Recent Articles from Derek Murphy
Best of CoBiz: Smart leaders sweat the small stuff
‘Don’t sweat the small stuff’. We’ve all heard the phrase, right? In theory, it’s a nice concept; just not for those in leadership positions. Why, you ask? As leaders, we must realize that, like it or not, we are being watched. Closely. The nuances of our behavior – eye contact, or lack thereof; change in […]
Best of CoBiz: Perseverance: Not just a cheesy saying
When I hear the term perseverance, it’s hard not to think of those “motivational” posters proudly displayed in so many offices. You know what I mean; the posters usually showcase a mountain or a sailboat with a slogan that says something about persevering no matter the hurdles, etc. I don’t know about you, but I […]
Best of CoBiz: Maximizing managers
I love data. I’m naturally drawn to articles that feature statistics, which is probably why I tend to quote them often. With that in mind, I found this encouraging stat the other day: A recent poll of about 100 corporate HR practitioners and leaders reveals that nearly all (98 percent) anticipate maintaining current levels or […]
Entrepreneurs, get in the leadership lane
While not everyone gets to experience a Bill Gates-type success, many entrepreneurs do just fine. But merely being one doesn’t necessarily mean you’re an above-average leader. In other words, just because you’re the boss doesn’t mean you know how to lead.
Best of CoBiz: Three smart ways to keep your work-life balance
As the manager or executive of your company, you deal with seemingly nonstop responsibilities on a day-to-day basis, but you still need to make sure to have some sort of work-life balance. And remember, employees follow your lead, and if you’re staying at the office from 8-8 with no breaks every w...
Feed the hungry HiPos
Take a few seconds to think of a skilled employee at your company, and contemplate the difficulty of having to replace that employee. How long would it take to train a replacement? Does the thought scare you a bit? It should. This is why so much emphasis needs to be placed on talent development.
Best of CoBiz: Top six ways to Improve your strategic thinking
Strategic thinking in its basic sense is an innovative way of thinking about the overall goals of your position, team and company. It provides a framework toward planned outcomes for the future that involves figuring out ways to keep the business growing. However, we do live in an action-oriented...
Leaders vs. managers
There’s been an ongoing debate for the past five decades, and I’m not talking about Medicare or why the Chicago Cubs haven’t won a title since 1908. This debate has to do with leaders and managers. In fact, a quick Google search of the phrase, “Leaders vs. Managers” produces more than 15 million results. Clearly, […]
Productivity tips from a night owl
The early bird catches the worm. I hate that phrase. I find it irritating because of the origin behind it, the idea that to succeed, you must wake up and get to work early. I’m going to have to disagree with this concept. I’m a night owl. I have little desire to be up at 6 a.m., unless I absolutel...
Should you let your office go to the dogs?
It’s no secret that workplace stress is a major contributor to employee absenteeism and low morale, which can result in a substantial loss of productivity. But what can business leaders do to help lower stress levels? Reduce the amount of work given to an employee? Sure, that sounds noble in theor...
Summer brain drain
We may have conflicting views on politics, movies, and choice of beer, but when it comes down to it, the whole country can agree on one thing – it’s hot outside. Living in Colorado, I’m not quite as accustomed to a steady supply of 100-degree days. But whether I like it or not, this is our current...
The Achilles’ heel of leadership
At one time, Achilles was considered the strongest of all Greek warriors, except for his pesky heel problem. To give you a Greek mythology refresher, Achilles was the hero of various battles during the Trojan War. He was invulnerable, except for one spot untouched on his heel. And in true mytholog...