"Weak foundations are the most common cause for an eventual collapse; and you can'teasilyfix the foundations once you've already started building!"

I seem to remind others I work with (and myself) of this sentiment often. It has proven to be one of the most powerful insights and has changed the way I work with new teams. It has caused me to realize that as managers it is our responsibility to set the team up for success.

I've lost count of the number of times my office phone has rung with a frantic Program Director on the other end of the line. They've recently launched a new morning show and in just a few weeks the cracks are beginning to show."I am concerned about the team's performance. The team doesn't seem to be gelling off air. They are more concerned about themselves than the show as a whole."They go on,"It's chaotic. We can't agree on what is important; they fight my direction and I disagree with theirs!"I have always hated it when people say"I told you so"and promised myself I wouldn't be one of those people. However, it is during these conversations that I really have to hold myself back. It's not that I have a higher IQ or anything. It's simply that I have screwed up launching many shows by skipping one vital step...the same vital step that these PDs arealwaysadamant isn't needed for their new team when I first suggest it.

Programming a radio station is not an easy assignment. The program director (or brand director or content director -- there are so many labels for the role today) collaborates in the creation of the strategic plan and takes responsibility for its effective ...

"I want my people to be better. All of my people. I want to start with those who have the responsibility for coaching and developing other employees."Despite those words being delivered by a manager with a somewhat strident voice, the sentiment was refreshing to hear. ...

The best performers are positive. They have a fundamentally positive outlook on life. They laugh and smile more, they bitch and whine less and they are better at dealing with change. The law of attraction suggests that whatever you focus on most will create a ...

"Experience is often a weak predictor of performance." Those were the words I heard come tumbling from my lips and fill the emptiness of my office as I spoke with a colleague. Since uttering those words aloud I have found myself wondering why I arrived at such a ...

I was caught off guard this week when someone asked;"Which one quality do you see missing from inexperienced coaches?" My mind instantly started acting like one of those old fashioned rolodexes, quickly flicking through all the possibilities. Mentally I was scrolling ...

The secret to success in business is durable competitive advantage. Only products that demonstrate a desirable difference to their competitors are likely to win audience attention. Our brains act like filters that protect us from too much information. We're hard wired ...

There is one common denominator among successful people. Hunger. They have a desire to master or achieve something. They have a drive to propel themselves forward. They are willing to do everything necessary to achieve their vision. Successful people have set a higher ...

Having a winning mindset is the most powerful tool in achieving success! Often you see and hear sport coaches and athletes talk publically - and proudly - about the need to develop a winning mindset; the need to have a "positive mental attitude." It has always surprised ...

every situation, having a well-functioning team is the best way for you to attain high levels of performance, innovation and employee satisfaction. I don't think anyone would disagree with that statement. So it was scary for me to learn that "about 60% of the time, ...