Welcome back! It's good to see you again. Please note that I am now publishing all new material at my hub site: In Context Blog

I have a guest post up at Slacker Manager about Performance-based Interviewing. Check it out, if you would.

Anita Bruzzese has a post at 45 Things that builds on the ideas of the Sixth Habit: Synergize that I wrote about on Monday.

On the Job

What can managers do to help keep customers while not placing more stress on workers? Try:

• Providing a supportive environment. An employee who has been put through the wringer by a customer should be supported by a manager by being allowed to step away from the job for a while. A chance to take a short walk, or even take the afternoon off, can show the employee that the manager is sympathetic to the situation.
• Recognition. A manager needs to make a habit of recognizing the contribution that workers make to an organization, and the emotional stresses faced every day. Rewards and incentives show that the employee has worth.

Read the whole thing, and learn more at the Employee Engagement Network.

I just picked up this book, and was going to review it. Tim at My GTD Stuff has beat me to it:

Stuff for Getting Things Done: The First 90 Days - Success Strategies for New Leaders

One of the better books that I have read is called The First 90 Days - Success Strategies for New Leaders by Harvard professor Michael Watkins. The book is tailored to people who are new to leadership roles. This book is not only for new “people managers”, but many of the strategies discussed can be applied to just about anyone taking on a leadership role (e.g. Project Managers) or someone taking on a new role in their community (e.g. Cub Scout Den Leaders). The First 90 Days can be broken down into 5 main topics;

• How to get yourself focused
• How to learn your new role faster
• How to choose the right strategy
• How to make good things happen right away
• How to build a winning team

Why do I bring this book up now? I am embarking upon a new role within the company I work for. In light of that, I thought it would be a good idea to break this book out of my library and brush up on some of the key concepts.

InnovationTools - Enterprise innovation articles

Ten top tips for the innovative leader

By Paul Sloane

1. Have a vision for change

You cannot expect your team to be innovative if they do not know the direction in which they are headed. Innovation has to have a purpose. It is up to the leader to set the course and give a bearing for the future. You need one overarching statement which defines the direction for the business and which people will readily understand and remember. Great leaders spend time illustrating the vision, the goals and the challenges. They explain to people how their role is crucial in fulfilling the vision and meeting the challenges. They inspire men and women to become passionate entrepreneurs finding innovative routes to success.

2. Fight the fear of change

Innovative leaders constantly evangelise the need for change. They replace the comfort of complacency with the hunger of ambition. “We are doing well but we cannot rest on our laurels – we need to do even better.” They explain that while trying new ventures is risky, standing still is riskier. They must paint a picture that shows an appealing future that is worth taking risks to achieve. The prospect involves perils and opportunities. The only way we can get there is by embracing change.

Read the rest here.