Jack Welch, the legendary CEO of General Electric, has often said of his time at GE, “My main job was developing talent. I was a gardener providing water and other nourishment to our top 750 people. Of course, I had to pull out some weeds, too.” He believed that one of the primary roles of […]
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How To Be A Great Boss
I’m offering a new tele-seminar this month for supervisors, managers, and those who plan to take on those roles in the future. It’s titled “How To Be A Great Boss.” Here are the details: PREMISE: “Good employees don’t quit their companies – they divorce their supervisors.” Larry Johnson DESCRIPTION: This lively presentation will give you […]
“Sanford and Friends: Honesty and Integrity??? NOT!”
Richard Nixon told us he wasn’t a crook. Bill Clinton said, “I never had sexual relations with that woman.” Baseball star Jose Canseco admitted to using anabolic steroids. John Edwards had an affair during the Democratic primary races. And Governor Mark Sanford (R-SC) disappeared from his post for five days with no word of where he was. Upon returning, he […]
Difficult Conversations Require Creative Strategies
I presented a tele seminar last month on dealing with difficult employees from which I received several questions. Here’s one I thought interesting: Dear Larry, On Wednesday, March 11, I attended your Webinar on Handling Difficult Conversations. I have a question for you on handling a difficult conversation with a direct report of mine. He […]
Leadership: Demonstrating the Right Thing To Do
By now you’re probably aware of Alaska’s ex-senator Ted Stevens’ conviction on seven counts of filing false statements on his Senate financial disclosure forms. You’re also probably aware that Attorney General Eric Holder asked U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan to drop the charges. Why? Because in reviewing the case, Holder’s team discovered that the lawyers […]
Which Way Does the Wind Blow? dealing with change
The last time I posted on this blog, I talked about a lesson I learned on one of my daily bicycle rides last week. On today’s ride, I learned about change. I follow a route that takes me up a gradual, six-mile climb, and then I turn around and go home the same way. It’s […]
Skinny vs Fat Seats Gives Clues For Conducting Difficult Conversations
I’m an avid cyclist – not very good or very fast, but I like the exercise – and the fresh air you get from riding everyday is invigorating. Yesterday, after my standard 12-mile jaunt, I stopped for coffee at Starbucks. Sitting at one of the umbrella-covered tables was a group of men about my age. […]
Taking Difficult Conversations “Seriously”
In his classic business book, “Up The Organization,” Avis CEO
Robert Townsend described how he toured all the Avis offices
where he asked employees what they thought he should do to turn
around the company, which at the time was struggling. He noticed