Just two years into my first dream job, I got fired. Like many new managers, I had been promoted because I was ambitious and good at the front-line work. But as soon as I was promoted I started using my authority to boss people around. I assumed I was right and they were wrong, and
Author Archives: Amy Kay Watson
31
May
May
In the current landscape of leadership, there is a pervasive myth that effective recognition requires high-voltage energy. We look at pop-culture archetypes like Ted Lasso, managers who lead with infectious, vocal enthusiasm, and assume that is the gold standard. I recently worked with an IT Manager at a non-profit who fell into this trap. He
15
May
May
My client, a construction manager, was working on three buildings simultaneously. He was juggling three different architects and three separate contractor teams. If that wasn’t enough, he and his wife were renovating a rowhouse in anticipation of their first child. He said he wanted to talk about time management and prioritization. Soon, he opened up
12
Mar
Mar
I sat across from my colleague Brenda with a growing sense of discomfort. I had accepted an assignment from the boss, but I heard from my colleague an undercurrent of doubt—or so it seemed. It was so subtle that I couldn’t quite tell what was going on. Did Brenda not believe I could do it?
13
Feb
Feb
Listen as a podcast When something goes wrong, it’s easy to look for someone to blame. Accountability doesn’t always have to be reactive (see here for my thoughts on proactively managing accountability). But simply pointing fingers doesn’t solve the problem. The FORD Method helps us dig deeper to find out why things went wrong, and
13
Feb
Feb
In high-pressure environments, we often view resilience as the ability to endure pain. We treat our energy like a credit card with no limit, spending wildly on crises and ignoring the mounting interest rates. But biologically, resilience is not about endurance; it is about recovery. As a coach for senior leaders, I see brilliant professionals
10
Feb
Feb
If you are in coaching, you should definitely have a notebook handy whenever you attend a session, whether you’re using a paper notebook or something on your computer (if it’s an online session). When you’re done with the session, then, it can be helpful to take notes on a variety of categories, including: These notes
05
Feb
Feb
Are you facing unexpected changes and uncertainty? It can affect all aspects of your life, triggering fear and making it difficult for you to make good decisions. In this article I will explore the impact of ambiguity on our lives and provide practical tips for managing it in a healthy and effective way. 2020 gave
04
Feb
Feb
Good managers have regular 1:1 meetings with their team members, but it isn’t always easy to crack the code on how to do these meetings well. They have to be more than just a checkbox on your weekly to-do list, and they can be your ticket to building stronger relationships and understanding your team. Remember
02
Feb
Feb
Leadership isn’t just about making the big calls or navigating stormy waters. It’s about being genuine, authentic, and straightforward. Let me tell you what I mean by that. Imagine you’re sitting down with a friend over coffee. You want to share something vital, not to criticize but to help them grow. Now, if you’re really
