Schleif/Learning Blog

What separates the best managers from the rest? Many would say goal attainment. Others would say customer service. Some would say fiscal performance. Unfortunately, all are wrong. What separates the best managers from the rest is their ability to build and coach a team. Yes, the most important managerial activities include: employee training and development, coaching, and workplace empowerment. And to most people, these activities are generally considered "soft skills". Let's take a look at today's managers. [...]

Is Once A Year Really Enough? In America, Labor Day is celebrated just once a year. And as most people know, it falls on the first Monday in September. The Labor Day weekend is considered by many to be the "last chance" time period for those end of season extended vacations; family trips that happen right before the summer ends and the new school year begins. As a bit of history, the first Labor [...]

It's an age-old question - "What comes first - investing time to develop people or working hard to get the results you're looking for?" For many, leadership is first and foremost - to-do lists, action steps, project completion, and getting results - basic GTD stuff. For others, leadership strength is all about helping people grow and develop - with the expectation that talented leaders will actively build strength in others - and will sooner [...]

Somewhere around five years old, we learn an important life lesson. "Learning begins when we get on the bike and ride." Sure, we can transfer knowledge in a classroom. We can watch videos, discuss theory, and debate pros and cons - all in an effort to better understand the "how-to-do". But as a kid, we learned an important lesson - sooner or later, we've got to get on the bike and ride. Well, [...]

There was a time in your life when you knew how to fly...  And then one day... you grew up. At a young age, most of us know what comes naturally, what feels right, what fills our hearts with joy... like flying our own airplane. Then as we grow up, we begin to put a veneer over all that joy and do what others want us to do... hoping to become more like [...]