The inauguration of new President Donald Trump could be an example of what can happen in companies on the arrival of a manager that nobody wanted. How can this situation be turned around?
Micro-Management: Less is More
I would like to share with you some interesting experiences of people I have met. And perhaps you too might find them of use in your daily life. I did. So, let me tell you what I learned recently. Less is more. Today I’d like to share Fabio’s story. He’s from Argentina and although he […]
How Can Leaders Manage Narcissism for Long-Term Success?
You’ve been called a narcissistic leader. So what? There’s no need to take it as a slight. In fact, leadership and narcissism go hand in hand. And before we go any further, let’s be clear on the real meaning of narcissism and how we, as leaders, can hone in on the good and phase out […]
Managing Friction: Top-Down and Bottom-Up
In government and business, I have often heard that “teams in the field don’t understand the big picture” coming out of headquarters. Or, emanating from the grassroots level, “headquarters is clueless about what´s happening in the field.” How do you manage the natural friction between corporate headquarters and its divisions or subsidiaries? In Afghanistan, the tension […]
Leadership: finding a sweet spot between flexibility and control
I recall when I first started out as an officer in the military, it took time and me making mistakes to figure out a healthy balance between flexibility and discipline. During one of my first training exercises, I sat back and gave up some of my autonomy, trusting my subordinate leaders to get the job […]
Why does depression bear a woman’s name?
The incidence of depression in women is currently twice that of men. What are the causes of this increased incidence? The psychiatrist Marian Rojas Estapé told us about this causal relationship during the last conference of the IWILL women’s platform at the IESE campus in Barcelona. The causes of this major difference vary greatly. It […]
Negotiating to defend your employees: What do Guardiola and Coppola have in common?
A manager must constantly negotiate. Oftentimes, the most difficult negotiations are the ones that take place within the organization. A manager is also a leader. And as a leader, they are often required to negotiate to retain talent. Negotiating with a superior, on behalf of an employee, is a frequent occurrence in the life of a manager.
Women Executives: Are we after quotas or business?
This past November, the lack of consensus in the European Council resulted in the rejection of the European directive that would have made it imperative to have 40% women in the non-executive boards of publicly traded companies. Commissioner Viviane Reding had spent over two years advocating this measure, which had already been approved by the […]