Blue Fjord Leaders Blog
The Voice for Insightful Leadership with Shelley Row, P.E.
Oh Oh Oh! Three Tips for Seeing Another Perspective
It was the night of the lighted boat parade in our neighborhood of Eastport. The boat parade, sponsored by the Eastport Yacht Club, is a regular event that draws spectators who line the shoreline and bridge around the three sides of the harbor. The boats - dressed as...
Don’t Break Anything! Four Steps to Trying Something New While Managing Risk
Have you ever wanted to try something new in your organization but were hesitant to start? Maybe it’s a process that you need to change or a technology you’re considering investing in. It can feel risky and uncertain. You don’t want to break anything. And, that...
Four Tips to Be Prepared for Family Dynamics over the Holidays
‘Twas the holiday season…and family dynamics are taking a toll. There are the folks you see often and those less regularly. Some relationships are easy and welcome. Others …well, other relationships may grate on your nerves. Let’s face it, some family members seem to...
I’ll Know It When I See It … Three Steps to Greater Clarity
It was the sixth shoe store we visited in Vienna, Austria. And still no shoes. I wanted to buy a pair of boots as my old ones from Milan, Italy, fit so well. In and out of shoe stores we went. My traveling companion had the patience of Job. I looked at combat-style...
Folding Paper Airplanes: Three Steps to Creating New Habits
Do you remember what it was like to fold a paper airplane? You fold the corners in on an angle so that there is a pointy end; fold the sides down into wings and there it is. A sheet of paper transformed into an airplane. And it flew! Well,…mostly. Now, unfold the...
Reach Your Goals: Leadership Insights from a Kayak
It was a beautiful fall day in Keystone, Colorado. The aspen were gold and the sun highlighted the crevasses in the mountains that guarded the lake. It was a perfect time to rent a kayak and paddle around under the blue sky. My love affair with Kayaking really began...
Blue Fjord Leaders Newsletter with Shelley Row, PE, CSP
Your place for short, easy-to-read articles on management, leadership, decision-making, and personal & professional development.
Featured Blog Posts
Do You Know What Makes Your Staff Tick? Use these Five Questions to Keep Them Ticking
When you download a new app, buy a new phone or acquire the latest cool technology like Alexa, you learn to use it. You explore its capabilities, you learn how it works, and over time you learn how it can assist you. Do you make that effort with your staff? Do you...
Know Your Staff! Four Briefing Styles that Give You Clues to Their Superpower
Think about your first management position. What was initially on your mind? For most of us, we dove into the technical work. What are the projects? Are they on time and on budget? What are the technical challenges? What is the financial picture for each? For sure,...
10 Things Every Technical Person Should Know when They Become a Manager
Whether your technical expertise is in engineering (like mine), law, finance, technology or science, we technical folks don’t have good reputations as managers. When a technically accomplished person is promoted into management, suddenly the old skills that made us...
Is Your Leadership Falling Victim to the Villain?
Is your leadership falling victim to the villain? “What villain?” you say. It’s a dastardly villain that limits your leadership potential and short-circuits your effectiveness. Particularly in technical fields, we’ve been trained to go along with the villain. Here’s...
Get a Free Copy of
The Handbook for Technical Leaders
Ten Top Skills for Managers