Thoughts and Insights by Michael Gregory

July 22, 2022, Michael Gregory’s Weekly Leadership Roundup

Leadership, Collaboration, Conflict Resolution  

Do you know how to make concessions in a negotiation?

Part of daily work and home life is full of negotiations. When not addressed effectively these can result in conflict, disputes, frustration, and in some cases anger. So, the question becomes how can you truly negotiate and make concessions in a negotiation while de-escalating the situation and working with another party? Four strategies are presented to help you making effective concessions in a negotiation at work or at home.

July 15, 2022, Michael Gregory’s Weekly Leadership Roundup

Leadership, Collaboration, Conflict Resolution  

Want to know how to avoid conflict when delegating or being delegated to?

The number one problem for new managers is believing they have to do it all and show that they can get things done. This can result in conflict, frustration,  and even burn out. As a leader focusing on listening delegation is a tool to be both more effective and efficient. The lack of delegation is a major issue for many managers. This commentary explores delegation, obstacles to delegation, effective delegation, six key elements of delegation, benefits of delegation, and gives you links to both the delegator’s checklist and the delegatee’s check list.

July 8, 2022, Michael Gregory’s Weekly Leadership Roundup

Leadership, Collaboration, Conflict Resolution  

Should you lead with compassion, toughness, or empathy –why does this matter?

To avoid negative conflict and disputes and to promote collaboration, alignment, and purpose it is important to lead with compassion, have appropriate toughness, and listen with empathy. As a leader all of these matter. When someone is not performing well how should you proceed? Frustration is often a first response. I am sure you can relate. Especially if it reflects negatively on you. Responding with negative reinforcement is an initial knee jerk reaction, but research shows that when confronted with an underperforming employee that compassion and curiosity with suspended judgment works better. With appropriate coaching  to the individual, you may have far better results. Compassion and empathy build trust. You want greater trust to promote improvement.

July 1, 2022, Michael Gregory’s Weekly Leadership Roundup

Leadership, Collaboration, Conflict Resolution  

Is the IRS Job Aid on Reasonable Compensation still relevant?

The IRS valuers identified reasonable compensation as one of the top issues for audit. Differences of opinion by valuers in the private sector and IRS valuers could lead to conflict and disputes on examination, leading to Appeals, and potentially to litigation. This commentary defines reasonable compensation, introduces the IRS Job Aid and Appendix, provides links to some recent IRS papers related to reasonable compensation, introduces how various levels at the IRS look at the issue, provides links to relevant court cases and key factors for consideration from those court cases, and provides a source for contemporary commentary on this topic.

June 24, 2022, Michael Gregory’s Weekly Leadership Roundup

Leadership, Collaboration, Conflict Resolution  

Diversity, Inclusion, Hair, and Business Results - What do they have in common?

What do diversity, inclusion, hair, and business results have to do with each other. Conflicts or disputes may arise from one of a number of issues. To avoid conflicts or disputes takes an active effort to promote communication and collaboration. When you think of diversity you likely think about the primary level of what you can see, and you think about areas such as race, age, ethnicity, gender, physical abilities, sexual orientation, and class. As a secondary level below the human surface, you may think of elements of religious beliefs, nationality, geographic location, marital status, parental status, education, income, work background, and military experience may come to mind. Finally at a third level elements of learning style, personality, or professional orientation may come to mind. All of these are relevant related to diversity, but in today’s commentary the focus is on the primary level with a focus on hair and what you can see.