A case for your personal and professional development The average person spends more time and money on activities that contribute to their personal detriment than to their personal development. Luckily, you are not average. You are a … [Read more...]
Psst, There’s No “Secret Sauce” to Better Leadership
Do you remember the business environment in 2008? It was a big transition year, with a presidential election filled with uncertainty and the financial markets beginning to collapse. Layoffs started ramping up, and newly formed consultants flooded the … [Read more...]
Why Good Leaders Must Disrupt, Dismantle and Destroy the Practice of Lousy Leadership
As a culture, we need to provide better leadership development and accountability to bolster the essential skills and effectiveness of established and future leaders. Too many lousy leaders are being excused, hidden behind culture, tradition, ego, … [Read more...]
What Do I Give As A Leader?
Part Three of a series Effective leaders know it's not about them; it's about those they lead. This series is for busy professionals who want to find easier ways to improve their essential leadership skills. Below are the final ten … [Read more...]
How Can I Lead Better?
Part Two of a series As an effective leader you are asking yourself that question on a regular basis. This series is for busy professionals who want to find easier ways to improve their essential leadership skills. Below are ten more statements … [Read more...]
Find 60 Ways to Get Your It Together
Modern leaders and managers live with uncertainty. The difference is, the uncertainty does not immobilize them, it emboldens them. The tools at their disposal are no different from those anyone else has access to. It is their brain and the deliberate … [Read more...]
Fathers and Leadership
For Father’s Day, I’m posting four essays that I’ve written over the years about leadership and ways my father and grandfathers have influenced me. It is an embarrassingly insignificantly small thank you to them, and a reminder to you, that in some … [Read more...]
How Can I Become a Better Leader?
Part One of a series If you are a leader, I hope you are asking yourself that question on a regular basis. If not, I would question your judgment and suggest you might be more powerful and effective as an individual contributor. This series is … [Read more...]
How to Derail Your Career
Five sadly common ways promising managers limit their potential. Betraying Personal Trust As a manager, you will find opportunities to create and strengthen the relationship with your direct reports or your peers. Sometimes this dynamic … [Read more...]
What Skills Should I Improve?
Regardless of your occupation, you should always be working on improving your skills. Choosing not to would be reckless and invite career derailment. When you work for an organization, there's no shortage of feedback loops telling you what to … [Read more...]
Background Work to Start Planning Your Career, No Matter Where in Your Career You Are
It is graduation season, and whether you are finishing off college, high school, or reminiscing about when you did, those many years ago, it is a good time to think about where you want to go next. How are you going to spend your time … [Read more...]
Letting Someone Else Prepare Your Personal Developmental Plan Makes It Theirs, Not Yours
While there are tons of internal and external resources to help you build your personal development plan, the only person who should be creating it is you. If not, you become subject to the whim and inherent biases of others. They may mean well, but … [Read more...]
In Which One of These Five Areas Could You Lead Better?
If leadership is the ability to influence the behavior of others. Leadership skill could be defined behaviorally by a range of activities grouped loosely into the following categories: Initiating and Maintaining action Directing and … [Read more...]
Low Commitment, High Impact Online Coaching Plans
Grab a shot of inspiration. https://www.coach.me/KarlBimshas … [Read more...]
Do You Help Others Who Are Lost?
Let’s pretend you’re in a strange city and are running late for an appointment. Suddenly you realize you’re lost, and the street signs don't make sense to you. You’ve got your cell phone with you, and your social media friends are only a few … [Read more...]
Your Business Might Have a Code of Conduct, But Do You?
I believe busy professionals should have a personal compass to follow. It does not need to be something as grand as a manifesto, though I do think you should spend time creating one for yourself because it is important to document what you believe in … [Read more...]
Still Struggling to Find your Passion? Get Angry.
I’ve been posting quick (under two minute) leadership questions, tips and thought starters on Anchor. If you’re on that platform, go ahead and follow me. If not, listen to a simple thought and challenge to help you lead better. Stop struggling to … [Read more...]
How to Find the Best Reward and Recognition for People
I’m starting to post quick (under two minute) leadership questions, tips and thought starters on Anchor. If you’re there I hope you’ll dip your toes in. If not, listen below. Not everyone loves a plaque for recognition. For some, that's firewood. … [Read more...]
Here’s a challenge. Compliment people today. Sincerely.
I’m starting to post quick (under two minute) leadership questions, tips and thought starters on Anchor. If you’re there I hope you’ll dip your toes in. If not, listen below. Are you getting too much thanks and appreciation for the things you do? … [Read more...]
How Are You Planning Your Week?
I'm starting to post quick (under two minute) leadership questions, tips and thought starters on Anchor. If you're there I hope you'll dip your toes in. If not, listen below. … [Read more...]
How to Reflect: “Huh? No Duh. A-ha!”
Busy professionals are notorious for not making time to reflect on their activities. “Too busy,” they say. Which is an ineffective excuse. Periodically take stock of your current level of awareness to learn what you are doing, or could be … [Read more...]
Your whole life has prepared you for today …
This and other quotes in Leaders Don't Shrug = >http://bit.ly/Leadersdontshrug20 … [Read more...]
New Book – Leaders Don’t Shrug
I'd like to introduce you to my latest book. Leaders Don't Shrug; Advice for Busy Professionals is a collection of quick reminders, advice, and humor for busy professionals who want to be better leaders. The big thoughts inside this small … [Read more...]
8 Ways Working with Karl Bimshas Consulting Can Make you Better
1. Know Yourself Better Choose from several assessments like DISC, the most widely used behavior profiling tool of its kind, supported by decades of research and continuous validation. (Consider a 4-pack) or Leadership 31, from Karl Bimshas … [Read more...]
You Hate Your Job
An extended excerpt from, "How to Stay When You Want to Quit; Strategies to get over yourself" by Karl Bimshas Clicking keyboards keys, chirping phones, the monotone sound of uninspired hushed voices, and all the other maddening sounds of general … [Read more...]
4 Ways to be Less of a Fool and More of a Leader
Social media is awash in manager versus boss memes and ideal leadership infographics. Maybe they make you feel good for a little while because you use them as a checklist when you're not getting the recognition you deserve. You convince yourself that … [Read more...]
Charter Excellence Ahead of Time
Most people say they want to achieve high performance. A smaller number will actually put in the effort to achieve that goal. When pressed, many cite they are too busy to do the things necessary to reach a higher standard. In practice, it has little … [Read more...]
4 Triggers for Workplace Dysfunction
There are four common triggers I regularly see playing out in the workplace. Yes, there are plenty of others, but these four are prevalent. Ineffective Communication Ego Protection Fear of Uncertainty Rewarding Off Purpose You can … [Read more...]
Learning Journal
As a leader, do you have a personal or professional learning plan, or do you think you're fine as is? For the near-term you might be okay, but without a regular discipline of learning, your effectiveness will be limited. An implicit skill of … [Read more...]
Directors Direct
When I was a sophomore at Emerson College, one of my courses had me direct a short video production. The College, with its strong, “learn by doing” approach, had two well-appointed studios with high-end cameras freshly donated from the local … [Read more...]
Where to Start Your Leadership Development
You want to improve your leadership, but you are not quite sure where to start. Consider your answers to these five questions. Direction - Do you have and share a compelling vision? Alignment - Do your behaviors match your … [Read more...]
Deconstructing Indecision
People regularly underestimate the importance of knowing their values and having a purpose or personal mission to follow. To me, these are foundational and if they are not solid, or if you are tentative about them, then everything that follows will … [Read more...]
Know Why Privately
The question 'why?', like alcohol, is not inherently good or bad on its own. For some, it can help foster celebration. For others, it can mask pain. It can be used in moderation, abused, or believe it or not, never touched. People put too much … [Read more...]
Boost Your Goals
By now all the pressure to identify your 2016 goals has passed. You either have them, or you don't. If you don't, it's not too late. You can set goals any time you want. If you have already established your goals for the year, good for you; now let's … [Read more...]
Kiva Lending Team
There is no shortage of worthy charitable organizations who could benefit from additional support. Part of my mission is to help find and support people who want to be better leaders and Kiva.org speaks to me in an innovative, powerful and empowering … [Read more...]
Three Actions that will Make you a Stronger Leader
Adopt these three principles and your communication with others will be clearer, and your results will be greater. Working in tandem, they have already served me well multiple times this month. When I’ve followed them, I lead better. When I’ve … [Read more...]
Start with Purpose. Always.
Busy professionals often feel anxious because far too many are not acting on purpose, or their values do not align with the organization. When you know your purpose and values, decision-making becomes easier because you have an automatic filter you … [Read more...]
Your Checklist for Success in 2016
Confirm your Values. Where you spend your time and money is a clue as to what you currently value. Need to make a change? Commit to figuring it out before you start making plans you do not believe in. Confirm your top four values and then … [Read more...]
Managing Disappointment
Fear of disappointment is debilitating and corrosive to living the life you want. The potential for external disappointment can be especially devastating when it comes from a loved one. You may initially act with some defiance, but that is … [Read more...]
What is your biggest roadblock …
It is easy to get aggravated. The reward comes from not getting aggravated. I am not there yet, but you might be able to help. My business is to help entrepreneurs and executives find ways to lead better, personally and professionally, globally … [Read more...]
Have You Met Your Goals
Did you make a shopping list before you ran your errands? Did you create a packing list when you last traveled? Did you work off a task list last week? If you answered no to any of the previous questions, did you forget something, feel … [Read more...]
Maybe You Didn’t Achieve Your Goals Because They Sucked
As someone who works on leadership development and accountability, it is my job to call out BS and to help align what people say they want with what they do. I do not fall for mediocrity trying to disguise itself as effort. Clients do not … [Read more...]
10 Steps to a Better Personal Plan
During this last month of the year, I am going to be sharing topics around goal-setting and building a useful personal plan. My ardent desire is to help as many people as possible have a great year pursuing their fulfilling goals, so please share … [Read more...]
Make Better Goals
Use this checklist. You're worth the effort. … [Read more...]
Solve Bigger Problems
My primary focus and daily activity is to exchange astute insights with entrepreneurs and executives who want to dramatically improve how they lead. As a culture, we need to provide better leadership development and accountability to bolster the … [Read more...]
Too Poor to Afford Cheap Things
I spent time with my Dad on Cape Cod over the last couple of weeks, and somehow we got to talking about furniture. I shared my dismay over the quality of mine back home. Like many, I have accumulated a wide array of self-assembly bookshelves and … [Read more...]
20 Ways to Go Forth; Lead Well
You may be starting a new endeavor in your life or have simply decided to adopt a new attitude. You want to get started on the right foot and do something positive. That's why I created a short idea book, Go Forth; Lead Well. It contains a series of … [Read more...]
For the Love of Meetings and Road Trips
In some circles, it is sacrilegious to say it, but I love meetings. Granted, I have a broad definition of a meeting. It is where two or more people interact. For me, that can happen in a boardroom, a coffee shop, during a walk along the beach or a … [Read more...]
Assess Your Self-Management
Working for yourself, being your own boss, can be alluring and liberating. Liberty enamors us, as it should; however, responsibility rests at the opposite end of the same stick, and we must lift that too, regardless of its … [Read more...]
Hire a New Boss
Many managers are under appreciated. They endure direct reports endlessly complaining about everything from salary to the temperature of the office. From above, there is the piling on of more demands, fewer resources and pressure to achieve random … [Read more...]
Blunt Leadership Essays
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Blunt Leadership Essays Leadership Development Consultant, Karl Bimshas releases a second collection of leadership essays, "So, I've Been Thinking Some More; Reflections on Leadership." SAN DIEGO, CA - September 8, … [Read more...]
Rule of Three
I have a personal operating principle I call my rule of threes. I am sure, based on my background, that it is deeply influenced by the writing principle of the same name. omne trium perfectum The human mind likes sets of three. Three is more … [Read more...]
Growing Confidence and Support
We are each ultimately responsible for our level of confidence and support on any given task in our lives. Be it at home, work, or anywhere else. Too often we take our feelings for granted and accept them without challenging them. This can be a … [Read more...]
Revisit Plan A
The summer between my college freshman and sophomore years I worked behind a customer service desk at a neighborhood bank. While there I learned a lot about interacting with clients, particularly over sensitive issues. Never mess with a person's … [Read more...]
Be Less of a Jerk
Be less of a jerk. That may be the most simplistic leadership advice you'll ever receive. Why then, is it so difficult to achieve? Because, we glamorize people who act like jerks. By definition, they are quick, sharp and sudden, which are … [Read more...]
Do You Have a Personal User’s Guide?
If you did not come with a user’s guide, write one. You might think working with you is a dream. You are in your head all day, so, you know your intentions and beliefs better than anyone else, and I am sure they are all sound and reasonable. The … [Read more...]
Your Uniqueness
What makes you unique? There are some people who revel in that question and have no problem running through a litany of attributes and quirks they find charming about themselves. Then there are others who shrug and have a slight panic attack. It … [Read more...]
Reflections on Leadership 7/26/15
Stop Planning Plans organize your thoughts and resources. They are a half step better than an idea. Ideas and plans are the beginning, and you are spending way too much time on them. If you secretly enjoy brainstorming and planning, then you … [Read more...]
Do You Recognize Them?
The people you work with like different things. How do you learn what those things are? Ask. Survey and then talk to your direct reports about what they would like as recognition for their good work. Doing so you not only create a more … [Read more...]
Leadership Calling
In many ways, modern leadership has become a caricature of itself. Our curiosity to define it, our vigor to pursue it, and our zeal to admonish it from others, does little to improve our current condition. Celebrity gets confused for leadership; … [Read more...]
Reflections on Leadership 6/28/15
Lead Like You Mean It Leadership is not a passive activity. Every decision gets made, not deferred. Leaders do not scroll through their emails in the morning and react to an insomniacs musings. Leaders set the agenda, draw the picture of … [Read more...]
10 Prompts to Challenge Your Perspective
People in our society talk themselves out of their dreams way too easily. That hurts, so they often take a pill for relief. What if people tried to live their dream instead? In 2011, I published, Perspectives; A 30 Day Journal to View Your World … [Read more...]
Reflections on Leadership 6/21/15
You can not invest all your resources in everything. You will not solve every problem at once. Determine what you can afford and invest it in the now, the new, and the next. Now is the current reality. New is what has just arrived, but you … [Read more...]
Abandoning Common Sense
Typically hard-charging, with little patience for covering the basics, it is understandable why many busy professionals have given up on common sense. While easy to bemoan the lack of it, it is now foolhardy, perhaps even arrogant to take common … [Read more...]
Get Your Ships Together
Dreams, aspirations, and goals stimulate our imagination, but they are not enough for those used to achieving more. Sailing through life rudderless isn’t an option. It is time to get your ships together. There are eight key ships you ought to … [Read more...]
My Why
When I chose to start my business, I decided to focus on leadership development because there are too many lousy leaders disguising themselves. Good bishops, protected abusive priests, instead of the children put in peril. Good commanding … [Read more...]
Reflections on Leadership 6/1/15
Versatility is not a trait of effective leadership; it is a necessity. Your preference for a particular style (autocratic, collaborative, laissez-faire or another) doesn't mean the exclusion of all others. When you look at your wardrobe, you … [Read more...]
The Definitive List of Characteristics of a Good Leader Doesn’t Exist
I am growing weary of the unrelenting waves of articles, infographics and books on the essential characteristics of a good leader. I am guilty of contributing to this deluge, having created a few of my own. They can be entertaining and helpful, but … [Read more...]
Why Does Your Follow-up Suck?
There are two types of follow-up. First, the kind you initiate: “I am calling about the proposal I sent you.” “You committed to that action by Tuesday, how is it going?” “Did you remember to send your mother a birthday card?” Second, the kind … [Read more...]
Reflections on Leadership 5/3/15
When a problem lingers, it's because what usually works for you isn't working anymore. When the thing you could do to solve it rests outside your comfort zone, you procrastinate. If what you typically do isn't working, and what you believe you … [Read more...]
Stop Pretending You Want High Performance
When you first met your direct reports you told them your expectations. You explained that you are firm but fair; your door is always open, and that as part of a winning team, everyone should feel excited because it was going to be a great year. So … [Read more...]
Reflections on Leadership 4/26/15
Recognize People Along the Way Those who wait for perfection before saying, bravo are a bore. They sarcastically ask, “Am I supposed to hand out a cookie every time someone does their job?” Interesting, coming from a person whose whole world … [Read more...]
What Tradition Are You Inadvertently Starting?
The things you do regularly eventually run on autopilot. When you shower, how you drive, the food you eat, the clothes you wear, the people you choose to call friends, can vary, but they usually don't by much. For the habits that you can reasonably … [Read more...]
Reflections on Leadership 4/19/15
Leaders make decisions. Some are easy, some are difficult; none are delayed without a valid reason. If you are having trouble making a decision, review your values. When you are clear about what's important, most of your decisions are … [Read more...]
Elusive Leadership Traits
Pontificating on the key traits of effective leaders has almost become a parlor game for consultants, of which I am not immune. The numbers seem to suggest a wide range. Somewhere between one penultimate silver bullet, of which there are, ironically … [Read more...]
Reflections on Leadership 4/12/15
Leadership starts with you. If you are having trouble following your personal vision, staying on purpose, or taking disciplined and specific action to meet your goals, you are making it difficult for others to want to follow you. Get your inner … [Read more...]
Reflections on Leadership 4/5/15
Reduce your costs per hour. This has nothing to do with the rate you earn hourly (annual income divided by 2,080 -- or whatever denominator you choose). It has to do with how much it takes to sustain your current lifestyle. Think of it as your … [Read more...]
What Makes a Lousy Leader?
What makes a lousy leader? That is easy, they do the opposite of what great leaders do. Not so fast. Our biases forget the differences between leadership we agree with, and leadership from people we do not like. The differences rest partly in … [Read more...]
Reflections on Leadership 3/29/15
Commitments have lost their weight. Making a commitment used to mean being dedicated to a cause or action -- no matter what. Good leaders keep that definition while far too many others now treat a commitment as an obligation laced with dread. It … [Read more...]
Initiate More, Commit to Less
Lack of initiative is because of an abundance of fear. While it is true apathy could play a role, those who do not care are not reading this, so why bother to spend any time trying to appeal to their better judgment. It is not important to … [Read more...]
Reflections on Leadership 3/22/15
Prepare for success ahead of time. Too many people wait for success before they act. Leaders expect success and treat it like an expected houseguest. They know the visit may be short, but they still prepare a space prior to arrival. What actions … [Read more...]
Leadership Starts at Home
Think back to the early leaders in your life. I suppose, you could argue that the doctor who delivered you counts, however, most would agree it was probably your parents or other guardians who were your first leadership models. Every day, through … [Read more...]
Reflections on Leadership 3/15/15
Leadership of any kind requires a vision for the future. This week, be sure you stay on track by revisiting your picture of success. Take actions that support your great goal, and steer clear of temptations that can detract from your … [Read more...]
Beware Leaders of Silos who Think it’s a Lighthouse
There are some busy executives who appear bigger than life. Their charismatic, bold, innovative expressions with sweeping visual displays make a nice, even inspiring show. However, leadership is not about being bigger than your surroundings. It is … [Read more...]
Ask Your Direct Reports Their Opinion and They May Hate You Less
Probably your direct reports don't hate you, Things are not that bad. It might be mild discontent. But, what could explain the fact that they don't seem to get it. If only they could stop driving you crazy and just do their job like they are supposed … [Read more...]
Passion Gets Too Much Credit
There is an inherent danger in people citing passion as their primary reason for deciding something because passion has nothing to do with reason. It is all emotion. As a result, it doesn't require thinking. Once an emotion consumes all the energy … [Read more...]
You Don’t Have 99 Problems
Becoming overwhelmed is easy. Busy professionals have to deal with team performance, their boss, their directs, demanding clients, business partners, vendors, and more. They also have car problems, leaky faucets, untended gardens, messy garages, … [Read more...]
Have you set a theme for your year yet?
Have you set a theme for your year yet? I am a big fan of planning your year and creating metrics to keep you on track SEE HERE. A theme is something different. It is simple focusing. Many people do not plan the night before, meditate the day of, … [Read more...]
15 Prescriptions
In the last post, "How Many of the '15 Ailments' Do You Have?" I used a recent address from the pope to inspire reflection on your own leadership and the development of your team. Now, with a little positivity and grammatical jujitsu, I offer a … [Read more...]
How Many of the “15 Ailments” Do You Have?
Set aside your personal development goals and put away any management books you’re reading for the rest of the year. Pope Francis just outlined “15 Ailments of the Curia” and it’s all you need to assess you and your team’s performance, regardless of … [Read more...]