Moments
With
Marty

We produced a podcast episode several years ago to help you identify some of the unconscious biases that may affect your judgment, perception, and actions. As much as we like to think we’re free from bias, it’s an unavoidable part of the human condition. In that episode, I covered 18 unconscious biases that are likely […]

If you want to build a team that outlasts others, you need each and every individual to be able to handle pressure. And this starts with you. You set the tone for what happens in times of stress, pressure, and crisis. Just ask yourself, “how do I handle pressure?”. Some leaders hide, avoiding the issue […]

Many people rate public speaking as one of their top fears. A lot of our worst memories of public speaking go back to our first experiences, as impressionable young children in the classroom.  We might associate it with self-consciousness and embarrassment… perhaps we worry about forgetting our lines, or not knowing what to say… or […]

Communication is an incredibly important element of leadership. How you talk to your team, how you deliver a presentation when you’re in a room full of important people, and how well you connect one-on-one with your direct reports can all have a huge bearing on your performance, and your personal credibility. Knowing how to convey […]

I talk a lot about high performance. But what about the people who find themselves doing relatively mundane, repetitive, or low-skilled jobs? We tend to imagine occupations like cleaners, fruit pickers, and production line workers when we think about mundane jobs. But many people in your team could also be doing some mind-numbing work, to […]

It is common in most larger organizations to restructure from time to time. These restructures are generally carried out for the right reasons, but are too often ill-conceived in terms of how much value they will generate, when weighed against the disruption, cost, and uncertainty that come as a by-product of the restructure. Most often, […]

Many of you probably wouldn’t know that I cut my leadership teeth on large software development projects as a project manager. And throughout my career, I’ve had executive or sponsorship accountability for large projects in construction, procurement, major asset overhaul, and capital efficiency. So, when I get to talk about projects, it’s like putting on […]

I’m often asked when I’m interviewed, “Marty, what’s one thing you wish you’d learned earlier”… or the more modern form of that question, which is, “Marty, what would you like to be able to tell your 20-year old self?” There are any number of life lessons that I could absolutely have used earlier on, and […]

Most senior leaders find themselves in a position where they need to establish and execute a change or transformation program. It’s almost expected that when you take on a new role that you bring change… and we all like to stamp our mark on a new role. It’s easy to get caught up in the […]

There are many ways to get your team to do things. The type of power you use to get results is all-important. But we rarely think about it. Some types of power are more sustainable than others, so be careful to wield your leadership power deliberately, not just let it flow subconsciously, based on your […]