Dog-Inspired Leadership Posts
Employee perks: Who should get them?
This post isn’t about whether you should allow dogs in the office. But it’s an excellent example of the types of tough decisions a manager has to make when balancing employee perks and the demands of a job. When I made my customary stop at the dry cleaners on Tuesday morning, there were no dogs…
Read MoreDoes your organization walk the talk?
No one would describe me as athletically inclined. I’m not very coordinated. I’ve never excelled at any sports, much as I enjoy watching my share of them on TV or in person. But I do understand how important it is to stay active, mentally and physically. Grace sure helps with both. One of the many…
Read MorePeople don’t change just because you have asked them to do so
Grace got another rabbit. I don’t post this lightly. You know how devastated I was the first time it happened. And by admitting a repeat performance, well, it’s like admitting failure. How could I allow a horrible thing to happen not just once, but twice? I can’t blame Grace, even though that would be convenient.…
Read MoreGraceful Leadership on NHPR!
Listen to the Interview: As you know, I’ve been writing about the parallels between dogs and leadership lessons for quite a while. I see the connections everywhere and I hope that the stories I learn from Grace and share with you are helpful, fun, and inspirational as you think about how you communicate in the workplace.…
Read MoreWhat doctors, managers, and employees can learn from veterinarians
“Let’s insist on getting medical care as good as our dogs get!” That was a statement made in the most recent post from the Patient Safety Blog, a forum dedicated to keeping us all safe from medical errors in our healthcare system. (I highly recommend this wonderful blog if you’re interested in learning more about…
Read MoreBehavior begins with your thoughts
Instinct. That’s what everyone said was the reason Grace acted so differently than I expected last week when she darted after that innocent bunny. She and I were worlds apart. But it was just her instinct to chase and mine to protect. I thought a lot about that incident in relation to people in the…
Read MoreTolerance of others depends on how you view their status
That bunny is still on my mind. Those who saw my last post know I was quite upset by Grace’s actions earlier this week. Some might say, “Get over it.” And I will. For the record, I do know that this situation isn’t the end of the world, nor does it rank up with the…
Read MoreWhat to do when someone does something really bad
I had planned for a different topic for today’s post. However, I’m in the midst of a traumatic experience and felt it was important to share it. There will be no pictures, but be forewarned that it is a sad animal tale. Arriving home this morning after a breakfast meeting, I took Grace outside for…
Read MoreManage change by moving forward a little at a time
Do you embrace change? Or resist it? Perhaps the answer depends on the circumstances of the change. But no matter what your reaction, it’s important to know that change will happen. It’s bittersweet for me to think of Grace aging. I always loved her beautiful, deep reddish color that now seems lighter, transitioning to more…
Read MoreLooks are important; but the components underneath are critical
This winter has been mild with very little snow. Yesterday and today we’re seeing a typical New England storm with lots of the white, fluffy flakes falling. It’s sticking everywhere and bringing a whole new look to the landscape. That seems appropriate as I’m in the final stages of creating a whole new look to…
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