The Cliffhanger, featuring "Cliff and Cleo," (leadership alter egos of our clients), is YOUR invitation to participate in a conversation about leadership.
Each week, we will use Cliff or Cleo to present a “real” leadership dilemma faced by one of our clients attempting to lead through increasing overwhelm, uncertainty, and chaos.
We leave the dilemma unanswered: You know, the Cliffhanger.
At the end of every dilemma, we pose the question "What Would a Leader Do?"
YOU are invited to write your ending to the question: "What Would a Leader Do?" in the comments section of the blog.
The next week, we share a few words on "how it turned out."
If you have an issue you'd like Cliff and Cleo to present, email it to lisa@jacksonandschmidt.com.
All names are changed to protect the innocent.
WHO ARE CLIFF AND CLEO?
MEET CLIFF. Cliff is ambitious and well-trained in his field, but sometimes a bit fearful to tell the truth and a bit clueless about politics (especially involving women). He is overwhelmed by admini-trivia from an unending stream of email, meetings, and Blackberry; but he sincerely believes in the need for a more thoughtful and engaging approach to driving performance in the business. "Where is the time to think and act strategically?" is Cliff's core leadership question.
MEET CLEO. Cleo is uber-smart and has great instincts about people, but she gets in trouble
sometimes by her willingness to speak her mind. "It's tough being a "B____" in a man's world" (except she's really not). Cleo actively promotes new ways of working like collaboration and empowered decision making, but constantly runs into brick walls of limited thinking and outdated practices. "How do I effectively handle resistance and toxic fear of change, in an era of great change?" is Cleo's core leadership question.
Cliff and Cleo are the Everyday Heroes in the workplace.
They are the real leaders of today's companies, attempting to lead through increasing overwhelm,
uncertainty, and chaos.
Cliff and Cleo are you.
