Author Archives: Toby Lucich

What Can You Get for Your Tax Dollar?

Posted on December 19, 2006 by Toby Lucich

No more complaining about government waste. Ok, well maybe a little bit more – but here is a bright shiny offering in return for your hard-earned tax dollars: a long list of best practices, including this 2000 GAO report “Human … Continue reading →

Posted in Career | Leave a comment

The Power of Inspiring Words

Posted on December 12, 2006 by Toby Lucich

I’m not a fan of the inspirational posters that hang on the walls of so many offices and companies these days. They are well intended, but too often feel like window-dressing – there to send a message but without conviction. … Continue reading →

Posted in Accountability, Creativity, Inspiration | Leave a comment

How do You Add Up?

Posted on December 6, 2006 by Toby Lucich

Reading and commenting on Rick’s run on cross-functional collaboration got me thinking, what the heck would be on my professional card if biz people had baseball cards? My rookie card was near worthless. I was a moderately interested student at … Continue reading →

Posted in Branding, Career, Measure, Performance | 1 Comment

Viva la Mediocrity

Posted on November 20, 2006 by Toby Lucich

You realize of course that the longer you plug away below your ability, the less likely that you will find yourself pushing into new territory. Complacency will turn your beard white. I think that Rip Van Winkle probably worked in … Continue reading →

Posted in Engagement, Mediocrity, Motivation, Reflection | Leave a comment

Feeling Valued

Posted on November 20, 2006 by Toby Lucich

I was reading my first monthly magazine from Investment Advisor, a subscription offer that had peaked my interest, though I sit outside their target market. (Since I think about one’s career as perhaps their core asset in their investment portfolio, … Continue reading →

Posted in Accountability, Autonomy, Creativity, Mentoring, Results, Reward, Value | 1 Comment

Who Values Employees?

Posted on November 15, 2006 by Toby Lucich

Not feeling like employees are valued? Having a hard time recruiting and retaining talent on your teams? Put this in front of your executive management team: A study commissioned by Pershing Advisory Services, “A View From the Top: Best Practices … Continue reading →

Posted in Accountability, Corporate Culture, Criticism, Recruiting, Reputation, Review | Leave a comment

Parenting versus Babysitting – The Manager's Duty

Posted on November 14, 2006 by Toby Lucich

“I didn’t take them on to raise” is a phrase I’ve heard not just once in my professional career. And the retort is, “well, yes you did.” Crap managers babysit, good managers parent. (And if you’ve had a really rockstar … Continue reading →

Posted in Autonomy, Creativity, Criticism, Motivation, Passion, Results, Wrong | 1 Comment

The Inequity of Equity

Posted on November 10, 2006 by Toby Lucich

The dream- your hand on the wheel, guiding your ship where you will, when you will. The wind at your back, the sun in your face. Ahh – the entrepreneurial dream. (You know I’m not really talking about sailing, right?) … Continue reading →

Posted in Autonomy, Entrepreneur, Uncategorized, Value | Leave a comment

Is it Too Late Once the Job is Posted?

Posted on November 7, 2006 by Toby Lucich

When I become disenchanted (before disenfranchised but after focus has faded), I’ll often start drumming through the help wanted ads online. Monster. HotJobs. Indeed. Craigslist. This surfing is done in lieu of completing the management reports that no one reads, … Continue reading →

Posted in Bus, Results, Value | 4 Comments

Separation Analysis – What Companies Fail to Understand

Posted on November 6, 2006 by Toby Lucich

A friend recently left his most recent job to go it on his own, no small feat when you think about the comfort that comes from being part of a larger organization. The funny thing is, this seems to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Autonomy, Bus, Entrepreneur, Value, Work-life balance | Leave a comment