Human and Golf Course Architecture
"Narrow fairways bordered by long grass make for bad golfers. They do so by destroying the harmony and continuity of the game, and in causing a…
Wooden Blocks
I was listening to a Manager Tools podcast over the weekend and they shared a great Civil War era poem by Stephen Vincent Benet that applies…
Leadership Worst Practices
I've been re-watching The Office with my wife over the past several months, starting from the beginning and working through all of the episodes. One thing…
Eight Steps to Transform Your Organization
Change is hard, really hard. Most days, I can barely muster the willpower to floss my teeth - even after deliberately placing the floss right next…
Chess, Not Checkers
The first few years of my career were relatively straightforward. I came to work every day, grabbed my new user stories or defects and started working.…
Five Qualities of People-Focused Leaders
When you’re in a relationship, if you are aware of a problem, it’s your responsibility to make a concerted effort to make a positive…
Google Says: "Managers Are Important"
In 2002 - four years after inception - Google decided to perform an experiment. Restructure the company to be completely flat - No managers! Theoretically, this…
Leader-Leader
Traditional leadership logic (leader-follower) says that organizations need a strong leader to take command and control over an organization in order for it to succeed. This…
Help Your Team Succeed By Providing Context, Tools, and Opportunities
In order for your team to succeed, they must be provided with the proper context, tools, and opportunities. Neglecting any one of these three items will…
The First Thing You Should Do After A Missed Deadline
There are several different project management levers you can pull when a team member misses a deadline, but there is one that you should always do…