
16 minute read
Blocked Personal Learner
1. Books:
"Mindset: The New Psychology of Success" by Carol S. Dweck: This book discusses the "growth" vs. "fixed" mindset and offers insights into why embracing change and challenges can lead to success.
"The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment" by Eckhart Tolle: This book helps readers to cultivate a greater understanding of their thoughts and emotions, encouraging mindfulness and presence.
"Who Moved My Cheese?" by Spencer Johnson: A classic in the field of change management, this book uses a simple parable to illustrate the importance of adaptability.
"Thinking, Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman: This book provides insights into our thinking processes and how they influence our decision-making.
2. Training Programs:
"Embracing Change": This is a training program that helps individuals to understand the importance of change in an organization, and how to adapt to it.
"The Science of Well-Being" by Yale University on Coursera: This course tackles misconceptions about happiness, annoying features of the mind that lead us to think the way we do, and the research that can help us change.
"Learning How to Learn" by McMaster University & University of California San Diego on Coursera: This course provides practical advice on how to learn more effectively and overcome obstacles to learning.
3. Additional Resources:
Regular feedback and coaching sessions: This could be with a trained coach, or structured feedback from peers and supervisors. This will help the person become more aware of their behavior and how it impacts others.
Mentoring: Pairing the person with a mentor who exhibits the qualities they lack could be beneficial.
Self-reflection exercises: Encourage them to keep a journal or practice mindfulness exercises to increase self-awareness.
Personality and skills assessments: Tools like Myers-Briggs, DISC, or StrengthsFinder can provide useful insights and starting points for personal development.
4. Leadership Seminars and Webinars:
Find relevant seminars and webinars on leadership, change management, and personal development. Websites like Udemy, LinkedIn Learning, and Coursera offer a wide range of courses.
Inflexibility
Inflexibility can become a significant roadblock in one's professional journey. It denotes a resistance to change, a reluctance to adapt to new environments, systems, or processes, and a difficulty in adjusting one's perspective or approach. Here are some resources that can help cultivate flexibility:
1. Books:
"Who Moved My Cheese?: An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life" by Spencer Johnson: This book offers insightful ways of dealing with change, an essential part of becoming more flexible.
"Mindset: The New Psychology of Success" by Carol S. Dweck: This book introduces the concept of 'fixed' and 'growth' mindsets, and shows how cultivating a growth mindset can lead to greater flexibility.
"Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard" by Chip Heath and Dan Heath: This book provides a framework to understand how change works and offers valuable strategies for managing change effectively.
2. Training Programs:
"Learning Agility" by The Institute for Corporate Productivity: This program helps participants develop the skills to adapt quickly and effectively to new situations and environments.
"Leading in a Changing Environment" on LinkedIn Learning: This course provides practical tips on how to embrace and lead change in an organization.
"Developing Adaptability: Learning to Learn" on Coursera: This course offers tools and techniques to become more adaptable in personal and professional life.
3. Additional Resources:
Personal Coaching: A personal coach or mentor can provide individualized strategies and support to help become more flexible and adaptable.
Mindfulness Practices: Techniques such as meditation and mindfulness can help improve one's ability to handle stress and adapt to change.
Workshops and Seminars: Attend workshops or seminars on topics such as change management, adaptability, and resilience.
Remember, flexibility is not just about being able to change - it's about being able to change quickly, effectively, and with a positive attitude. It's a valuable skill in today's fast-paced, constantly changing professional environment.
Silent Treatment
Refusal to communicate or collaborate can significantly hinder personal and team productivity and innovation. Effective communication and collaboration are integral skills for any professional. Here are some resources to improve these aspects:
1. Books:
"Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High" by Kerry Patterson: This book offers insights and practical techniques for effective communication, especially in high-stake situations.
"Collaboration: How Leaders Avoid the Traps, Build Common Ground, and Reap Big Results" by Morten T. Hansen: This book provides strategies for effective collaboration and offers solutions to common collaboration traps.
"Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity" by Kim Scott: This book focuses on a management philosophy centered on open and honest communication.
2. Training Programs:
"Improving Communication Skills" on Coursera: This course, offered by the University of Pennsylvania, provides practical strategies for enhancing communication skills.
"Collaborative Leadership: Building the Skills for Success" on LinkedIn Learning: This course provides insights into what it means to be a collaborative leader and offers strategies for improving collaboration skills.
"Effective Communication: Writing, Design, and Presentation" on Coursera: This comprehensive course can help professionals improve their communication skills across a range of media.
3. Additional Resources:
Personal Coaching: A coach or mentor can offer personalized strategies and feedback to improve communication and collaboration skills.
Networking: Building a diverse professional network can provide opportunities to practice and improve communication and collaboration skills.
Team Building Activities: These activities can offer practical, hands-on experience with communication and collaboration.
Remember, communication and collaboration are foundational skills for any professional. Effective collaboration requires open, honest, and respectful communication. It's essential to practice these skills regularly and seek feedback to continue improving.
Passive Aggressive Behaviors
Passive-aggressive behaviors can create a toxic work environment and damage professional relationships. These behaviors often arise from poor communication skills, lack of emotional intelligence, or unresolved conflicts. Here are resources that can help in managing and overcoming these behaviors:
1. Books:
"Emotional Intelligence 2.0" by Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves: This book offers strategies to improve emotional intelligence, which can help manage passive-aggressive behaviors.
"Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life" by Marshall B. Rosenberg: This book provides a framework for expressing needs and feelings without resorting to passive-aggressiveness or hostility.
"The Coward's Guide to Conflict: Empowering Solutions for Those Who Would Rather Run Than Fight" by Tim Ursiny: This book helps readers understand how to face conflict directly and productively, rather than resorting to passive-aggressiveness or avoidance.
2. Training Programs:
"Developing Emotional Intelligence" on LinkedIn Learning: This course provides practical exercises to improve emotional intelligence, which can help manage and prevent passiveaggressive behaviors.
"Conflict Resolution Skills" on Coursera: This course, offered by the University of California, Irvine, teaches strategies for effectively resolving conflicts.
"Dealing with Difficult People" on Udemy: This course offers insights into why people behave difficultly and provides techniques to handle such situations.
3. Additional Resources:
Therapy or Counselling: A therapist or counselor can provide strategies to manage passiveaggressive behaviors and improve emotional well-being.
Peer Support Groups: Support groups can offer a safe space to discuss experiences and learn from others facing similar challenges.
Mindfulness Practices: Techniques such as meditation and mindfulness can help improve emotional regulation, reducing the likelihood of passive-aggressive behaviors.
Remember, it's important to approach passive-aggressive behaviors with empathy and understanding. Identifying and addressing the root causes of these behaviors can lead to more constructive communication and healthier work relationships
Lack of Values or Ethics
It's essential to have strong ethical standards and shared values within a company for the sake of maintaining a healthy work environment, trust, and reputation. Here are some suggestions:
1. Books:
"Ethics 101: What Every Leader Needs To Know" by John C. Maxwell: This book offers a straightforward look at what ethics involves and why it’s important in leadership.
"The Power of Ethical Management" by Norman Vincent Peale and Ken Blanchard: This book provides a practical guide to making ethical decisions in business.
"Moral Intelligence: Enhancing Business Performance and Leadership Success" by Doug Lennick and Fred Kiel: This book presents the importance of values and ethical behavior in leadership and organizational success.
"The Speed of Trust" by Stephen M.R. Covey: This book explores the relationship between trust, cost, and speed in an organization, emphasizing the importance of ethical behavior in creating trust.
2. Training Programs:
"Workplace Ethics and Code of Conduct" on Udemy: This online course discusses the importance of ethics in the workplace and how to develop a code of conduct.
"Ethical Leadership: Character, Civility, and Community" by Boston University on edX: This course discusses the role and impact of ethical behavior in leadership and community-building.
"Business Ethics: Decision Making for Personal Integrity & Social Responsibility" on Coursera: This course provides a framework for ethical decision making in business.
3. Additional Resources:
Ethical coaching: Engage an ethics coach to provide one-on-one coaching sessions. This can offer personalized guidance and feedback to improve ethical decision making.
Self-reflection: Encourage self-reflection on personal values and how they align with the organization's values.
Case study analysis: Use real-life cases from business to examine the importance of ethics and to practice ethical decision making.
Workshops and seminars: Attend workshops and seminars on ethical leadership and valuesbased decision making. Many professional organizations offer such events.
4. Leadership Seminars and Webinars:
Ethics seminars or workshops: Various organizations and institutions offer seminars or workshops on ethics and corporate responsibility.
Webinars on ethical decision-making: Websites like LinkedIn Learning and Coursera offer a range of webinars related to ethical decision-making.
Change in this area can take time and requires the individual to be willing to recognize the importance of ethics and values.
Political Missteps:
When an individual struggles with navigating the complex political landscape of an organization, they may benefit from resources that help them understand the structure and dynamics of the organization, as well as how to effectively communicate and negotiate within that framework. Here are some recommendations:
1. Books:
"The Art of War" by Sun Tzu: This book offers insights into strategy and tactics that are as applicable to the corporate world as they are to the battlefield.
"Managing With Power: Politics and Influence in Organizations" by Jeffrey Pfeffer: This book provides an in-depth look into organizational politics and offers strategies for managing within these structures.
"Power: Why Some People Have It - and Others Don't" by Jeffrey Pfeffer: This book explores the nature of power in organizations and how individuals can obtain and maintain it.
"Getting More: How You Can Negotiate to Succeed in Work and Life" by Stuart Diamond: This book offers valuable advice on negotiation, which is a key skill in organizational politics.
2. Training Programs:
"Organizational Behavior: How to Manage People" by the University of London on Coursera: This course covers aspects of organizational structure, politics, and behavior.
"Influence and Persuasion in Leadership" on LinkedIn Learning: This course offers techniques for influencing and persuading others, which can be invaluable in navigating organizational politics.
3. Additional Resources:
Regular feedback and coaching sessions: These could be with a trained coach or structured feedback from peers and supervisors. This will help the person become more aware of their behavior and its impacts on others.
Mentoring: Pairing the person with a mentor who has demonstrated political savvy in the organization could be very beneficial.
Self-reflection exercises: Encourage them to reflect on their actions and decisions and how they may have been perceived politically.
Role-play exercises: Practice handling potential political scenarios within the organization to better prepare for real-life situations.
4. Leadership Seminars and Webinars:
Find relevant seminars and webinars on political intelligence, conflict resolution, and communication skills. Websites like Udemy, LinkedIn Learning, and Coursera offer a wide range of courses.
Encouraging the development of political intelligence is not about promoting manipulative behavior, but rather helping the individual to understand and navigate the complex structures and dynamics of the organization more effectively.
Poor Organization
The development of effective organizational skills is essential for individuals to manage their time and tasks effectively, and to contribute positively to a team and organization. For someone who lacks organization, the following resources can help build these skills:
1. Books:
"Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity" by David Allen: This book provides a comprehensive system for managing tasks, big and small, and staying organized.
"Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time" by Brian Tracy: This book offers practical advice on task prioritization and time management.
"Organizing from the Inside Out" by Julie Morgenstern: This book offers strategies for organizing your home, office, and life.
"The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing" by Marie Kondo: While this book primarily focuses on organizing personal spaces, many of its principles can be applied to workplace organization.
2. Training Programs:
"Work Smarter, Not Harder: Time Management for Personal & Professional Productivity" by the University of California, Irvine on Coursera: This course offers strategies for more effective time and task management.
"Managing Time" on LinkedIn Learning: This course provides practical techniques to help people better manage their time.
3. Additional Resources:
Tools and Apps: There are numerous apps and tools designed to help individuals manage their tasks and time more effectively. Examples include Asana, Trello, Microsoft To Do, Google Tasks, and Evernote.
Coaching: Consider engaging a personal or professional coach to work on developing organizational skills.
Workshops: Consider attending workshops on time management, personal organization, and productivity. These are often offered by professional organizations or continuing education programs.
4. Leadership Seminars and Webinars:
Look for seminars and webinars focused on time management, personal organization, and productivity. Websites like LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, and Udemy offer a variety of relevant courses.
The key to improving organizational skills is consistency. Developing good habits and consistently applying organizational systems and practices can greatly improve personal efficiency and the effectiveness of a team or organization.
Failure to Build a Team
The ability to build and lead a team is a critical skill for managers and leaders. This involves understanding the value of a team, effectively delegating tasks, managing conflicts, recognizing success, and promoting a sense of unity and shared purpose. Here are some resources to help develop this skill:
1. Books:
"The Five Dysfunctions of a Team" by Patrick Lencioni: This book outlines the common problems that can hinder team effectiveness and provides practical advice on how to overcome them.
"Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World" by General Stanley McChrystal: This book offers insights into how to lead teams effectively in a complex and fastchanging environment.
"The Wisdom of Teams: Creating the High-Performance Organization" by Jon R. Katzenbach and Douglas K. Smith: This book provides a clear understanding of the dynamics and processes involved in building high-performing teams.
"Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity" by Kim Scott: This book provides strategies for effective communication, feedback, and relationship building within a team.
2. Training Programs:
"Leading Teams" by the University of Michigan on Coursera: This course provides strategies and practical tools for leading and managing teams effectively.
"Building High-Performing Teams" on LinkedIn Learning: This course focuses on how to create a cohesive, effective team in any environment.
3. Additional Resources:
Mentoring and Coaching: A mentor or coach with experience in team building can provide personalized guidance, feedback, and strategies.
Workshops: Participate in team-building workshops or activities to gain hands-on experience and insights.
Leadership and Team-Building Retreats: These are immersive experiences that can help build understanding and skills in team leadership.
4. Leadership Seminars and Webinars:
Find seminars and webinars focused on team building, leadership, and delegation skills. Websites like Udemy, LinkedIn Learning, and Coursera offer a variety of relevant courses. Building a team is not just about grouping individuals together; it's about creating a sense of unity, shared purpose, and mutual respect. It involves recognizing and valuing the diverse skills and contributions of team members and fostering an environment in which they can collaborate effectively and achieve shared goals.
Failure to Staff Effectively
Staffing effectively is a critical skill for leaders and managers. This involves identifying the right people for the right roles based on their skills, potential, and fit with the organization's culture and goals. Here are some resources to help improve this skill:
1. Books:
"Who: The A Method for Hiring" by Geoff Smart and Randy Street: This book provides a comprehensive guide to hiring the right people.
"Topgrading: The Proven Hiring and Promoting Method That Turbocharges Company Performance" by Bradford D. Smart: This book offers an in-depth look at how to hire, coach, and retain top talent.
"Hiring for Attitude: A Revolutionary Approach to Recruiting and Selecting People with Both Tremendous Skills and Superb Attitude" by Mark Murphy: This book emphasizes the importance of attitude and cultural fit in hiring decisions.
"High Output Management" by Andrew S. Grove: This book covers various aspects of management, including hiring and team-building.
2. Training Programs:
"Recruiting, Hiring, and Onboarding Employees" by the University of Minnesota on Coursera: This course covers the key aspects of the hiring process and how to onboard new employees effectively.
"Human Resources: Recruitment and Selection" on LinkedIn Learning: This course offers a stepby-step guide to the recruitment and selection process.
3. Additional Resources:
Coaching: Engage a leadership or HR coach who can provide personalized guidance and strategies for effective staffing.
Industry Seminars: Attend seminars focused on recruitment, hiring, and talent management.
Networking: Building a strong professional network can be an invaluable resource when it comes to staffing. Networking events and professional social media platforms can be useful for this.
4. Leadership Seminars and Webinars:
Look for seminars and webinars focused on hiring, recruitment, talent management, and diversity and inclusion. Websites like Udemy, LinkedIn Learning, and Coursera offer a variety of relevant courses.
Remember, effective staffing is not just about hiring the most qualified individuals, but also about building a diverse and balanced team that can work together to achieve the organization's goals. This requires a thoughtful and strategic approach to hiring.
Key Skill Deficiency
Developing new skills is an ongoing process throughout a professional's career, and ensuring that you have the requisite skills for a job is crucial. Here are some resources to help improve and develop new skills:
1. Books:
"Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise" by Anders Ericsson and Robert Pool: This book provides valuable insights into how individuals can develop expertise in their chosen field.
"Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World" by Cal Newport: This book offers strategies to help individuals focus on cognitively demanding tasks, which can aid skill development.
"Mindset: The New Psychology of Success" by Carol S. Dweck: This book provides insights into the concept of "growth mindset," which is valuable for continuous learning and skill development.
2. Training Programs:
Online Learning Platforms: Websites like Coursera, edX, LinkedIn Learning, Udemy, and Khan Academy offer a variety of courses to develop new skills across many different fields.
Company Training: If available, take advantage of training programs offered by your employer. They are often specifically designed to help employees develop the skills needed for their roles.
3. Additional Resources:
Personal Coaching: A personal coach can provide customized guidance and strategies for skill development.
Peer Learning Groups: Learning alongside peers can be an effective way to develop new skills. These groups can provide mutual support, feedback, and accountability.
Practice: Regularly practicing the skills you're trying to improve is crucial. Set aside dedicated time for this.
4. Leadership Seminars and Webinars:
Find seminars and webinars focused on skill development, continuous learning, and adaptability. Websites like Udemy, LinkedIn Learning, and Coursera offer a variety of relevant courses.
Recognizing your own skill gaps and proactively seeking out resources and opportunities to address them is a key part of professional growth. It's essential to cultivate a mindset of continuous learning and adaptability to navigate changes in job requirements, technologies, and industries.
Non-Strategic
Being strategic involves thinking long-term, recognizing broader trends and patterns, making connections between disparate pieces of information, and crafting plans that take all of these elements into account. Here are some resources to help develop strategic thinking skills:
1. Books:
"Good Strategy Bad Strategy: The Difference and Why It Matters" by Richard Rumelt: This book offers insights into the key elements of a good strategy and provides practical advice on how to craft one.
"Playing to Win: How Strategy Really Works" by A.G. Lafley and Roger L. Martin: Written by a former CEO of Procter & Gamble and a leading strategy consultant, this book provides practical advice on strategy creation and execution.
"Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make the Competition Irrelevant" by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne: This book introduces the concept of "blue ocean strategy," a way of thinking about strategic positioning that emphasizes creating new market spaces rather than competing in crowded existing ones.
"The Art of Strategy: A Game Theorist's Guide to Success in Business and Life" by Avinash K. Dixit and Barry J. Nalebuff: This book applies game theory to strategic thinking, offering a new perspective on how to navigate complex strategic decisions.
2. Training Programs:
"Strategic Leadership and Management" by the University of Illinois on Coursera: This program provides a comprehensive introduction to strategic thinking and leadership.
"Strategic Thinking" on LinkedIn Learning: This course provides practical techniques to help individuals think more strategically and make more effective decisions.
3. Additional Resources:
Coaching and Mentoring: Engage a coach or mentor who has experience in strategic thinking and planning. They can provide personalized guidance, feedback, and strategies.
Workshops and Seminars: Attend workshops or seminars on strategic thinking and planning. These can provide hands-on learning experiences and opportunities to practice strategic thinking skills.
4. Leadership Seminars and Webinars:
Look for seminars and webinars focused on strategic thinking, business strategy, and leadership. Websites like Udemy, LinkedIn Learning, and Coursera offer a variety of relevant courses. Remember, strategic thinking is not just about setting long-term goals; it's about understanding the broader context in which your organization operates, anticipating future trends and changes, and making decisions that will position your organization to succeed in the face of these changes.
Over-dependence on Others or a Skill
Independence and diversifying skills are critical for long-term career success. It's essential to be able to stand alone and handle tough assignments or situations without always relying on others' help or a single skill. Here are some resources to help cultivate independence and broaden your skillset:
1. Books:
"Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World" by David Epstein: This book explores the benefits of having a broad range of skills and experiences, as opposed to specializing in one area.
"The Success Principles" by Jack Canfield: This book provides a range of principles and strategies for personal and professional success, including becoming more independent and self-reliant.
"The Lean Startup" by Eric Ries: This book provides a methodology for handling new situations and developing diverse skills, even in uncertain and risky situations.
"The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen R. Covey: This book provides insights into personal and professional effectiveness, including independence and self-reliance.
2. Training Programs:
Online Learning Platforms: Websites like Coursera, edX, LinkedIn Learning, and Udemy offer a variety of courses to develop new skills across many different fields.
Company Training: If available, take advantage of training programs offered by your employer. They are often specifically designed to help employees broaden their skills and become more independent.
3. Additional Resources:
Personal Coaching: A personal coach can provide customized guidance and strategies to become more independent and diversify your skills.
Networking: Building a strong professional network can provide opportunities to learn from others and develop new skills, while also building your independence.