How to Succeed When Your Predecessor Was a Star
Starting any job, whether it’s an internal promotion or at a new organization, can feel a bit nerve-wracking. It’s that much more daunting if you know that you’re taking over for someone who was highly respected and successful.
But don’t try to take on your predecessor’s personality or leadership style. Being unapologetically yourself will earn respect and help preempt any comparisons. Also, understand and manage important relationships. This requires knowing not only who people are (and not just the ones with the senior titles) but also what they care most about, what they each expect from you, and what concerns they might have.
And seek feedback. Ask a few trusted colleagues to share early and often what’s going well and what’s going less well so you can make real-time adjustments, as needed. And, of course, go in with the right attitude. Filling big shoes may make you question your own capabilities and whether you have what it takes to meet the standard set by your predecessor. Focus on your strengths and what you know you bring to the role.
This tip is adapted from “How to Succeed When You Have Big Shoes to Fill,” by Rebecca Zucker
Tuesday, June 30, 2020
Are You and Your Team Ready to Work from Home?
Fri 13 March 2020
Are You and Your Team Ready to Work from Home?
A crisis, like Covid-19, can impact how, when, and where you and your employees work. That’s why it’s important to be sure everyone on your team is prepared to work from home — perhaps on a moment’s notice. Map out which jobs and tasks can and can’t be done, even partially, without a physical presence in the office. Then do a thorough audit of the technology that your company uses for remote work. Make sure your employees are comfortable using the various hardware and software. Quickly train people and give them opportunities to practice. You’ll also need a clear communications protocol that should include: everyone’s contact information; which communication channels you’ll use — email, IM, Slack, etc.; how employees are expected to respond to customers; and how and when teams will coordinate and meet. While putting these steps in place, it’s also smart to identify ways to measure how effective remote work is for your team. Once the crisis is over, this data will allow you to reflect on what worked, what didn’t, and why.
This tip is adapted from “What’s Your Company’s Emergency Remote-Work Plan?,” by Cali Williams Yost
Are You and Your Team Ready to Work from Home?
A crisis, like Covid-19, can impact how, when, and where you and your employees work. That’s why it’s important to be sure everyone on your team is prepared to work from home — perhaps on a moment’s notice. Map out which jobs and tasks can and can’t be done, even partially, without a physical presence in the office. Then do a thorough audit of the technology that your company uses for remote work. Make sure your employees are comfortable using the various hardware and software. Quickly train people and give them opportunities to practice. You’ll also need a clear communications protocol that should include: everyone’s contact information; which communication channels you’ll use — email, IM, Slack, etc.; how employees are expected to respond to customers; and how and when teams will coordinate and meet. While putting these steps in place, it’s also smart to identify ways to measure how effective remote work is for your team. Once the crisis is over, this data will allow you to reflect on what worked, what didn’t, and why.
This tip is adapted from “What’s Your Company’s Emergency Remote-Work Plan?,” by Cali Williams Yost
Communicate with Your Team During a Rapidly Evolving Crisis
Mon 16 March 2020
Communicate with Your Team During a Rapidly Evolving Crisis
Keeping your employees informed during a crisis should be one of your top priorities as a leader. It’s your responsibility to stay on top of events as they unfold — especially if they’re evolving as fast as they are right now. At the same time, beware of hype. News outlets often focus on what’s new, rather than the big picture, and they sometimes don’t distinguish between hard facts, soft facts, and speculation. Think critically about the source of the information before acting on it. Of course, employees have direct access to many sources of information too — but don’t assume they’re fully informed. It’s far better to create and widely share a regularly updated summary of facts and implications so you’re all on the same page. And constantly reframe your understanding of what’s happening. Don’t hold off on disseminating plans just because they might change. Create a living document, with a time-stamped “best current view,” and update it regularly, highlighting critical changes.
This tip is adapted from “Lead Your Business Through the Coronavirus Crisis,” by Martin Reeves, Nikolaus Lang, and Philipp Carlsson-Szlezak
Make Instant Messaging Work for Your Team
Wed 25 March 2020
Make Instant Messaging Work for Your Team
Whether you’re in an office or working remotely, instant messaging tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom can be invaluable. There’s just one problem: We’re still figuring out how to properly, and professionally, communicate via IM. These platforms can be distracting, and they can inadvertently reinforce communication silos when teams accustomed to one platform don’t connect with others who use a different one. So pick a platform, clearly define expectations and reiterate them over time. Respect work-life balance by creating norms around appropriate response times. Encourage people to sign off IM tools and to respect others’ out-of-office status messages. Explain that requests should come with information about when answers are needed, and that most conversations should happen during the workday and be kept short and to the point. And don’t let text entirely replace other forms of interaction. Even if you can’t be in the office together, you can encourage people to pick up the phone or turn on video conferencing to connect with one another.
This tip is adapted from “Best Practices for Instant Messaging at Work,” by Dustin York
Make Instant Messaging Work for Your Team
Whether you’re in an office or working remotely, instant messaging tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom can be invaluable. There’s just one problem: We’re still figuring out how to properly, and professionally, communicate via IM. These platforms can be distracting, and they can inadvertently reinforce communication silos when teams accustomed to one platform don’t connect with others who use a different one. So pick a platform, clearly define expectations and reiterate them over time. Respect work-life balance by creating norms around appropriate response times. Encourage people to sign off IM tools and to respect others’ out-of-office status messages. Explain that requests should come with information about when answers are needed, and that most conversations should happen during the workday and be kept short and to the point. And don’t let text entirely replace other forms of interaction. Even if you can’t be in the office together, you can encourage people to pick up the phone or turn on video conferencing to connect with one another.
This tip is adapted from “Best Practices for Instant Messaging at Work,” by Dustin York
7 Tips for Cybersecurity During a Crisis
Tue 24 March 2020
7 Tips for Cybersecurity During a Crisis
" Cyber criminals love a crisis ! With many more people working remotely, they are undoubtedly poised to capitalize on security flaws, but there are several things you can do to protect yourself and your company.
(1) Phishing : Be on the lookout for phishing emails designed to entice you to click on the latest and greatest offer related to coronavirus protections, or with urgent instructions from your boss.
Their intent is to get you to unwittingly download malware onto your device and the company’s systems.
(2) Make sure your devices are up to date on their anti-virus protection.
(3) Use multi-factor authentication on any accounts for which it is available.
(4) Avoid the temptation of using Bluetooth in a public place — it is an easy way for hackers to connect to your device. Only work on secure, password-protected internet connections.
(5) If you have to use public WiFi, be sure to verify with the owner that the network to which you’re connecting is legitimate and secured through a password.
(6) Avoid accessing any confidential or sensitive information from a public WiFi network.
(7) And be sure to report any lost or stolen device immediately to minimize the risk of fraud.
This tip is adapted from “Will Coronavirus Lead to More Cyber Attacks?,” by Brenda R. Sharton
7 Tips for Cybersecurity During a Crisis
" Cyber criminals love a crisis ! With many more people working remotely, they are undoubtedly poised to capitalize on security flaws, but there are several things you can do to protect yourself and your company.
(1) Phishing : Be on the lookout for phishing emails designed to entice you to click on the latest and greatest offer related to coronavirus protections, or with urgent instructions from your boss.
Their intent is to get you to unwittingly download malware onto your device and the company’s systems.
(2) Make sure your devices are up to date on their anti-virus protection.
(3) Use multi-factor authentication on any accounts for which it is available.
(4) Avoid the temptation of using Bluetooth in a public place — it is an easy way for hackers to connect to your device. Only work on secure, password-protected internet connections.
(5) If you have to use public WiFi, be sure to verify with the owner that the network to which you’re connecting is legitimate and secured through a password.
(6) Avoid accessing any confidential or sensitive information from a public WiFi network.
(7) And be sure to report any lost or stolen device immediately to minimize the risk of fraud.
This tip is adapted from “Will Coronavirus Lead to More Cyber Attacks?,” by Brenda R. Sharton
Don’t Let a Setback Drag Your Team Down
Fri 20 March 2020
Don’t Let a Setback Drag Your Team Down
Every team experiences setbacks — the customer you didn’t land, the client meeting that didn’t go well. And because of our natural negativity bias, these disappointments can often overshadow what is going well. Well, the good news is that bad news doesn’t have to drag you all down. You can adopt what the leadership scholar John Gardner called “tough-minded optimism” and exhibit excitement, enthusiasm, and grit. Go out of your way to remind colleagues of the progress they’re making. Celebrate small wins frequently and memorably. (There’s a reason so many startups ring a bell or bang a gong every time they land a new customer.) Organize a Friday celebration to revel in the week’s good news. Make it a point to emphasize — even overemphasize — good news in order to lessen the impact of the bad. While keeping your team excited and focused on the future, you might also have to deal with any “bad apples” — people who gossip, carry grudges, and otherwise bring the team down. Their negativity can be contagious, so it’s important you coach them to change their attitude or ask them to move on.
This tip is adapted from “Don’t Let Negativity Sink Your Organization,” by Bill Taylor
Don’t Let a Setback Drag Your Team Down
Every team experiences setbacks — the customer you didn’t land, the client meeting that didn’t go well. And because of our natural negativity bias, these disappointments can often overshadow what is going well. Well, the good news is that bad news doesn’t have to drag you all down. You can adopt what the leadership scholar John Gardner called “tough-minded optimism” and exhibit excitement, enthusiasm, and grit. Go out of your way to remind colleagues of the progress they’re making. Celebrate small wins frequently and memorably. (There’s a reason so many startups ring a bell or bang a gong every time they land a new customer.) Organize a Friday celebration to revel in the week’s good news. Make it a point to emphasize — even overemphasize — good news in order to lessen the impact of the bad. While keeping your team excited and focused on the future, you might also have to deal with any “bad apples” — people who gossip, carry grudges, and otherwise bring the team down. Their negativity can be contagious, so it’s important you coach them to change their attitude or ask them to move on.
This tip is adapted from “Don’t Let Negativity Sink Your Organization,” by Bill Taylor
Monday, June 29, 2020
Use Curiosity to Break a Bad Habit
Mon 06 Jan 2020
Use Curiosity to Break a Bad Habit
Why is breaking a habit so difficult? It’s because habits are made up of three components: a trigger (for example, feeling stressed), a behavior (browsing the Internet), and a reward (feeling sated). Each time you reinforce the reward, you become more likely to repeat the behavior. The key to breaking this cycle is to become more aware of the “reward” reinforcing your behavior. First, figure out your triggers. If the habit is procrastination, for example, pay attention to the circumstances surrounding you when you put things off. Do you have a big project you’re trying to avoid? Do you have too much on your plate? Then, try to identify the behaviors you engage in when you procrastinate. Do you check social media instead of working? Do you take on unimportant tasks instead of what you should be doing? The next step is to clearly link action to outcome. Ask yourself what you get from surfing the internet for pictures of cute puppies. How rewarding is it in the moment, especially when you realize that it isn’t helping you get your work done? Lastly, replace the reward with curiosity. Being curious helps you acknowledge the sensations you’re feeling — boredom, distraction — without acting on them.
This tip is adapted from “How to Break Up with Your Bad Habits,” by Judson Brewer
Use Curiosity to Break a Bad Habit
Why is breaking a habit so difficult? It’s because habits are made up of three components: a trigger (for example, feeling stressed), a behavior (browsing the Internet), and a reward (feeling sated). Each time you reinforce the reward, you become more likely to repeat the behavior. The key to breaking this cycle is to become more aware of the “reward” reinforcing your behavior. First, figure out your triggers. If the habit is procrastination, for example, pay attention to the circumstances surrounding you when you put things off. Do you have a big project you’re trying to avoid? Do you have too much on your plate? Then, try to identify the behaviors you engage in when you procrastinate. Do you check social media instead of working? Do you take on unimportant tasks instead of what you should be doing? The next step is to clearly link action to outcome. Ask yourself what you get from surfing the internet for pictures of cute puppies. How rewarding is it in the moment, especially when you realize that it isn’t helping you get your work done? Lastly, replace the reward with curiosity. Being curious helps you acknowledge the sensations you’re feeling — boredom, distraction — without acting on them.
This tip is adapted from “How to Break Up with Your Bad Habits,” by Judson Brewer
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