By Bill Auxier, Ph.D. I’ve been guilt ridden for over 20 years. I am reminded of a crime I committed over 20 years ago every day I’m in my office working. On my desk sits a stapler with a faded logo on the part where you push down to staple stuff together. The logo is that of a former employer. … Read More
Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers—Not Really!
By Bill Auxier, Ph.D. Imagine that you are 8 years old and you find a $20 bill on the ground. What would you do? I know what I would have done. With that much money I would have made a triple play on the town square in the little town I grew up in: 1) The Dime Store (Ben Franklin … Read More
I’m Telling You the Truth, Honestly!
By Bill Auxier, Ph.D. Feedback is an integral component of leadership. Feedback lets others know what they do well and what they need to improve on. Feedback can motivate or demotivate, depending on how it’s delivered. Feedback aids in developing others—or not–again, depending on how it’s delivered. Honest feedback is therefore critical to a leader’s relationship with others. Leadership is … Read More
Speak Up!
By Bill Auxier, Ph.D. Early on in my career, I was taught that after asking a question, if there was a pause in the conversation and silence prevailed, the next person who spoke “lost.” I was convinced that this technique worked, so I adapted it, particularly during negotiations. Regardless whether I “won” or “lost,” by utilizing this communication technique I … Read More
Don’t Think Before You Talk
By Bill Auxier, Ph.D. When I landed my sales job at US Surgical several years ago, I was so excited! US Surgical’s sales force was known for being an elite group of sales professionals. One financial article described us as the “Green Berets” of surgical device sales persons. We loved that! Shortly after I had completed my training, my manager … Read More
Would You Pass the Marshmallow Test?
By Bill Auxier, Ph.D. Imagine that you are four years old, put in a small room all by yourself, with a solitary marshmallow to keep you company. The adult that accompanied you into the room told you that you could either eat the marshmallow right now, or, wait 15 minutes, and the adult would return with a second marshmallow and … Read More
The First Time I Provided Leadership, I Was Scared To Death; I Was All Alone!
“I don’t get no respect!” That was Rodney Dangerfield’s classic line as a stand-up comedian. I found his self-deprecating jokes hilarious! His appearance, body language and one-liners were so funny with unexpected twists and turns. Here are some of his great ones: When I was born, I was so ugly the doctor slapped my mother. My wife and I were … Read More
Words = Power = Revenue
By Bill Auxier, Ph.D. What can I say? I’m an Abraham Lincoln geek! Abraham Lincoln is one of my heroes. From as early as I can remember, I have always held Honest Abe in high esteem. Not only did I grow up in the “Land of Lincoln,” I have read numerous books about him and have visited his birthplace in … Read More
Getting Picked Last Sucks!
By Bill Auxier, Ph.D. I started kindergarten when I was four years old. I started college when I was 17 years old. No, I was not a child prodigy with great intellectual capacity, I was simply born in November. As a result, I was always the youngest in my class. On top of that, my body didn’t seem to grow … Read More
Pace Line Leadership
By Bill Auxier, Ph.D. Cycling can be a lot of fun. It’s a great sport that has significantly evolved in my lifetime. My first bike cost $5, had one gear, and to stop or slow down, I simply used my feet to push backwards on the pedals. Accessories included a baseball card clothes-pinned to the fender bracket, positioned to make … Read More
Riding a Bike and Leadership
by Bill Auxier, Ph.D. I’m a little stiff as I tap the keys of my computer today having spent the weekend riding my bike 190 miles. I participated in the Pan Mass Challenge, a fund-raising bike-a-thon that essentially crosses the state of Massachusetts. The event raises money for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through the Jimmy Fund with the goal of … Read More
Effective Leadership is Music to My Ears
by Bill Auxier, Ph.D. One of my best friends, someone I’ve known my entire life, is a prominent dentist in Ohio. As kids we played together, went to school together, played on the same sports teams together; we had many adventures together. We went to different colleges and chose different career paths. He earned his DDS and I earned my … Read More