Forget “New Year, New Me.” You don’t need a new identity; you need a more reliable way to navigate the pressure you’re already under. The start of the year may inspire in leaders a wave of promises to be more present, more firm, or more in-tune with the team. Whether your reset button is January
Author Archives: Amy Kay Watson
26
Dec
Dec
The formal launch of Reboot Leadership LLC. If you’ve been following my social media lately, you’ve noticed a theme. I have been posting relentlessly about Rebooting the PIP. I’ve been talking about it because the Performance Improvement Plan is the “canary in the coal mine” for organizational culture. When the PIP is broken (and it
22
Dec
Dec
I spent several years of my career facilitating Senn Delaney culture-shaping sessions, first for The Ohio State University, and then for Hertz Global Holdings. Senn Delaney, since acquired by Heidrick & Struggles, was the firm that effectively invented corporate culture shaping. If you’ve attended a similar session, you’ve seen the Accountability Ladder: The concept can
15
Nov
Nov
A client recently told me, “I know perfectionism is supposed to be bad, but I can’t let it go. It’s the reason my work is better than everyone else’s.” She isn’t entirely wrong. But she is scientifically misunderstanding the engine of her success. Research in organizational psychology draws a sharp line between two distinct traits
15
Nov
Nov
You don’t want to be a victim of the Peter Principle, which says that people are promoted based on their tenure or their success in a previous role, irrespective of their capacity to excel in the new position. How do you decide like this when so much is at stake? No matter what you choose, you have lost what might have been your dream job in the other direction.
15
Nov
Nov
Leadership at the senior level is inherently isolating. As you pioneer new paths for your organization, the number of peers who truly comprehend the complexity of your decision-making shrinks. You are left navigating a paradox: you are responsible for the collective success of the company, yet you often feel entirely alone in the execution. When
15
Nov
Nov
In 2023, 42% of workers reported feeling burned out, a statistic that had climbed steadily since 2020. But for senior leaders, the problem isn’t just the number of people burning out; it’s the type of people we are losing. We are seeing seasoned veterans (the ones who usually “power through”) hitting a wall. For years,
14
Nov
Nov
You have a team member who isn’t delivering. They seem disengaged, self-interested, or perhaps they are actively dropping the ball. The instinct for most high-performing leaders is frustration. You look at the facts, the reality, and the obvious solution, and you wonder: Why won’t they just do the right thing? When you feel this frustration,
12
Nov
Nov
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