Leadership Matters

John C. Maxwell says leadership is influence, nothing more and nothing less. Judith Germain believes that leadership is trusted influence. Simply put, leadership is influencing others to aspire to achieve a shared goal. In this regard, leadership, influence, and power are inextricably linked. As leaders, understanding how to use influence and power to effectively impact organizational dynamics is critical to one’s success. Influence is an amazing resource for leaders and how a leader uses influence is vital to the success of a team and organization. There are effective and ineffective models for how to influence people to make change and achieve desired results. Today’s show addresses the role of influence and the notion of “exchange” in leadership; its impact on organizational dynamics; and how people can improve their effectiveness by enhancing their ability to influence and understanding their own power base.

Service on a nonprofit board is commendable and can be a rewarding experience. One of the many reasons people serve on nonprofit boards is the desire to contribute to the achievement of the mission and influence the direction of the organization. Board of directors are charged with providing oversight to ensure an organization’s policies, strategic direction, financial solvency, and executive leadership support successful accomplishment of an organization’s mission. Engaged board members that are effective in carrying out their duties and responsibilities can make a critical difference to the success of an organization. On today’s show, our guests, Vernon Evans, CFO and Vice President of Finance/Treasurer of the San Diego County Regional Air Port Authority and Mike Burns, Partner with BWB Solutions, LLC in Branford, CT and Dwight Smith, Executive VP and General Counsel with Neighborhood House Association will share their experiences and discuss best practices for board governance; engagement; roles and resp

Community engagement is the process of groups and individuals working to affect the well-being of themselves and others in the community. It is accomplished through partnerships and coalitions that mobilize resources and influence systems, change relationships among partners, and serve as catalysts for change. Individuals working to engage in this process can provide important tools and resources so that community members gain greater voice and influence over decisions that impact their lives. Community engagement is both a science and an art. Dr. G and guests will discuss what community engagement is; why it is important in public and nonprofit sector work; and tips and community engagement best practices guests have discovered while facilitating efforts and delivering community based services.

A manager or leader’s success relies heavily on the ability to communicate skillfully; good communication skills are foundational to managing and leading others. Most managers spend about 80% of their time communicating. Communication is as much a matter of human relationships as it is about transmitting facts. According to an article Harvard Business School Working Knowledge newsletter, a 2002 survey of 1,104 employees in organizations around the United States, 86% said their bosses thought they were good communicators, but only 17% said their bosses actually communicated effectively. From listening empathically to understanding others, confronting issues, and providing input, coaching, support and direction communication plays a critical role in delivering results. Dr. G and guests today will discuss key skills and principles to help managers understand barriers to effective communication and enhance their communication skills to have greater impact and success.

Today’s organizations use technology for information management and communication and to help organizations operate efficiently and effectively. In the nonprofit and public sectors, information technology supports processes such as tracking, communication, public awareness, budget/financial management, human resource management, Internet-based marketing, and fundraising. Information technology is also a central component in organization’s planning for disaster recovery, virtualization, and continuity of services. In this episode our guests, W. Harold Tuck, Chief Information Officer for the County of San Diego and Ron Salazar, CEO of MR2 Solutions, Inc, will discuss ways technology can be used to support public and nonprofit organizations in achieving efficiencies, maximizing effectiveness, and managing through and recovering from human-caused or natural disasters. We will also discuss what it takes to be a successful leader in the information technology field and in today’s fast-paced technological enviro

A manager or leader’s success relies heavily on the ability to communicate skillfully; good communication skills are foundational to managing and leading others. Most managers spend about 80% of their time communicating. Communication is as much a matter of human relationships as it is about transmitting facts. According to an article Harvard Business School Working Knowledge newsletter, a 2002 survey of 1,104 employees in organizations around the United States, 86% said their bosses thought they were good communicators, but only 17% said their bosses actually communicated effectively. From listening empathically to understanding others, confronting issues, and providing input, coaching, support and direction communication plays a critical role in delivering results. Dr. G and guests today will discuss key skills and principles to help managers understand barriers to effective communication and enhance their communication skills to have greater impact and success.

Information from the National Commission on Adult Literacy states that 88 million U.S. workers lack the basic skills to earn a postsecondary credential limiting their capacity to get and keep family supporting jobs. According to the Center for American Progress, the U.S. graduation rate has not reached above 70 percent in decades…the economic and social consequences of not completing high school have steadily intensified. In January 2011, retired Army Major General James Comstock, who serves on the executive council of Mission: Readiness, reported that 75 percent of young Americans are not able to join the military either due to low academic performance and this does not include those that are ineligible due to being overweight or due to a serious run-in with the law. On today’s show, we will discuss challenges confronting the development of our workforce; what is currently being done to address this situation; and strategies, solutions and what today’s leaders can do to help tackle this national crisis and c

In the workplace, how we behave has a powerful impact on determining whether we will be successful or not and whether our work environment functions at its greatest capacity. We encounter co-workers with whom we never seem to see eye to eye. Each day we work with people who vary greatly in their personality. Having a wide variety of personalities presents a tremendous potential for conflict due to misunderstanding and different viewpoints. Personality plays a significant role in why some people work well together and others don’t. Personality conflicts impact people’s ability to be productive, and may undermine the effectiveness of a team. It also creates some of the greatest workplace challenges we will face. So, how do you deal with so many different characters? How do we manage workplace relationships so that we are not derailed by personality conflicts? Our guest today, Dr. Linda Berens, has spent thirty years teaching professionals as well as helping individuals and teams recognize their strengths, tran

Trust and credibility are cornerstones for establishing influential relationships and achieving desired outcomes. If either is missing it usually results in an adverse affect on results. Credible and trusted leaders inspire others to access their own power and maximize performance. Dr. G and today’s guests will discuss what it means to be a credible and trusted leader, what happens when either is broken, how integrity plays into the equation, and how trust and credibility can be recaptured.

Service on a nonprofit board is commendable and can be a rewarding experience. One of the many reasons people serve on nonprofit boards is the desire to contribute to the achievement of the mission and influence the direction of an organization. Board of directors are charged with providing oversight to ensure an organization’s policies, strategic direction, financial solvency, and executive leadership support successful accomplishment of an organization’s mission. Engaged board members that are effective in carrying out their duties and responsibilities can make a critical difference to the success of an organization. On today’s show, our guests, Vernon Evans, CFO and Vice President of Finance/Treasurer of the San Diego County Regional Air Port Authority, Dwight Smith, Esq., Legal Counsel with Neighborhood House Association, and Mike Burns, Partner with BWB Solutions, LLC in Branford, CT will share their experiences and discuss best practices for board governance; engagement; roles and responsibilities; bo

Diversity can include consideration of every aspect of a person’s identity and disposition. Inclusion refers to the extent to which all employees feel a sense of belonging, support, and ability to contribute their best to the goals of an organization. When diversity and inclusion are connected to business strategy there is an increase in employee engagement, creativity, innovation, performance, productivity and customer satisfaction. When diversity and inclusion challenges are not addressed organizations can experience destructive workplace conflict, reduced productivity, decreased customer satisfaction, loss of high potentials, legal complaints/actions, and increased levels of unhealthy tension/stress among employees. On today’s show our Dr. G and guests will discuss the business case for diversity and inclusion in the workplace; ways to overcome challenges associated with managing a diverse workforce, and how to successfully engage employees and foster an inclusive work culture.

Service on a nonprofit board is commendable and can be a rewarding experience. One of the many reasons people serve on nonprofit boards is the desire to contribute to the achievement of the mission and influence the direction of the organization. Board of directors are charged with providing oversight to ensure an organization’s policies, strategic direction, financial solvency, and executive leadership support successful accomplishment of an organization’s mission. Engaged board members that are effective in carrying out their duties and responsibilities can make a critical difference to the success of an organization. On today’s show, our guests, Vernon Evans, CFO and Vice President of Finance/Treasurer of the San Diego County Regional Air Port Authority and Mike Burns, Partner with BWB Solutions, LLC in Branford, CT will share their experiences and discuss best practices for board governance; engagement; roles and responsibilities; board development; setting a strategic direction and making policy versus

According to Peter Drucker, “The ultimate test of management is performance!” The performance of an organization’s workforce has a powerful impact on its bottom-line. In today’s highly dynamic business environment, managing performance is about developing employees’ capacity to perform and adapt to a variety of situations, and ensure the goals are consistently being met in an effective and efficient manner. Performance management focuses on an organization’s performance—results delivered in service, product, and/or revenue. Performance management is often viewed as one of the most difficult parts of a manager’s responsibilities—and in essence it is the most important. Today’s guests, Joseph F. Johnson, Executive Coach/Turn-Around Manager, and Doug Walker, author of A-Ha! Performance, will discuss elements of a performance management system, barriers to effective performance, how to overcome barriers/challenges and work with employees to improve performance and achieve results.

Conflict is a normal and natural dynamic in the workplace and in our personal lives. The pressure of meeting deadlines; co-workers with different points of views; overlapping roles; value differences—all make conflict inevitable in the workplace. Conflict is not necessarily a negative event. Handled appropriately conflict can lead to valuable insights and productive outcomes. Nonetheless, while conflict can be helpful in spurring creativity and innovation, unresolved and ineffectively handled conflict can erode productivity, impede results, and reduce an organization’s overall success and return on investment. It can lead to physical and/or emotional harm, individuals resigning, broken personal relationships, aggression/violence, reduced morale, increased absenteeism, and destructive blow-ups among co-workers and teams. Today’s show focuses on effectively managing conflict. Dr. G and guests, Dr. Charlotte Houston, Consulting Psychologist and Jordan Goldrich of CUSTOMatrix, will discuss how to create soluti

In the workplace, how we behave has a powerful impact on determining whether we will be successful or not and whether our work environment functions at its greatest capacity. We encounter co-workers with whom we never seem to see eye to eye. Each day we work with people who vary greatly in their personality. Having a wide variety of personalities presents a tremendous potential for conflict due to misunderstanding and different viewpoints. Personality plays a significant role in why some people work well together and others don’t. Personality conflicts impact people’s ability to be productive, and may undermine the effectiveness of a team. It also creates some of the greatest workplace challenges we will face. So, how do you deal with so many different characters? How do we manage workplace relationships so that we are not derailed by personality conflicts? Our guest today, Dr. Linda Berens, has spent thirty years teaching professionals as well as helping individuals and teams recognize their strengths.

According to Peter Drucker, “The ultimate test of management is performance!” The performance of an organization’s workforce has a powerful impact on its bottom-line. In today’s highly dynamic business environment, managing performance is about developing employees’ capacity to perform and adapt to a variety of situations, and ensure the goals are consistently being met in an effective and efficient manner. Performance management focuses on an organization’s performance—results delivered in service, product, and/or revenue. Performance management is often viewed as one of the most difficult parts of a manager’s responsibilities—and in essence it is the most important. Today’s guests, Joseph F. Johnson, Executive Coach/Turn-Around Manager, and Doug Walker, author of A-Ha! Performance, will discuss elements of a performance management system, barriers to effective performance, how to overcome barriers/challenges and work with employees to improve performance.

Conflict is a normal and natural dynamic in the workplace and in our personal lives. The pressure of meeting deadlines; co-workers with different points of views; overlapping roles; value differences—all make conflict inevitable in the workplace. Conflict is not necessarily a negative event. Handled appropriately conflict can lead to valuable insights and productive outcomes. Nonetheless, while conflict can be helpful in spurring creativity and innovation, unresolved and ineffectively handled conflict can erode productivity, impede results, and reduce an organization’s overall success and return on investment. It can lead to physical and/or emotional harm, individuals resigning, broken personal relationships, aggression/violence, reduced morale, increased absenteeism, and destructive blow-ups among co-workers and teams. Today’s show focuses on effectively managing conflict. Dr. G and guests, Dr. Charlotte Houston, Consulting Psychologist and Jordan Goldrich of CUSTOMatrix, will discuss how to create soluti

In the workplace, how we behave has a powerful impact on determining whether we will be successful or not and whether our work environment functions at its greatest capacity. We encounter co-workers with whom we seem to naturally be in sync with and others with whom we never seem to see eye to eye. Each day we work with people who vary greatly in their personality. Having a wide variety of personalities presents a tremendous opportunity for growth and creativity as well as a potential for conflict due to misunderstandings from different viewpoints. Personality conflicts can impact a person’s ability to be productive, and can undermine the effectiveness of a team. It can create some of the greatest workplace challenges we will face. So, how do you deal with so many different characters? How do we manage workplace relationships so that we are not derailed by personality conflicts and can leverage the benefits of personality differences?

Today’s organizations use technology for information management and communication and to help organizations operate efficiently and effectively. In the nonprofit and public sectors, information technology supports processes such as tracking, communication, public awareness, budget/financial management, human resource management, Internet-based marketing, and fundraising. Information technology is also a central component in organization’s planning for disaster recovery, virtualization, and continuity of services. In this episode our guests, W. Harold Tuck, Chief Information Officer for the County of San Diego and Ron Salazar, CEO of MR2 Solutions, Inc, will discuss ways technology can be used to support public and nonprofit organizations in achieving efficiencies, maximizing effectiveness, and managing through and recovering from human-caused or natural disasters. We will also discuss what it takes to be a successful leader in the information technology field and in today’s fast-paced technological enviro

John C. Maxwell says leadership is influence, nothing more and nothing less. Judith Germain believes that leadership is trusted influence. Simply put, leadership is influencing others to aspire to achieve a shared goal. In this regard, leadership, influence, and power are inextricably linked. As leaders, understanding how to use influence and power to effectively impact organizational dynamics is critical to one’s success. Influence is an amazing resource for leaders and how a leader uses influence is vital to the success of a team and organization. There are effective and ineffective models for how to influence people to make change and achieve desired results. Today’s show addresses the role of influence and the notion of “exchange” in leadership; its impact on organizational dynamics; and how people can improve their effectiveness by enhancing their ability to influence and understanding their own power base.