Being a Servant Leader without being a Manager or Supervisor

What is leadership? Does it come automatically when you are a supervisor or a manager? Or is it the cumulative effect of dozens of small actions that sometimes seem invisible unless you are looking for them? Someone who is a manager or supervisor doesn’t automatically become a leader, especially not a servant leader; although anyone who is a servant leader would always make a great supervisor or manager.

Work pressure and sick time.

In the past and even today, work has stressed and made me feel overwhelmed … and I know that I am not alone. There are ways to mitigate these feelings and even to “get ahead of them;” consider this post to be a guide with “Tools Everyone Can Use” to help you stop being affected as much.

It is worth it for you and for them …

With the coming of spring (finally) many students are starting to look for summer jobs and many organizations are looking to hire. Hiring students benefits both the student and employer; the learning curve can be steep on both sides, but it is worth the effort today and tomorrow.

First Day/New Job Stress and Anxiety:

The anxiety and stress we all face on the first day of a new job affects each one of us differently. There are things you can do to mitigate these feelings and to accomplish your goals on the first day of a new job and help you to move forward in your career.

It is always worth the effort …

Hiring a student or welcoming a coop student into your workplace is an investment in our collective future. The practical skills and knowledge they gain builds on their academic abilities. Take the time to prepare and anticipate the work involved and collaboratively make them part of your team.

Train them and allow them to demonstrate to you they can make meaningful contributions when provided with opportunities.

MORE TEACHABLE MOMENTS

I work assisting people who are experiencing barriers to employment overcome them and find jobs that either accomplish their goals or take them to the next step on their individual journeys.

My role as a coach and mentor constantly reminds me of the lessons shared with me during my career, this post is the next chapter on “lessons learned” from my November 24th post.

“Yes” and so do many other hiring “practices.”

Have you ever considered how biased our hiring practices are toward people who do not experience barriers to employment. How difficult it is for people who are from outside the “colonial bubble” most of us never even notice?

When you start to see and think about those barriers you can see the intrinsic discrimination that happens every day.

Why would anyone work for free …

I am writing this on a Saturday.  I did two hours of work today and two hours last night. I have already worked many hours over my allotted workdays this week. It is unlikely I […]

Seeing all the people, seeing all the possibilities

When you or your organization goes looking for new people, what do you see? Do you see everyone who could meet or exceed your requirements? Do you include people from different backgrounds, ethnicity, cultures, people who experience barriers to employment. Hiring people is about seeing people without bias, misconceptions; it is about seeing the humanity behind the cover letter or resume.

I was involved in Human Resources for most of may career, I made mistakes; but with help I learned some lessons that might help you and your team.

Stepping back from the edge …

I have been here. Painfully unaware that I was teetering on the precipice. I was lucky, I had good mentors, I had key people who took a chance and told me what I needed to do and gave me the space to change. It wasn’t always smooth but I listened, I learned, and I became better.

As managers and supervisors, we will all eventually find ourselves in this position; how we react determines if we can step back or if we will plunge into the abyss.

What follows is what I was taught, what I learned, and what I continue to use. I hope it helps you.