How to be a Good Boss in Tough Times

The purpose of this blog is to provide you with leadership knowledge that is useful, whether it’s through summarizing information and experiences for you, or pointing you to powerful resources that don’t take a lot of time to absorb.  Robert Sutton is one of my favorite management resources because his work is based in research and he presents it in a very practical, if earthy, way.  This week, I want to point you to another good piece from him:  a 10-minute video about how to be a good boss in bad times (there is also a transcript of the conversation at this link, if you prefer that format).  There are many good points, but the two to watch for in particular are his discussion of “the toxic tandem” of power and the recipe for being a good boss in bad times.  (Teaser: The ingredients include prediction, understanding, control, and compassion.)

Those two pieces, along with several other points he makes, are immediately useful, whether your organization is experiencing layoffs, budget cuts, reorganization, or any of the other forms of workplace change and stress.  If somehow you have escaped any of these workplace realities recently, hang on, because they are inevitable over the course of a career.  I hope you’ll enjoy the video.