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Date: May 3rd, 2012
In this article, I am going to “think outside the box” and capture the “low-hanging fruit” of the corporate buzzwords that can cause real problems. There is certainly no lack of these catch phrases. We all probably have our favorites as well as our list of the most annoying slogans. The danger of these phrases may, however, go beyond just being annoying.
Date: April 30th, 2012
by Thomas Gordon, Ph.D.
Originally Published in Human Relations Training News, National Training Laboratory, 1961, Vol. 4, No. 4.
Date: April 19th, 2012
To be an effective leader, it is crucially important to be a good listener. To be a good listener, I mean a really good listener, there are three conditions that must be met according to Dr. Thomas Gordon. They are: acceptance, empathy, and genuineness. Dr. Gordon studied psychology with Carl Rogers, one of the most famous psychologists of all time. Rogers talked about unconditional positive regard, empathy, and congruence and Tom Gordon applied those concepts to non-therapeutic situations that were practical for parents, teachers, and managers.
Date: April 2nd, 2012
In Greek mythology, Narcissus was a beautiful young man who was admired and desired by all, especially himself. In fact, he was so beguiled by his own reflection in the water that he died of longing and turned into a flower. The myth has become a metaphor for the type of personality that is overly enamored with oneself, not to be confused with normal, healthy self-esteem or confidence. Those are good things. But, as is often the case, too much of a good thing can turn bad.
Date: March 29th, 2012
It just makes sense. The fewer people you have, the lower your costs. The lower your costs, the more money you make. Right? So, cut research, cut leadership training, lay off a few thousand people. Wait, not so fast! The formula used by many companies to reassure their stockholders that they are cost conscious and willing to make the “tough choices” may not be as obvious as you would think. Huge consulting companies have justified their huge fees by pointing to the evident improvement on the bottom line. “See,” they say, “Now you are paying half what you were paying for labor. Here’s my bill.”
Date: March 1st, 2012
“Excuse me, I have to take this call. I will be back to this article on multitasking right after I check my e-mails, see what updates I have on Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, and Yelp, and order those materials for my upcoming team-building workshop, decide on which airfare is best for the trip, see what that “beeping” is, check to see if the laundry is done, and listen to my daughter explain how she just has to go to another all-night party with her friends.” No problem, right? “Now, where was I? Oh, yeah! The article on multitasking! Or was it team-building? And what about that new phone that lets me download my apps faster than ever? And that little, online TV news feed in the upper corner of my computer that is keeping me constantly up-to-date on world events.”
Date: January 4th, 2012
Talk about irony. On the same day, December 18, two world leaders died. One was revered and truly beloved by his people. The other feared and mourned only through intimidation. Václav Havel, an unlikely political leader, a playwright, poet and dissident, published a famous essay in 1978, “The Power of the Powerless.” His words and commitment to the ideals of truth and beauty were a powerful force in Czechoslovakia’s (now the Czech Republic) “Velvet Revolution.” Co-author of the human rights charter called “Charter 77,” he was persecuted and imprisoned by the Communist police state in power at the time. He emerged as the president of a free Czechoslovakia and the recipient of numerous awards around the world for his courage. Havel wrote about his own country when still under a repressive Communist regime, that they are required to “live within a lie.” They lived with tons of slogans but few real beliefs.
Date: December 1st, 2011
“Leadership training–now? What? Are you nuts?” You would think that with 9% unemployment that retaining employees would be a breeze. Well, think again. As the recession drags on and layoffs and hiring freezes continue, companies are asking employees to do more with less. They have been asking them to do more with less for quite a while now and they have responded. Productivity is high and many companies have made good profits during the recovery. Management is inclined to think, “Wow! If we can make this much money with so few employees, why hire any more. We’ll just keep pushing the
m.”
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