Perry Holley

You received the promotion, were awarded the title, and are now the boss. While this is a good thing, and you should be very proud, you should also acknowledge that this is the lowest level of leadership – the lowest form of influence. Leadership is Influence, Not Your Title Can you succeed as a leader if you simply embrace your...

Miracle skill? That’s pretty bold, don’t you think? But what would you call a skill that increases collaboration, values diversity, enhances inclusion, promotes full engagement, and improves results? That is the definition of a miracle skill if I have ever seen one. If curiosity is such an all-powerful skill, why do so many leaders struggle to demonstrate the use of...

When I was coming up at IBM in the 1990s, it was very uncommon for someone to be promoted to a leadership position on the team where they were already working. A promotion almost always included a move to a different part of the business and often to another city. People would say IBM stood for “I’ve been moved.” Well,...

Are you a good leader or a great leader? Researchers Dr. Jack Zenger and Dr. Joe Folkman used 360-degree feedback data to determine the critical skills of the leaders progressing the most in their leadership. And one of the key findings from their research was the effect that communication effectiveness has on your reputation as a leader. Improving Communication Effectiveness...

As the department manager wrapped up the monthly financial review with his team, he said, “People, I have never seen times like these. It’s understandable that customers are cautious and moving slowly, but this is the most important quarter in our company’s history. If we cannot deliver on the numbers, it will mean big trouble for us!” And with that,...

It’s not unusual these days to have someone from the youngest generation in the workforce, Gen Z, come asking for a promotion to first-line manager after only a few months in their current role. While you admire their confidence and conviction, you also know they are not ready. You also know they are the kind of person who can be...