Jo McDermott

diy executive development

  • Are You A “Flat-Tire-HIPO?”

    What Is A Flat-Tire-HIPO? You know those people, those really, really talented people? Those people who REALLY get things done or those people who can spot the 2 numbers in a 20 page spreadsheet that have issues. Or those who… Continue reading

  • Think Your Job Is Secure? Think Again. PLEASE.

    Think They Can’t Do Without You? There are lots of reasons that we think we are indispensable at work.  We know more than anyone else.  We’ve been there longer.  We have a close interdependent relationship with the boss.  We’re way… Continue reading

  • What I Know Now That I Wish I Knew Then

    I have a very clever friend, Deb Graham, founder of ACTStrategic.com, who recently wrote a great article.  She asked several women to tell her what they wish they had know at the beginning of their career, and then she synthesized it… Continue reading

  • Your ‘Tribes’ Are Important For Your Career Success

    What Are Your Tribes? Broncos, Seahawks.  Democrat, Republican.  Christian, Jew.  We belong to ‘Tribes.’  The correct definition of this is a social group that preceded the “state,” small in size.  The current use of the word is more of an… Continue reading

  • Do You Take Initiative?

    Duh.  I Know To Take The Initiative. You’ve heard that you should take initiative. Duh. But do you do it? Do you suggest ideas? Do you seek to improve the situation? Do you take action? Do you do it when… Continue reading

  • My Boss Is Young Enough To Be My Child!

    Younger Bosses It happens to all of us–no matter how successful we are–if you stay in the workforce long enough, you’re going to have a boss younger than you.  Why does this matter?  Why do you care?  Yeah, yeah, it… Continue reading

  • Reactions To My Discrimination Post

    Reactions to Reactions To My Discrimination Post I had readers respond to my Are They Discriminating Against You?  Probably. blog post in a couple of different ways.  First, one reader challenged me about “accepting” discrimination.  He believed that I should… Continue reading

  • Who Are You And How Did You Get That Way?

    Understand Yourself One of the most important tasks of becoming a great leader and a successful Executive (and those things are not necessarily the same thing) is to REALLY understand yourself.  You need to understand what makes you tick–what motivates… Continue reading

  • Does Aggressive Leadership Work?

    The Rutgers Coach I had breakfast with a group of friends this morning, evenly divided male/female.  The topic of the Rutgers coach who got fired came up.  I don’t think anyone in the discussion had seen more than a brief… Continue reading

  • Are You Stuck?

    Have you noticed that you’re not moving up in your organization any more?  Have your last couple of job changes been laterals?  Have your last couple of reviews been ho-hum? Are you starting to get the message that you’re stuck… Continue reading