The Message Makeover Podcast: The Rise of the Matrix Organization
Posted On August 29, 2018 BY Dan Cooney
This post was written by Dan Cooney, Director of Coaching and Senior Facilitator at The Latimer Group. A Gartner Group study found that two-thirds of workers need to check in with more than one boss to get their work done. Yes, the rise of the matrix organization has contributed to this dynamic, but so too […]
Teamwork, and the Difference Between “Cooperation” and “Collaboration”
Posted On August 15, 2018 BY Dean Brenner
I heard a keynote recently by a guy who built much of his talk around the distinction between the words “cooperate” and “collaborate.” His point was that the concept of collaboration was a few steps beyond the concept of cooperation. His use of the terms was that when people cooperate they do the bare minimum […]
Can (And Should) You Be Friends with Colleagues?
Posted On August 6, 2018 BY Dean Brenner
Here’s a challenging one, with no easy answer. Do you make your work life harder if you become friends (non-romantically) with a colleague or colleagues? Does it become harder to do your job when your professional relationships are overlaid with personal friendships? I think the answer is “maybe.” Adding a personal component to a professional […]
Don’t Be Anyone’s “Last Straw”
Posted On April 18, 2018 BY Brett Slater
This post was written by Brett Slater, Chief Social Media Officer at The Latimer Group. True story: This is my Grandfather’s camel. Years ago, when my grandfather was in the day-to-day grind, he was in a job that frustrated him. So he bought this little toy camel, and snipped off a number of straws from […]
How to (Really) Make America Great Again
Posted On February 21, 2018 BY Dean Brenner
Don’t worry… this post is not an endorsement of any political figure, party or position. But I am shamelessly grabbing a well-known, and highly divisive, political slogan to make a point about the United States, and the state of our culture. As a country, we talk all the time about how to make our country […]
The Three Keys To Transforming Your Communication
Posted On January 2, 2018 BY Dean Brenner
Originally published with the Forbes Coaches Council November 22, 2017. When we think about how to become better communicators, we often think about the tools we use: our data, our PowerPoint deck, our posture and poise. And these are crucial. But the real keys to sustained, long-term improvement and success as a communicator might surprise you, in […]
Managing the Ego in the Workplace
Posted On November 29, 2017 BY Dean Brenner
My wife Emily and I have recently been going through some old files in our basement, clearing some stuff out and making some much-needed room in an already-crowded basement. And whenever one starts opening boxes from long ago, two things always seem to happen. You find some stuff, and wonder “why did I ever keep […]
Expand Your Leadership Vocabulary
Posted On August 28, 2017 BY Dean Brenner
While Dean enjoys a little vacation time with his family, we’ll revisit some of The Latimer Group’s most popular posts. This is a great one for #LeadershipMonday. Hope it’s a great week. ~The Latimer Group I came across something worth sharing with you, that I think will help you refine your leadership vocabulary. If you […]
Don’t Waste the Chance to Help Someone Fly!
Posted On July 25, 2017 BY Dean Brenner
My son is seven years old, and like many kids, he is advanced in some ways, and cautious or slower to develop in others. In his case, he has a significant creative mind, loves numbers, loves words, and loves to build things… with Lego, sticks, anything he can get his hands on. He loves to […]
“Yes” Moves the Conversation Forward
Posted On June 30, 2017 BY Brett Slater
Today’s post was written by Brett Slater, Chief Social Media Officer at The Latimer Group. Improvisation fascinates me. A recent passion of mine has been improv comedy, and I’m a huge fan of jazz and jam bands, both of which lean very heavily on improvisation as a tool. Part of my fascination with the improv […]