OUR Leadership BLOG

Dr. Paul Metler | 11/10/2014

Are you energized this morning or are you wading through messages about overcoming burnout and finding meaning in your work in hopes of finding a gold nugget of inspiration? Sometimes, inspiration is much more accessible than you think. It may just be a matter of perspective.

Dr. Paul Metler | 11/3/2014

The day has just begun and many messages compete for your time. Honestly, it’s so easy to get knocked off course. There are times that a subtle deviation turns into a U-turn. It’s a two-fold challenge. First, a clear sense of direction is more important than ever. Second, you have to refine your ability to respond to distractions and unexpected challenges. Navigation is a critical leadership skill. It is the ability to stay on course and find your way.
 
How do you find your way?

Dr. Paul Metler | 10/27/2014

For part of my life, I lived in Arizona. Arizona did not “participate” in Daylight Savings Time. It was always in the back of my mind when I called family members in the East. Is it two hours or three hours? Since moving back into a state that adjusts every spring and fall, I have grown accustomed once again to that familiar question, “When does the time change?”

Dr. Paul Metler | 10/20/2014

It’s that time of year. Kids are preparing to dress up in costumes and trek from door to door to make a friendly demand for chocolate. Sometimes you can recognize the child within the minion and sometimes it’s hard to tell. These short-term changes in identity provide a lot of fun. Why is it so much fun to pretend to be someone you’re not? It could be the reward. Even a minimal costume on Halloween will net you some candy.

Dr. Paul Metler | 10/13/2014

Not long ago I was planning a short trip. So I did a little homework. I checked Google Maps for the “best” route. As usual, I was given a choice. For this particular trip, I had three options. That’s not unusual for Google Maps. However, for the first time, I was given two routes, differing by 34 miles with the exact same time estimate for travel. Obviously, the longer route provided more time on major roadways and the shorter route included some scenic opportunities. Have you ever tried a “short-cut” that ended badly?

Dr. Paul Metler | 10/8/2014

It’s another banner year for superhero fans. Take your pick. CW offers The Flash and Arrow and Fox provides a gritty look at the young batman in Gotham. Everybody loves a hero. Last night’s debut of The Flash introduced Barry Allen as a forensic scientist who receives a fortuitous lightning strike and a dose of chemicals and emerges as the fastest man on the planet. So what can we learn from The Flash?

Dr. Paul Metler | 10/6/2014

As members of the millennial generation enter the workforce in increasing numbers, attempts to describe the impact are increasing. How is this generation different from previous generations? Have values and motivations shifted? There is no shortage of questions and answers swirling around. We live in a world where rapid change has become the norm. So, we are accustomed to considering how these changes impact organizations and leadership into the future.

Dr. Paul Metler | 9/29/2014

So, a part of your day will be spent wading through content. How will you choose to split your time among the 150 million blogs on the Internet? By the way, thanks for reading this one. In the midst of sharing, linking, liking and writing it’s easy to get lost in all the content. As the torrent of information floods into your world, two messages have become critical.

Dr. Paul Metler | 9/22/2014

Did you ever attend a state fair when you were a child? When I was a kid, I couldn’t wait until September. The state fair signaled the end of summer and the beginning of fall. I loved the cooler temperatures, the carnival rides and the fun house. There was always an array of carnival mirrors. My favorite mirror was the one that made me look taller. I knew it was an illusion. But, it was still fun for the moment. I could pretend that I was seven feet tall.

Dr. Paul Metler | 9/15/2014

So, what’s your take on Mondays? Maybe you show up humming, “Rainy days and Mondays always get me down.” If you’re too young to know the tune, you might want to check it out. Although we live in a 24/7 world and leadership does wait on a signal from a calendar, Monday remains the moniker for the symbolic beginning of the workweek. As such, it’s a great time for a leadership self-check.