Being bored at work seems normal. Studies indicate 43% of office workers are bored - many hoping to find a new job. So if you are bored, then note that you are normal. Now - does that make you feel any better? I thought not. So what do you do? Quit and find another job? Some of you will take this path, only to quickly be bored again. So instead of quitting and starting again at a new place, maybe there are creative ways to make boredom go away. Are You Bored at Work? (podcast outline)What to do when you are bored at work?  Want to stay in current job - just wish I was less bored Embrace it. You do not have to work too hard. Maybe that is OK.  Explore. Look around and become curious about what is going on. Get away from your desk (or normal job) and go learn about what others do.  Stop doing so much. Often we are bored when we are not using our gifts. A person who likes movement would prefer sweeping the floor or walking around taking inventory vs sitting at a desk. And some are the opposite. For me - I am NOT a details person. My eyes glaze over as I get into the details. So I have stopped doing many of them and now I focus on strategy. Tell your boss “I am bored at work - what else can I do. The boss SHOULD want to fix it since bored people eventually leave or totally disengage.   Quit doing so much. Maybe you are bored with busy work and do not have the time to THINK.  Really would like to leave - but (there is always a but) Set some goals. What do you really want? Where do you want to be? If money is holding you back - do the math. Vested retirement? So many years to retirement? I was told “15 more years of this crap and I am out.” Really? Just do the math and make a decision on the numbers and not the emotions Look outside. Often we are scared to even look. But look. Check out my podcast on Hidden Jobs. Look inward. Many companies have many options inside. Just because you work for Lockheed does not mean you are stuck.  Get creative. What can you do on your current job to give it life? Can you automate it? Can you take a course to do it better? Closing  We all get bored from time to time - but staying bored is not a win for anyone. You will give up on things and become disgruntled at work, and at home. You will be that grumpy old man or woman. But even bigger - think about the example you are setting to your kids or family. Do you want to have a legacy or being bored at work or someone who made things happen? Shout OutSomething for everyoneWill Wins★★★★★I went through the graduate program under Dale and it totally changed my perspective/attitude on my career, goals, and life. This podcast has been great at continuing to challenge & make me think outside the box. It’s so easy to slip back into the normal thinking that comes with an 8-5 day job and this podcast is great for keeping me aligned. It’s your life. There’s a world of possibilities out there. Keep up the good work and never stop pressing Dale.Click here to listen now.Subscribe & Review in iTunesAre you subscribed to my Company of One? If you’re not, I encourage you to do that today so you don’t miss an episode. Click here to subscribe in iTunes!If you like what you hear, I would be really grateful if you left me a review over on iTunes, too. Those reviews help other people find my podcast. I also love reading them and connecting with you. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you!Links mentioned in this episode: Hidden Jobs Contact Dale Callahan!  Master of Engineering Management in Information Engineering and Management

Who is living your dream? Do you know? Or put another way, who do you want to grow up to be? Whether their occupation, their success, their ministry, their impact on the world - who is your role model for success? John, a CIO at a multi-billion $ company told me “No one ever asks me how to be me. No one seems to want to be CIO.”His statement was odd because the same statement is written in the book Rich Dad Poor Dad - no one ever asks him how to be rich.  But the key to finding success is to answer three questions - and one of them is to find out who is living your dream. Who is Living Your Dream (podcast outline)The Hard Truth: Many people do not have a role model. They are drifting. We need to find people who have walked the path we want to walk. Who is Living your dream - how to find out. The three questions you need to answer: What do you love to do? How do you make money doing that? Who is living your dream?Today we focus on the last question - who is living your dream?  But to help you find the other answers, check out How to Find Your Calling.  Who is living your dream? Here are some examples of those who found it. David Goggins from Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds. Seeing the Navy Seal video. He even loved the idea of the pain.  Don't Die in Your Cube. Story of Brian Rabon. How to connect to the person who is living your dream. Boldly reach out. People love to talk about themselves - so this is going to be easier than you think. See How to Win Friends and Influence People. Email is my favorite way to start. LinkedIn is also a great path. This is your dream - not your wish. Go after it.  Email, call, text, smoke signals. Go do it now. If you are lost and need help to get clarity, give me a call. Click here to listen now.Subscribe & Review in iTunesAre you subscribed to my Company of One? If you’re not, I encourage you to do that today so you don’t miss an episode. Click here to subscribe in iTunes!If you like what you hear, I would be really grateful if you left me a review over on iTunes, too. Those reviews help other people find my podcast. I also love reading them and connecting with you. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you!Links mentioned in this episode: How to Find Your Calling Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds Don't Die in Your Cube How to Win Friends and Influence People Contact Dale Callahan!  Master of Engineering Management in Information Engineering and Management

Finding your path after 30 has some unique challenges. College is just a memory. You have a good career. You have a family. But when you look around at what you do and what comes next - you might be yearning for some direction. The words I hear so often are, "I want more."A client recently told me this:When you get into your 30’s, you do not know where to go. Up to now, you had a plan. High school counselors and parents helped you find a college, college helped you find a job, and when you started the job you had some direction since you were new and just learning. Now, you are experienced with so many options of where to go, and no one is directing you.She said it well. Finding your path after 30, when no one is there to guide you, and you have so many choices can be a rough and lonely road.Finding Your Path After 30 (Podcast Outline)Warning signs you might be on the wrong path (Some of these are taken from Jack Canfield's post on how the universe is speaking to you. The universe aside - some good thought.  You are not as interested in the work you once loved.  Bored Not wanting to dive into the details that once excited you. You complain about the company, the boss, or coworkers often. (A friend of mine refers to some people as “Waste of life”. ) You hunger for change - even if you are not sure what that is. You might fear change at work - what will you have to learn now about a field you are bored with?  Dealing with anxiety or depression. Never fully relaxed. Often we feel as if something terrible is about to happen. You might have chronic medical issues. Often undiagnosed with a clear path or often misdiagnosed and treat the symptoms. (I speak as a systems engineer.) Back pain Wrist pain Migraines Stomach issues etcA few names for this state: Cubical insanity Corporate lobotomyThe result: You feel numb and unable to see clearly what to do from here. You ask, "How did I get here, and how do I get out."The truth is, you are in a box that you have built. You cannot see your way out. Coaching can helpGenerally, a coach or a guide is what you need. Not someone to tell you what to do, but someone to lead your thinking. Where you might find these: Career Counselors: I generally do not like this approach because it's in a box. These counselors mostly focus on tightening up your resume or giving you tests. All in-the-box thinking.  Therapists/Psychologists: I like this better since they are not in a box - but provide little guidance. That is not their role. But they can help you think through problems.  Mastermind groups: These can be awesome - but are often focused around a topic. Also hard to find one.  Grad School - new degree: Very useful IF AND ONLY IF they have coaching built into the program. Coaches: Career coaches, life coaches, executive coaches - so many names. This type has been the best option for me.  But you really need to find someone who knows their stuff. A good one can reconnect you with your dreams. What to look for in a coach: Life Experience. They need to have real-life experience - preferably experience that allows them to understand where you are coming from. I have seen 20-year-old life coaches. Sorry - it just does not fit the smell test for me.  Work experience. You need someone who has worked in industry. People who are just coming back into the workforce (moms) or people who cannot find a better job will often hang out their shingles.  Experience in your pain: They should have had similar struggles. Career struggles Connections: This is a super added benefit, they should be well connected to help you get connected assuming you need it. LinkedIn is a clue here.  Wealth: Someone who has already made it or makes plenty of money in their work and does not need you. You do not want a starving coach.  A price: They should charge.

Have you forgotten how to dream? I asked that question of a client the other day as he was talking through all of his options. Should he take the job that was a minor promotion (my words - not his) or should he take the job in the other company which is also a minor promotion? (Again - my words not his.) As he described both, I could tell his heart could care less? “What do you really want?” I asked. He then started comparing the options between the two jobs. No - I mean “What do YOU really want?” Take all of this off the table. What do you want to do if you could step back and money was not the issue? He stared at me as if I had just morphed into speaking Chinese. After a moment of awkward silence, I said - “Have you forgotten how to dream?" After another moment of awkward silence, he said - “I have even forgotten what it means to dream." Have you forgotten how to dream? (podcast outline) We have let others do the dreaming for us. They set the agenda.What has happened to all of us? We used to be a nation of dreamers and innovators. Now we have mostly become the settlers. Settle for this job. We settle for this pay raise. We settle for watching other people do amazing things and work hard. We settle for having our mind numbed by the corporate grind - mostly made up of meaningless meetings and poor leadership. We settle for having our after-hours time consumed with the mission of others - coaches for our kids, school systems who demand us to show up after hours, job functions to go to, or just the grind of the TV and endless TV commercials. Much of what we suffer is in the name of taking care of our kids and preparing them for college, and then a job, where they will live in the same monotony we have. Or we suffer from being entertained to death. Videos, video games, etc 3.2 Billion hours of Youtube are watched every month.  The number of hours people spend watching videos (aka watch time) on YouTube is up 60% year-over-yearWhy have we done this?  Corporate Lobotomy - You become numb. Your mind becomes disconnected from your feelings about work and purpose. You might have been here too long.  We are being taught to follow. The average parent is teaching their kids to get into college. Why?  We are NOT being taught to dream. How to recapture the spirit of dreaming! Find ways to be inspired.  Find new people who fascinate you to hang around them.  Be careful who you hang around! Who You Spend Time With Is Who You Become. Find new ideas to try. Those things you always wanted to do but never had the time, money, etc.  Make time by quitting the activities that are adding no value to your life.  Does it truly provide you joy?  Do you look forward to doing it - or are you just in the habit of doing it?  All about people. Like it or not - people are the thing that inspires us. People who are doing amazing things. People who are passionate about what they do. People who we connect with on ideas or purposes.  Quit the relationships that are adding no value! "Boundaries Updated and Expanded Edition: When to Say Yes, How to Say No To Take Control of Your Life" by Henry CloudThen Dream Failure is not the right outlook - to try and grow is the point.  The journey is important - not the destination.  See more possibilities: We tend not to see possibilities beyond Our degree Our company Our work experience Our zip code For example, in a recent meeting with a CIO who was looking for what is next, he thought his only options were more CIO roles or tech roles. He discounted all he knew.   We tend to kill ideas when we see someone already doing this.  How dare we enter the market?  Who am I to do this?  Walmart, Facebook, Google, started this way. Others were doing it - they did. So did the corner laundry mat owner. So did the person holding the job you now want.

Do you hate marketing yourself? The other day someone told me “I hate having to market myself. It just feels slimy - like I am a used car salesman."  (No apologies to the used car salesmen out there - the label is well earned.) But, a central component of any business is marketing and promotion. So, in the Company of One model - where you look at yourself as a business - marketing YOU is important for growth. So if you hate marketing yourself, this episode is for you.   Be comforted. Marketing yourself is NOT what car salesmen do - well it should not be unless your goal is to have people run from you when you walk down the hall - then it can be pretty effective. So today we want to talk about what marketing yourself looks like. Professional, not pushy, and very effective. I blogged about marketing yourself or showing your value in this blog post with similar content: How to Show Your Value. What To Do If You Hate Marketing Yourself (podcast outline)Operations vs marketing. Operations are about delivering the service. Marketing is about making potential customers aware of your services OR about making current customers aware of how you have served them. What is effective marketing?  Marketing is a way of serving. Marketing should be appreciated “Marketing is simply letting others know how you can add value to their lives AND reminding them how you have added value to their lives. Either way - it is sort of a method of educating your audience. Marketing, when done right, is helpful and appreciated. “ For example, look at the things you get in an email that you appreciate getting. Are they marketing something as well as serving? We all WANT to be marketed to. We want to be informed about products that serve us or just to be aware. We want to know what others have done for us after they did it?Examples would be the mechanic going over the work done to your car or the software engineer having a training session to teach others how to use the code they developed. Depends on industry. Used car commercials work - we know because they keep doing them. Everyone says they are annoying - but the results come in. So we continue to see them. Yet, you do not see the same kind of thing from other services. Home repair, mechanics, dentists, and even most retailers do a much different style of marketing. But what about professional services - which is where you are? Professional Services Marketing. Selling the person and not the product. Focused on what I can do (or have done) for you. Liking and respecting the person being marketing is key. (Therefore being pushy and annoying is not the way to go.)Effective Ways To Discover how to market yourself inside your company Look around at the people you respect. How do they communicate value? How do they let others know they have done their job?  Look at your own people (who work for you or on your team). Who do you respect here? What do they do?  How do you know what your people or team members are doing?  How does your boss know what you are doing? Winning Methods That Almost Always Work. Provide a reminder email weekly or monthly that provides some data to your internal customer (boss) about what you did.  Use bullets or short summaries. It should be less than 1 page and fit on a screen so they do not have to scroll.  Use any data that makes sense - numbers can really help.  If you have metrics - use those as talking points. Where are you?  Copy your customers on internal emails where you are announcing an activity you are doing or something you have done. This might be more detailed than your customer (boss) needs but is just FYI.  Have an agenda. If you have periodic meetings (staff meetings or one-on-ones) be prepared for talking points. Do not walk in blind - but have an agenda to direct the conversation. For staff meetings,

You need to become a better reader. I know - this might be something you have not heard since grade school. The old adage “leaders are readers” might not be 100% accurate, but I have found that most people who are getting things done and breaking new ground are in fact, avid readers. I have also found that those who do not do a lot of reading are typically not growing and average. They usually do not have a lot of insight and seem to be OK with the status quo. Not knocking it - just an observation. Another observation - I can usually tell who is a reader without asking them. So whether you are a reader or are wanting to think about how to become a better reader and develop a better reading habit, this list should help you out.  Three Steps to Become a Better Reader in 2020(Podcast Outline)First, learn to consume content faster. No, I do not mean speed reading (although that is an option - but takes work) but I mean read smarter. To become a better reader, you need to be able to read more. But, let’s face it, not every word in a book, blog, email, or internal policy has real meaning. Learn to make good decisions about how to move through books faster. Check out this link on How to Read More in Less Time. You can go all out to the speed reading, or just learn techniques to skim that work with little practice. Second, find the right stuff to read. How? Look to your peers or the leaders in your field. What are they reading? Sure there are many books that we come across that may not be popular and yet still rock our world. I love those gems - and read many of them. They are usually the ones I hear about on podcasts or that are written by people I follow. Face it, to get into the top sellers is a bit of a game - and not every author has that as his or her goal. My book Resumes are Worthless is one of those. I never went after playing the game. (Yet - still on my someday maybe list) However, the bulk of my reading tends to come from what is popular and what others have recommended. This is not so much about following the crowd - but more about keeping up. When I listen to a speaker talk about MVPs in an entrepreneurship conference, I want to know they are talking about a minimally viable product from Lean Startup and not the most valuable player from the latest NFL game. So how to find these books? See what is being read by others who are leaders in your field. What do they post on Social Media or in blogs or mention in talks? How do I do this?  When I hear a book mentioned I write it down for later.  When I see a book in someone's office - I write it down. I have even taken pictures of people's bookshelves to see what they are reading or have read.  Often I will just ask “what are you reading?” When I get back to the office, I look them up and will add them to my Good Reads books to read or to my Amazon wish list. Third, pick up on my recommendations. Since you are here and following me, here is what I am recommending. These fit you if  You are trying to grow your income You hope for more control over your work/career You want freedom as much as you want money Growing wealth and being a good steward of your money matters to you You want to be inspired and realize that you can do more. Reading List Start with the Truth - The Bible - This is the best book for business and success ever written. It has inspired me in many ways and even helped me grow wealth. Check out How Being a Christian has Made Me WealthyThen 6 books to read - 1 every 2 months Mindset Books Mindset Rich Dad Poor Dad (What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money - That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!) - This book is about mindset - which is CRITICAL to your thinking. You have to step back and get control of how you look at things and realize much of what we think and been taught about success is wrong - even common sense tells us this. Rich Dad will lay it out.

Write your 15 minute business plan and then get moving providing goods and services for other people. After all, the only person who reads most business plans is the person who wrote it - the business owner. But unlike all those people who spend months writing a plan, you need to develop your 15-minute business plan and then start with the execution phase. Here is all you need. 15 Minute Business Plan for Your Startup (podcast outline) The key elements of a business plan are simple and should be obvious if you are getting ready to start making money and serving customers. Your 15-minute business plan should answer the following questions: What problem(s) are you trying to solve? Do not be cute or wordy, just state what the problem is in normal words. Best to use the words you have heard potential customers use. Example: Help busy moms with preteen kids lose weight. They are so busy with kids that taking care of themselves is hard. Who you will serve? It needs to be someone who has the problem and is aware that they have it. For example, an overweight person who does not feel overweight or feel motivated to change it will not want your products. Example: Busy moms with kids who are from 5-12 worried about their weight. What products or services will you offer to solve that problem?Do not over complicate it, but think about the most valuable thing you can offer. The book  The Lean Startup calls this the MVP (Minimally Viable Product). Do not overthink it. Be clear.Example: An iPhone app that will trigger mom to plan her day the night before. What clothes she needs out to workout then go on with her day. What foods she needs to prep. Then during the day, the app will remind her what to eat and what exercises to do.  The goal - where you want to be in the next 3 years. Then break down to 1 year and 3 months.  Remember goals should motivate you and make you think you can do it - just outside of your comfort zone.  Goals are not a wish list - they are things you really are willing to work to accomplish Avoid the delusional zone. ($1billion in sales in 3 years)  Think simple steps. Do not overthink it. Create Mainline Goals, Big Win, and Stretch Goals Mainline - The minimum you want to see and still feel like it was a win.  Big Win - You will feel awesome  Stretch - If all works right and grows as you planned and other good things happen - this is a stretch.  Who is your competition?  Name the people - not just companies? How can you get to know them and be friends with them?  What makes you differentBusiness proposition: We do X for Y so that they can Z. Unlike other companies, we …Example: We provide IT services for small companies that do not have IT experts so that they can focus on running their business. Unlike other IT service companies such as Gee Squad, we provide fast service and turn arounds so your business keeps running. Click here to listen now. Subscribe & Review in iTunesAre you subscribed to my Company of One? If you’re not, I encourage you to do that today so you don’t miss an episode. Click here to subscribe in iTunes!If you like what you hear, I would be really grateful if you left me a review over on iTunes, too. Those reviews help other people find my podcast. I also love reading them and connecting with you. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you!Links mentioned in this episode: The Lean Startup Master of Engineering Management in Information Engineering and Management

Stupid lies about money are certainly prevalent. Like weight loss, everyone has advice about how to make money and grow wealth. The problem is  - most of that advice comes from people who do not have any money. Kinda like taking weight loss advice from a fat person. OK - to be transparent I am not fat. Oh - you really do not care about that, do you. Maybe you care more about this. I have zero debt (including real estate) and I am a multimillionaire with multiple streams of income and I generally love what I do. - even the parts when I am working with idiots. You can hear about that on Podcast 157: Finding Joy on the Job Even When You Work for an Idiot. But I am certainly blessed. I do not claim to be wise in all things money - but I do constantly learn from others who know a lot - and little - about growing wealth. There are definitely many lies we believe. Before we look at those lies, there are simple, but important truths about growing wealth that we overlook. Today let’s look at a few of those. Quit Believing Stupid Lies about Money and Wealth (Podcast Outline)Truths about Money Money is tied to people (link to soft skills) Money comes from people.  Companies, governments, or individuals.  Every time money changes hands - it is a relationship Money changes hands in exchange for something. Listen to my What does it mean to be a Company of One Podcast.  Goods - you buy something or someone buys from you Service - you are paid to do something. Your job, clean the house, coach someone in a sport, take photos, etc Winning with money is about paying yourself first. Read this great book: The Richest Man in Babylon. You tend to behave (with money) like those you hang around - hear more in Podcast 095, Who You Spend Time With Is Who You Become.  The Bible teaches a lot about money and wealth. A great in-depth look at this truth in Podcast 132: How Being a Christian Has Made Me Wealthy. Lies About Money I do not want to be rich, because rich people are greedy.  Time is money. I can get passive income and do nothing. Listen in on Podcast 041: Passive Income From Information Products the Lies and The Truth.  College is a way to wealth. You really want to read  Rich Dad Poor Dad. Mindset is Key to Being Broke or Being RichFrom Rich Dad Poor DadPoor dad: “I’ll never be rich.”Rich dad: “There is a difference between being poor and being broke. Broke is temporary and poor is eternal.” The story of Bob has enough and lives rich while living on little. The story of Rick (business owner) does not ever have enough. Looks rich but is really broke.Reading assignment I Will Teach You to be Rich  Rich Dad Poor Dad Click here to listen now.Subscribe & Review in iTunesAre you subscribed to my Company of One? If you’re not, I encourage you to do that today so you don’t miss an episode. Click here to subscribe in iTunes!If you like what you hear, I would be really grateful if you left me a review over on iTunes, too. Those reviews help other people find my podcast. I also love reading them and connecting with you. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you!Links mentioned in this episode: Podcast 157: Finding Joy on the Job Even When You Work for an Idiot What does it mean to be a Company of One Podcast The Richest Man in Babylon Podcast 095, Who You Spend Time With Is Who You Become Podcast 132: How Being a Christian Has Made Me Wealthy Podcast 041: Passive Income From Information Products the Lies and The Truth Rich Dad Poor Dad I Will Teach You to be Rich Master of Engineering Management in Information Engineering and Management

Is finding joy on the job - even when you work for an idiot  -  even possible?No, I am not asking is working for an idiot possible - we all know that it is. Painfully!But finding joy on the job is an important part. Can it be done if you work for that idiot?  I think so. In fact, I know you can find joy at work, even while working for an idiot.Here are some ideas on how.Finding Joy on the Job - Even When You Work for an Idiot (Podcast Outline)Leave. Start looking for something else in a serious hunt. You do not have to be committed to leaving - but just the hunt alone might help you find joy. Recently I was working with someone who was unappreciated at his job. He was not the most organized guy - but he was powerfully effective with clients. But the establishment did not appreciate him - especially two women on the team. He was dogged in every meeting of management. Then when he got a new manager, that manager led by giving him a written warning with human resources. I told Jack that he would never thrive at this company - too much damage was done and they were not a good fit. He should leave. While he is still with the company, he is hot after job leads and bouncing with optimism. His optimism is so infectious that even on his current job he is starting to get some respect.  So be ready to leave - even if you do not. Nothing is worse than being at a place that you are not respected or do not fit in. Find the real problem. Sometimes our real issues are not the other people - sometimes it is us. Look in the mirror and ask “What really is going on here?” Your boss might or might not be an idiot, poor leader, or any other kind of an uninspiring jerk - but either way - how you feel should not be in his or her control.Stop and think hard about the situation. A coach can really help you peel back the layers here and find out what is going on. Too many times I have worked with clients who complain about poor leadership, but when I ask questions it becomes clear to them that the boss might not be the whole problem. They own some responsibility. So do you. Find out what is going on. Think about these questions: What do I need that I am not getting? Appreciation, guidance, accountability, support working with others, etc. What are you missing? How does the boss make me feel? Be honest and own your feelings here. After all - your misery is a feeling itself. What is the source of it? The bottom line is that others cannot make you happy, sad, miserable, or anything else. You can find it fun and joy anywhere.Be a helper to the boss. Yes, the person you think is an idiot or mean or ineffective. Find out what is going on with them. Someone in their home life? Stress from their superiors? Boredom? Maybe the person that is really unhappy is the boss - and by opening up to you, you might find your work more meaningful. Maybe, just maybe, the ministry and mission you need to take care of most is your boss.Play a game. You know all those psychological games that say smile and you will feel better. Be happy even if you have to fake it. Dress nicer to be treated better. Forget trying to manipulate - but have fun trying it just for the joy of it.When I worked for AT&T, I had a string of idiots I worked with. (OK so given all I have said - they may not have been idiots - but that is how I saw them at the time.) I was miserable. I hated every Saturday because after that was Sunday and it only led to Monday- you know what I mean.So I started playing games with me -and I noticed I felt better. It was just kind of fun. I was ignoring the pain - even looking for an opportunity in it. But something else happened - others seemed to respect me more. Doors started to open. Was is my dress? My attitude? Who knows - but it had effects I did not expect. Not saying it will for you - but it is a game.So here are things to try: Read the book Resumes are Worthless which outlines how to be a Company...

Leadership void is much more common than we want to admit. In fact, I think it is the norm. Some voids are caused by poor leaders who provide little vision or direction. Others are caused by transitions in roles (esp for your leaders) and the inability for overall leadership to define issues and set a strategy. Either way - as John Maxwell puts it - "Everything rises and falls on leadership." Unfortunately - even if you are a leader - you are often impacted by the leadership above you. You get stuck waiting for their direction - and in the meantime, you fail to provide direction to those who report to you. You, therefore, become a bad leader. (I have been here many times myself) So no matter your role or the reason - leadership void is the norm - not the exception. Here are some things to do.How to Lead at Work When There is a Leadership Void (Podcast Outline)The Bold Approach Engage the leader. Ask them what is going on. Politely let them know you see a void, and things are not working.           You might find  That something big is going on - such as a merger or acquisition or internal flopping about. If this is the case - ask for guidance about how you can help.  The leader is clueless and thinks they are doing a good job. In this case - tread lightly. Ask for how you can help them and make suggestions. (Personally, I tend to be more blunt - but a risky move to make since the leader - albeit ineffective - still has power) The leader is leading - but not communicating. (We can argue if they are truly leading but for now - what can you do?) In this case, let them know how people feel. Ask them to be bolder in communicating facts and vision. Volunteer to help set up town hall-style meetings or other forms of communication to get the word out. In leadership, what is not said is often more powerful than what is said. The leader knows he or she is ineffective and working on a solution. In a few instances, I have found this leader willing to talk to me, ask my input, and even ask for help leading. But be careful getting too close or assuming you are on the winning path - this leader is often on his or her way out - even if they do not know it yet. You likely cannot save them. 2.  Fill the void. If you do not, someone else will. So it might as well be you. I know you cannot declare yourself a leader, but you can get organized and control your own areas. The best approach to take here is to identify the major players on the team and talk to them one-on-one about plans. Do not talk about the leadership void - instead, talk about your role as a team.Shoot for pulling the major players together to come up with a plan. Avoid the gossip about the leadership void by taking the high road - “the leader is busy, and it is our job to do this - not his/hers.”The key is to not lead with power - but lead with influence - asking others' help and working as a team. The truth is - most people do not want to lead and will be happy you have stepped up to help. Maybe even the boss will like it and join your team. Click here to listen now.Subscribe & Review in iTunesAre you subscribed to my Company of One? If you’re not, I encourage you to do that today, so you don’t miss an episode. Click here to subscribe in iTunes!If you like what you hear, I would be really grateful if you left me a review over on iTunes, too. Those reviews help other people find my podcast. I also love reading them and connecting with you. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review,” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you!Links mentioned in this episode: Episode 119: Developing an Entrepreneurial Mindset Master of Engineering Management in Information Engineering and Management