Blue Fjord Leaders Blog
The Voice for Insightful Leadership with Shelley Row, P.E.
Being the Smartest Person in the Room isn’t Enough. Now what?
Why smart people struggle in leadership positions & why technical experts need people skills You sensed it for some time. You know technically what is the right answer. And it’s not enough. You sense that you aren’t as effective or influential as you should...
The attributes of a good manager
From Technical Expert to Manager: How will you bridge the gap? It’s no surprise that the transition from technical expert to manager is a struggle. Leaders in technical organizations tell stories of exceptional engineers who never make it as a manager. Perhaps you...
Tone Matters: How a Leader’s Words Influence Good & Bad Behaviors
Tone at the Top Matters: What Tone Are You Setting? As a manager, what you say and how you say it drastically affects your team. Fix bad behavior and set the tone for office culture by learning from these mistakes. Daniel was the new boss and he came in like a...
2020 Lessons in Leadership
Whew! What a year it’s been. There’s nothing like a world-wide pandemic to put a spotlight on good (and bad) leadership. Here’s my list of 2020 leadership lessons and observations. How do yours stack up? Be ready to pivot. Each day I’m impressed by the creativity...
Tips for Your New Job Search: Use a Three-Step Whole Brain Approach
What is the "whole brain approach?" What a year it’s been! With the new year approaching perhaps you are looking for, have applied for, or are considering a new job. That can be stressful and anxiety-producing, and you can find yourself over-thinking it. (Believe me,...
Success in leadership requires a shift in mindset
The problem with most managers Here’s a tale of two managers. Can you relate to either? Shontelle: She was one of my top engineers. She analyzed each problem to the nth degree. She was thorough and logical. A real problem solver. That’s why she was promoted to a team...
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
The Best Attributes of Engineers & How to Upskill to Be a Better Manager
Use these 3 tips for better management training It’s National Engineers Week! Let’s take a moment to celebrate engineers and the value they bring into the world. And let’s look at how to get more from that value. Think about it. Engineers design, build and...
The New Must-Have Skill for Managers: Empathy
Leadership after COVID demands a new approach — here's how to manage with empathy. Management & leadership is changing. Have you noticed? Check out this article from Fast Company on the “rare breed” of managers who are “original.” The article came to me from my...
The Hidden Costs of DIY Leadership Training
When resources are limited and uncertainty abounds, clients want to work with organizations they trust. Now, more than ever, your technical managers need enhanced interpersonal skills so that you are the trusted company with whom clients want to work. After all, there...
The Neuroscience of Managing Distractions & How to Rebalance your Brain
So much about work has changed in the last 18 months — how we think about it, how we talk about it, even how we simply get it done has endured a cultural shift with steep demands. As we round the corner into the end of year, here we go yet again. Managers and business...
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