Blue Fjord Leaders Blog
The Voice for Insightful Leadership with Shelley Row, P.E.
Understanding Humility & Leadership: a Guide for New Managers
How this aspect of self-awareness is a critical function in leadership How do you show up? A few weeks ago we introduced you to the Blue Fjord Leadership System. Over time, I’ll write about each of the skills starting with the foundational skills. Today, is...
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,...
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 Forgetting Curve: It’s Why Your Training Program Doesn’t Stick
Here's how you can train managers for employee retention & satisfaction You’re trying to do the right thing by investing in training for your staff. But is it sticking? If it’s not sticking, then it’s not making a difference for them, for you or the organization....
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...
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