Ladderburners Unite!

No communication? Dumb. "I know how you feel." Dumber. Next episode will be out on Wednesday. Come join us!

In today's episode, Alan Patterson and  Kelly Norton  discuss two critical modern-day communication vehicles that are used, misused, and abused.

Email owns us. Since it's one-way communication, there's a lot we can get out of our heads without anyone interrupting us.  It enables us to  write dissertation-size messages,  solve  problems, start wars and spread rumors with just a few clicks of the keys. Is it ever effective? Yes, when you understand how to use it to augment what and how you'd say things in personal conversations.

Then there's our dependence on virtual meetings.  Sure, they are not the same as meeting in person, but, is that a bad thing? 

Listen to the first of three episodes on common leadership communication mistakes and how to remedy them.

Getting commitment and buy-in requires pre-selling your ideas and getting others to help in getting support you need. 

In this week's episode you'll hear from Kelly Norton why building relationships and searching for meaningful work outweigh the quest to climb the corporate ladder. 

The self-description of a true Ladderburner whose career has unfolded based on opportunity, interesting work, challenges, relationships, and most of all, helping others succeed. Join me this week in hearing from Kelly Norton, who's really very interesting.

What happens when you realize that a good job does not speak for itself? And then you discover that self-promotion has nothing to do with you? Here's my story and what I learned along the way - admittedly a little self-promotion on my part!

One  characteristic leaders share in common is confronting their sense of weakness and  insecurity , even though they may not admit it.

Meet  Kevin Faul, founder of Conway Electric - colleague,  classic entrepreneur and quintessential Ladderburner.  Kevin explains why he believes  "chance favors the prepared," even, as he claims, when you're not that smart.  Is your career a series of random events and what if's, or is it the path you've chosen?

 Kevin  is a living example why burning the ladder and broadening  your relationships and experiences increase  your leverage.  Fear is not real. It's only a mirage.