.  Ask the horse.  You can lead your horse to water, but you can’t manage him to drink.  If you want to manage somebody, manage yourself.  Do that well and you’ll be ready to stop managing and start leading.  After all, if you can’t manage yourself, how can you legitimately expect to manage others?”

If you want to be a leader who attracts quality people, the key is to become a person of quality yourself. Leadership is the ability to attract someone to the gifts, skills and opportunities you offer as an owner, as a manager, as a parent. I call leadership the great challenge of life.

Over the years, many people have talked and written about what makes a great leader. They have derived examples from some of the greatest public and private figures in both the past and the present.

Today we hear a lot of discussion, read a lot of articles and look at an amazing number of books on leadership and managing.  They are different functions, but leaders need to know a great deal about managing and managers need to know a lot about leading.  The greater part of all U.S. companies are comprised of fewer than 100 people.  The overwhelming majority of those employ less than fifty.  This means that the roles of leader and manager often fall on the same shoulders. It is, therefore, imperative that each knows something about leading and managing.  This is also true in the family.

When it comes to the environment, this visionary chief executive’s business is doing very well by doing good. Here’s how.

If you're thinking of starting your own business, then you've come to the right place. I'm here to give you the inside scoop on small business start up ideas that will help you get the dough rolling!

Anybody can be a successful entrepreneur. Even someone who didn't finish college or wasn't born rich can attain financial success. How do you think these people manage to do it? Simple. They knew the secrets of successful entrepreneurs and applied them in their life.

If you want to be a leader who attracts quality people, the key is to become a person of quality yourself. Leadership is the ability to attract someone to the gifts, skills and opportunities you offer as an owner, as a manager, as a parent. What's important in leadership is refining your skills. All great leaders keep working on themselves until they become effective. Here are some specifics.

A recent management study revealed that 46% of employees leaving a company do so because they feel unappreciated; 61% said their bosses don’t place much importance on them as people; and 88% said they don’t receive acknowledgement for the work they do.

These days, it's quite challenging to make it big in business. There are many factors you have to contend with. There's your competition, and of course, the poor performance of the world economy as well. However, some business people still manage to hit the jackpot. We could all learn a thing or two from the qualities of these successful entrepreneurs.

Not all bosses are cut from the same marble. You've heard how other people complain about their superiors. But you've also heard how other people sing praises about theirs. If you have to choose between the two, you would naturally choose to be the boss they sing praises about. But what makes a great boss anyway?

This Indian company proves that it’s possible to create engagement among field salespeople, even in the most difficult territories

 

The employee-customer encounter must be measured and managed locally

In this article, you will learn how to deal with rumors before any damage takes place.

A prominent psychologist says executives must keep hope alive -- it’s actually a business imperative

Sometimes, being a leader requires being the bearer of bad news

Confused by all of the mixed signals? Gallup’s chief economist, an early forecaster of the downturn, tries to clear things up.

Picking successors the right way is hard, but it solves many performance issues

 

It’s going to be a long, grueling road ahead for CEOs and senior executives -- even if the economy turns the corner. Here’s how leaders can manage the many challenges they’ll face.

Yes, it’s possible. Here’s how one hospital turned the budget over to its employees and reaped a windfall.