Management Leverage Blog

Why We Look For Cheese In All The Wrong Places

John W. Burrows, Ph.D. — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 15:06:10 +0000

Here is a typical pattern…. We learn a ‘craft’ in school… marketing, finance, accounting, etc. And we receive positive feedback (good grades) when we effectively demonstrate our knowledge of this craft, and negative feedback (bad grades) when we don’t. We then receive our first job and begin to practice our craft. Once again, rewards are based on [...]

How The Wrong Bucket Can Stifle Your Career

John W. Burrows, Ph.D. — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:34:20 +0000

Do others’ perceptions become more important than results as you move up the corporate ladder? I don’t think so. Social capital becomes more important as you move up the ladder than it was at the beginning of your career. Why? Because as your career progresses, 1) Your results are harder to measure, and 2) You are competing for promotions against [...]

When Too Many Cooks Spoil The Decision

John W. Burrows, Ph.D. — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:14:12 +0000

Involving others in the decision making process is generally a good idea. People tend to be more satisfied with the outcome when the process used to arrive at that outcome is fair. And, who knows? You might come up with a better idea when others are involved. But be careful… Involving others in the decision making process takes [...]

How To Become Fluent in Management

John W. Burrows, Ph.D. — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 17:03:25 +0000

“What? You dream in four languages? You must be fluent! “ Not necessarily. If I don’t know the words in my dream, I make them up. I know what I am talking about. Unfortunately, many of us approach management the same way. We make it up as we go along. But scientists and practitioners have been studying management [...]

A Direct Report Wants Your Job? Congratulations!

John W. Burrows, Ph.D. — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:23:36 +0000

Don’t tell anyone, but a senior level manager recently told me that she heard from a very reliable source that one of her direct reports wanted her job. I told her that it was her responsibility to help him get it. Isn’t that career suicide? Think about it. If you developed the reputation as a manager [...]

How to Use Google Image Search to Develop Persuasive Metaphors

John W. Burrows, Ph.D. — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:56:24 +0000

When we want to persuade, we often rely on facts and figures and ‘offers they can’t refuse’. Such techniques appeal to our minds. We like them, because they are logical. And the truth is, building a logical case is an important skill in a manager’s repertoire. But it’s not enough. Logical persuasion persuasion packs an even greater [...]

Why Scalp Hunting Is Not Networking

John W. Burrows, Ph.D. — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 19:49:39 +0000

I often receive invitations to connect with some of my LinkedIn contacts on a network other than LinkedIn. My immediate inclination is to drop these people from my network. These people seem to have a different understanding of a network than I do. Or am I missing something? Does asking a Linkedin contact to join a [...]

Why A Degree In Test-Taking Won’t Help Your Career

John W. Burrows, Ph.D. — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 14:33:21 +0000

As a management educator, it pains me to tell you this. But an MBA won’t ensure you an enviable career. Neither will memorizing all the latest business books. At least that is what I told some of our incoming MBA students this week. Careers are built on performance, which is made up of technical skills, management [...]

How To Leverage Your Time With Metaphors

John W. Burrows, Ph.D. — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:30:26 +0000

I had a manager who ruled by metaphors. And it was extremely effective way of getting me to do things.. First of all, his metaphors often made me laugh. “I can feel for you but I can’t reach you,” was his way of telling me to leave him alone and figure out the solution myself. Metaphors [...]

How The ‘Know-Who’ Factor Keeps Your Project Team Off Life Support

John W. Burrows, Ph.D. — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 11:35:00 +0000

As a kid, when it came to picking members for a kickball team, I learned to either be the one doing the picking, or be picked last. So I got to be a pretty good picker. Or so I thought. I picked those people who could kick the ball the furthest. It was all [...]