BLOG | Erik Bentzel, Ph.D.

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Leadership
Education

Apr 28
3 min

Reflect and Diminish and When to Yell at Subordinates, pages 287-293

A successful leader does not let emotions drive decision-making. While leaders are not bereft of emotions, they need to be controlled.

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erikbentzel

Apr 14
2 min

Hope and Ultimatums, pages 280-287

“Hope is not a course of action.” While hope is not useful in planning or execution, it still plays an important part...

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Tactfully Delivering The Truth and Balancing Praise, pages 271-280

erikbentzel

Mar 18
3 min

Tactfully Delivering The Truth and Balancing Praise, pages 271-280

“When delivering criticism, it is important to do it with consideration and delicacy.”

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Because I Said So and The Thread of Why, pages 264-271

erikbentzel

Mar 4
3 min

Because I Said So and The Thread of Why, pages 264-271

“Because I said so” is often used between parent and their children and between a boss and subordinates. In saying so, you are wrong.

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Rumor Control and Clear Guidance, pages 261-264

erikbentzel

Feb 17
3 min

Rumor Control and Clear Guidance, pages 261-264

f rumors are commonplace within your organization, the first person to look at is yourself as the leader. As the leader, you need to create

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When to Quit and Communication, pages 246-261

erikbentzel

Feb 3
3 min

When to Quit and Communication, pages 246-261

“There is a time to quit”. When comparing a strategic objective versus a tactical objective, you must understand the difference.

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erikbentzel

Jan 15
3 min

Punishment, pages 243-246

While punishment is an option, it should be rarely used. “If your troops don’t execute the plan, then, of course, you should first look...

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The Nearly Indefensible Boss and Stress Relief, pages 237-243

erikbentzel

Jan 7
3 min

The Nearly Indefensible Boss and Stress Relief, pages 237-243

As a subordinate leader, you are setting an example. If you undermine the leader, it not only hurts them, it also hurts the morale...

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When to Micromanage and The Boss Wants all the Credit, pages 231-237

erikbentzel

Dec 29, 2020
3 min

When to Micromanage and The Boss Wants all the Credit, pages 231-237

Ideally, Decentralized Command is the preferred method for effective leadership. However, sometimes decentralized command and hands-off...

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Micromanaging, Indecisive, or Weak Bosses, pages 226-231

erikbentzel

Dec 10, 2020
3 min

Micromanaging, Indecisive, or Weak Bosses, pages 226-231

Just as there are many different types of people in the world, there are different types of bosses. Some good, and some that are not.

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erikbentzel

Dec 3, 2020
3 min

Leading Peers, pages 221-226

Leading peers is a demanding style of leadership. “When rank and position are equivalent, more tact is needed...

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Using Leadership to Teach and Build Humility, Confidence, and High-Level, pages 215-221

erikbentzel

Nov 19, 2020
3 min

Using Leadership to Teach and Build Humility, Confidence, and High-Level, pages 215-221

While subordinate leaders need to be confident, sometimes they can become overconfident. This then leads to arrogance and a lack of humility

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Everything is Good (But Not That Good) and Using Leadership to Teach and Build, pages 207-215

erikbentzel

Nov 11, 2020
2 min

Everything is Good (But Not That Good) and Using Leadership to Teach and Build, pages 207-215

“No matter what goes wrong, there is always some good to find in the setback.”

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erikbentzel

Nov 4, 2020
3 min

Conform to Influence, pages 200-206

As the leader, it’s often said that it is easier to slow someone down than have to speed them up.

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The Easy Button and Judging Reputations, pages 196-200

erikbentzel

Oct 29, 2020
3 min

The Easy Button and Judging Reputations, pages 196-200

Taking ownership is not the same as doing all the work. As the leader, your subordinates will often come to you for solutions to problems...

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Decentralized Command or Lazy Designation? pages 194-196

erikbentzel

Oct 21, 2020
3 min

Decentralized Command or Lazy Designation? pages 194-196

“If a leader wants to be in charge of everything, then he or she should try to be in charge of nothing.”

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Iterative Decision Making, pages 191-194

erikbentzel

Oct 14, 2020
3 min

Iterative Decision Making, pages 191-194

Analysis paralysis is the term coined to define a leader's inability to decide because of an overwhelming amount of information.

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Don’t Take Things Personally and Don’t Dig In, pages 187-191

erikbentzel

Oct 6, 2020
2 min

Don’t Take Things Personally and Don’t Dig In, pages 187-191

Make every attempt to never take things personally. Your ego will be your enemy and you must fight it. Even when people ask for feedback...

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erikbentzel

Sep 23, 2020
3 min

When To Step Up And Lead, pages 182-187

There is a dichotomy between when to lead and when to step back and follow. A good leader knows when to step back and follow ...

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Don't Go Overboard, Rambo, pages 178-181

erikbentzel

Sep 17, 2020
3 min

Don't Go Overboard, Rambo, pages 178-181

“Leadership, in most cases, should be subtle”. You don’t need to go around and tell people you are the leader.

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