Book Recommendations
from Bret L. Simmons

From Bret's review: "I liked the book so much I might make it required reading for my next MBA class in organizational behavior. I neither like nor agree with everything Pfeffer has to say in the book, but he backs up his points with solid research, which I love. It has a few too many stories for my taste, but this is one of the best evidence-based books on leadership and management you can put your hands on, which is why I am recommending it."

Order now from Amazon!

From Bret's review: "In this book, Nayar tells the story of how he transformed an already successful company, HCLT, into one of the fastest growing IT service partners in the world. The personal story Nayar shares is compelling, insightful, and at times funny and brutally honest. Have your highlighter handy when you read this because it is packed full of wisdom and quotable passages."

Order now from Amazon!

Three Simple Questions For Bosses And Employees

August 3, 2010 by Bret L. Simmons · Filed under: Leadership, Video

Samuel Culbert recommends getting rid of performance reviews and replacing them with performance previews. I wholeheartedly concur with eliminating performance reviews, but frankly I’m still chewing on the idea of how to replace the system.

Whatever you want to call it, I like his suggestion for three simple questions bosses and subordinates should be asking each other. With these three questions “you affirm the positive, you own your annoyance, and you tell the person what you lack that you believe would be useful” (p.180):

1. What are you getting from me that you like and find helpful? If relevant, comment on the bigger picture: how we are organized and how people and units interact.

2. What are you getting from me (and/or the system) that impedes your effectiveness and would like to have stopped?

3. What are you not getting from me (and/or the system) that you think would enhance your effectiveness, and tell me, specific to you, why do you need it at this time?

It does not have to be this exact wording, but you get the picture. I think you need to give some thought to how to make a conversation like this systematic (e.g. how often to discuss, how to document, how to follow-up). He does not give any specific suggestions, and I don’t have any, but I am confident that you can figure that part out on your own.

The key will be to really care, to really listen, and to really change your behavior based upon what you learn. If you don’t do anything different to become more helpful to your employees, then don’t bother asking again.

They will know it was all just more of the same bullshit.

Let’s Talk Leadership

Want Your People To Care More? Help Them Perform Better

Leadership 3.0

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Tags: commitment, employee performance, partnership, performance evaluation, systems, Trust
Posted in Leadership, Video

3 Responses to “Three Simple Questions For Bosses And Employees”

Kate Grey says:

August 4, 2010 at 10:51 pm

Bret, I think I’ve told you before how much I like what I call the “Lynn Review Questions” that I’ve used over the years: http://kateegrey.com/2010/04/12/real-leaders-ask-questions/

Well, now I like these too and will add them to my list. What’s powerful about them is they address the SYSTEM and impediments.

By the way, Lynn would like to meet you! Coffee?

[Reply]
Bret L. Simmons Reply:
August 4th, 2010 at 11:53 pm
Coffee would be great. Thanks for the connection, Kate! Bret

[Reply]
Leadership Sincerity Is Bullshit | Bret L. Simmons - Positive Organizational Behavior says:

May 18, 2011 at 5:08 pm

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