Over the past nine months, I’ve had the pleasure of teaching 130 University of Michigan students. Here is a summary of my wishes for these fine young people. Never neglect the importance of finding a great mate to share your life with. Don’t wait till your career is established. Likewise, with friendships: the quality of your friendships will be the key to your happiness in life. Learn to say your name clearly and with confidence. When you introduce yourself, spell your …
Today I devote my post to discussing and brainstorming the issues and opportunities that will allow us to GROW THE LOCAL FOOD ECONOMY in Washtenaw County and to a large extent the state of Michigan. I invite anyone with a focus on food, nutrition, economic development, land preservation, animal safety, and economic and environmental sustainability to join in the conversation. I will do my best in this column to summarize the event but if you’re really interested here is video thanks …
You’ve likely heard of Emotional Intelligence or EQ. Maybe it sounds to you like something that is constant and set at an early age. Yet, behaving appropriately emotionally is not only something that can be learned over a lifetime, but it is something that must be learned if we are to live happy and productive lives. Furthermore, it is essential to successful leadership. Perhaps “Emotional Competence” rather than “Emotional Intelligence” is a better term for the skill set required to …
Personal mission is a very big question: What are you here on Earth to do? It’s a question most of us ponder at some point in our lives, but it’s one of the most difficult to answer. Surprisingly, many successful leaders do have an answer, and usually there is some alignment between what they are leading and what they perceive as their mission. When I think of a personal mission, I think of action: I am here TO DO something. …
Recently, I received a note from a member of one of my Leaders Connect Goal Groups. “I owe a debt of gratitude to this group. 2015 was a year of huge changes in my professional and personal life. I am grateful for all of you. You folks really helped me sort some serious stuff out. Ann Arbor is so fortunate to have introspective business leaders like you who have the courage to be human, to listen and be vulnerable, and …
Here is what I’ve learned is most important to keep employees happy and productive: Respect employees’ needs to balance work with their family and personal lives. Refrain from micromanaging. Respect personal boundaries. Do not tolerate toxic team members. Refrain from imposing highly inflexible rules for no good reason. Do not allow violation of core values to continue without consequence. Provide opportunities to learn new skills and refine core talents. Create work that has meaning and purpose. Provide opportunity to earn more money or …