Posts by Chris Gardner
Followership: Developing Great Followers Creates Great Leaders
While leadership often garners the spotlight, it’s important to recognize that effective followership is equally crucial to an organization’s success. As the saying goes, “A leader without followers is simply taking a walk.” Leadership may get the glory, but without strong, voluntary followership, leadership has no impact. Developing new leaders requires good followers who are…
Read MoreHow to Unplug in Today’s Plugged in Society
If someone asked you unplug completely for 24 hours, could you do it? Imagine one whole day without your phone. Maybe you start at Starbucks. As you wait for your coffee, what do you do without your phone? You leave and hit a traffic jam. Without Maps, how do you know how big the backup…
Read MoreThe Networking Bank: Deposit Before You Withdraw
Networking Bank
Read MoreWho’s the Glue? The Value of Relationship Building
In every friend group, there’s that one person—the “glue”—who keeps everyone connected. They’re the ones organizing get-togethers, ensuring everyone shows up for birthdays, and sending out invitations months in advance for that annual reunion. You likely also know someone in your professional network who makes it a priority to stay connected, grabbing lunch or coffee…
Read MoreHow to Dig Out of the Resume Black Hole and Get an Interview
Your ideal job is posted. You are highly qualified. You spend hours crafting the perfect resume and cover letter. You finally hit apply and— then begin waiting. For days, you check your phone and email, but there is never a request to interview. Why? Did an actual person read your application before it fell into…
Read MoreCultivating Gratitude: Improving Your Perspective to Achieve Success
In a world marked by economic uncertainty, rising living costs, and professional challenges, it is easy to be consumed by worry. We stress over how to pay for groceries, juggle professional commitments, satisfy clients, and meet tight deadlines. The constant pressure to navigate both personal and work-related issues can cloud our outlook and erode our…
Read MoreHandling Adversity as a Team: Leaning on Each Other to Achieve Positive Outcomes
In every organization, adversity is inevitable. Handling adversity as a team is not as common as it should be. Whether it’s a sudden market downturn, an unexpected challenge in a project, or internal conflicts, how a team handles these difficulties can make or break its success. The key to overcoming adversity lies not just in…
Read MoreHow to Turn Your Team from Problem Identifiers to Solution Seekers
An employee’s email suddenly stops working. What happens next? Does the employee 1) immediately report the problem to a manager, 2) does the employee try to fix it himself or 3) does the employee ask a member of his team for help? The answer may come down to company culture. When a team faces large…
Read MoreOvercoming Habituation: Break the Monotony with Company Culture
Habituation
Read MoreThe Joy of a Retirement “Jobby”
We all dream of the day we can declare ourselves officially retired. Many of us imagine taking trips, walking on the beach, reading books, and enjoying lots of free time. But, after a highly productive and successful career, it may be hard to shift to the retirement lifestyle. We may also need to supplement our…
Read MoreThree Ways Childhood Shapes Our Career Paths
If you could pinpoint one specific moment when you chose your career, when would that be? Were you 18 years old picking a college major? Have you known since you were young? Or are you still trying to figure it out? What was your decision based on? As we know, each one of us is…
Read MoreHow to Determine If You Have Reached Career Nirvana
Career Nirvana
Read MoreHow Skilled Interviewees Present Themselves Without Overselling
A great interview is a great conversation. It’s like a first date. If it’s going well, it’s a two-way back and forth instead of a one-person brag fest. Here’s how skilled interviewees present themselves without overselling their skills. First, Skilled Interviewees Read the Room The first few minutes of any interview is crucial. It is…
Read MoreStop Humblebragging and Do This Instead
“I was working late again last night. I wish I could stop being such a perfectionist.” “I’m exhausted from the Diamond Club sales incentive trip I just went on with Jack Rowland. I believe he’s a connection of yours on LinkedIn?” “My boss gave me yet another project. I wish things would go to other…
Read MoreHow Does the FTC’s Noncompete Ban Affect Hiring?
The Federal Trade Commission’s recent ban on noncompete agreements has a profound effect on business, especially in the areas of hiring and recruiting. Employees can now more easily move between jobs which will lead to an increased number of candidates and higher wages. The new regulation will also challenge employers (especially small businesses) to find…
Read MoreIs Your Ambition Making You Miserable?
Ambition is powerful. In the field of recruiting, it is universally sought after in every candidate. Ambitious people have high expectations and strong intrinsic motivation. But, is there a line between healthy ambition and unrealistic expectations? When does unrealized ambition turn into daily frustration? Is your ambition making you miserable? Be Ambitious, but set SMART…
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