The No-Drama Rule of Management
by Peter on June 10, 2010
in Business Week, Harvard Business
I lay back in the chair, closed my eyes, and almost immediately felt my body relax. An instant later a stream of warm water rinsed through my hair while strong, competent hands massaged my scalp. For that moment my stress disappeared, washed away with the water.
Read more..When Should You Let an Employee Make a Mistake?
by Peter on November 5, 2009
in Business Week, Harvard Business
"Put my training wheels back on," Sophia said in a stern tone, "Or I'm not going to ride my bike!" She had just turned four that day and wanted to learn to ride a bike like her older sister. Now she wasn't so sure.
Read more..A New Rule for the Workplace
by Peter on September 10, 2009
in Business Week, Harvard Business
A few months ago my wife Eleanor came home upset after an incident with one of the parents at our daughter's school. That afternoon, when Eleanor said hello to Michelle, Michelle completely ignored her. Thinking maybe Michelle hadn't heard her, Eleanor said hello again, this time louder. Again, no response. Michelle wasn't speaking on the phone or in a conversation with another parent. She was able to respond, she just refused to. Eleanor was getting the silent treatment. Not one to give up, she said hello a third time. Finally, Michelle mumbled something without looking up and walked away.
Read more..To Get More Done, Slow Down
by Peter on August 18, 2009
in Business Week, Harvard Business
On a Friday afternoon almost twenty years ago, soon after I had started working at a New York consulting firm, I was working on an important presentation with Andy Geller, who ran the office. We'd promised to deliver it Monday morning, and we were running behind.
Read more..Living in an Uncertain World
by Peter on July 24, 2009
in Business Week
"I can’t keep doing this!" My friend, we’ll call her Helen, was complaining about her work. It had been a while since I had last seen her—before the most recent downturn—and she was definitely worse for the wear. "My boss is crazy. His boss is crazy. The whole leadership team is crazy."
An 18-Minute Plan for Managing Your Day
by Peter on July 20, 2009
in Business Week, Harvard Business
Yesterday started with the best of intentions. I walked into my office in the morning with a vague sense of what I wanted to accomplish. Then I sat down, turned on my computer, and checked my email. Two hours later, after fighting several fires, solving other people's problems, and dealing with whatever happened to be thrown at me through my computer and phone, I could hardly remember what I had set out to accomplish when I first turned on my computer. I'd been ambushed. And I know better.
Read more..Why You Need to Fail
by Peter on July 6, 2009
in Business Week, Harvard Business
"Peter, I'd like you to stay for a minute after class." Calvin teaches my favorite body conditioning class at the gym.
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A Good Way to Change a Corporate Culture
by Peter on June 25, 2009
in Business Week, Harvard Business
"I'd like to talk to you about a big project," the woman told me on the phone. "We need to change our culture."
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