Category: Leadership Qualities

Being the Boss

On February 27, 2023, I started a new role as Vice President of Human Resources for Space Center Houston—following a 30-year Federal career in Human Resources, mostly with NASA.  In honor of my first anniversary, I thought it was appropriate to summarize Linda Hill and Kent Lineback’s Being the Boss: The 3 Imperatives for Becoming a Great Leader.

If you were a high performer in your work before becoming a manager, you may find the journey into management particularly difficult. Because of previous success, stars are understandably reluctant to give up the attitudes and practices they think produced their success thus far, and they’re unwilling to change themselves.  But, as Marshall Goldsmith wrote, What Got You Here Won’t Get You There.

Too many leaders fail to live up to their potential. Why? Because they stop working on themselves. Leadership is about using yourself as an instrument to get things done. It can be learned, but only if you are willing and able to engage in serious self-development.

That’s one reason I continue with this blog.  It forces me to continue to learn about leadership and improve my own skills and perspective.

Click here to learn the 3 imperatives for becoming a great leader

Legendary Service: The Key is to Care 

As we explore the spiritual discipline of service this month, there is no surprise that the lessons we learn cross over to our daily lives—and can positively impact organization success!

These questions are common:

1. Why is customer service important?     

Most answer that if their customers are happy, they’ll come back; and we’ll be successful.

2. What do you want your customers to know?  

Most answer that they want customers to know they care about them so customers will keep coming back.

Research shows that customers return because of the way the people make them feel. Sounds simple enough—let your customers know you care!

Ken Blanchard, Victoria Halsey, and Kathy Cuff took that idea to write their book entitled Legendary Service: The Key is to Care.

As the authors put it, “Leaders will discover how creating a Culture of Service begins with practicing a service mindset with their people so they will care for customers in a way that can significantly impact the organization’s bottom line.”

Click here to learn more about Legendary Service