Twice in the last three days, clients have brought up the aggravation of having to manage organizational politics to get things done. Like it or not, working with and through others is a fact of our matrixed world. “Politics” has come to have such a negative connotation, and I find that people shy away from getting involved. A better path: use the four simple steps below to navigate…

I have been so fortunate to have great mentors throughout my career. If you don’t have a mentor, I encourage you to find one. Potential mentors are plentiful! Leaders want to help others succeed. So get clear on what’s important to you and ask someone. You and your mentor will both be rewarded and enriched by the relationship.

So much is written about Personal Brand, and the importance of Personal Brand. Do you know what your brand is? Are you clear on the top three attributes people identify with you? Are those the attributes you want?

I recently listened to a TED Talk by Julie Lythcott-Haims, former Dean of Freshman at Stanford University. In the context of parenting, she talks about how we are raising our children as bonsai trees: carefully groomed, perfectly manicured, ever-presentable and close to perfect specimens.

Whaaaat? You’re going to try to tell me that a man whose made a fortune singing about beaches, pirates and margaritas has more to offer? Well…yes. Maybe it’s just because I miss summer. Maybe it’s because I’ve been in too many intense meetings and need a break – but – whatever the impetus, I thought you’d enjoy a few pearls of Buffet wisdom:

Ever have one of those days (weeks? months?) when you sit and stare at your to-do list? The times when you go on line to look up one piece of information and thirty or forty five minutes dash by? The days you’d rather clean your desk than tackle your to-do’s? These, my friends, are stall tactics. Here’s a way to break the pattern.

Recently, I had the opportunity to participate in a “high ropes” course. Considering myself relatively healthy, agile and adventurous, I opted for one of the more challenging climbs. As I made my way up…and saw the ground was – in fact – much further away than what it had seemed, I realized that there are some parallels to my ropes adventure and our careers.

#4 Together – Many of us are high-achievers. In fact, it’s likely your personal drive, intelligence and passion that have gotten you to where you are today.  You’ve built a successful career through skill and hard work. Basketball great Michael Jordan had it right: talent wins games, but teamwork wins championships.

Talent – really? Top of the list – really? YES. In today’s completive global markets, accessing the best talent is THE distinguisher for companies that will succeed or fail. Your ability – as a CEO or a manager – to identify, develop and retain good people will shape the company.