December 2020 | Van Hooser Associates, Inc

Dec 4, 2020

Empowering People: How Far is Too Far?

I get this question a lot… So Phil, when you talk about empowering people, aren’t you really suggesting we’re giving them free rein? The short answer is “no,” — I’m not saying that at all. In fact, I don’t think most organizations ever have to worry about going too far when empowering people. Early in […]

Dec 31, 2019

Decision Making Tools I Learned from Umpire School

Decision making tools or processes don’t seem to get taught very much. But knowing how to make good decisions is so critical to every aspect of our lives. Here are five decision making tools I learned from professional umpire school 40 years ago. I’ve applied these five lessons of decision-making to virtually every decision I’ve […]

Dec 24, 2019

2019 Wrap

Hey Gang! This is Phil Van Hooser! I’m in Denver International Airport. And just a few minutes from now, I’ll be boarding a flight back to Nashville. I was just working earlier today up the road in Fort Collins, Colorado with Larimer County — they were wonderful! We had managers, supervisors, leaders of all stripes […]

Dec 20, 2019

Fanatical About Empowerment

When leaders are fanatical about empowerment, companies can unlock the option to achieve unprecedented success. Even with the promise of better results, many leaders still do not empower their team. Why? Let’s talk.

Dec 17, 2019

Managing Remote Employees: Tools to Help

Managing remote employees is tough. Here’s a tool that will help you stay connected with the remote employees you’re managing and stay on top of how they are performing.

Dec 13, 2019

Communication Issues to Solve? Try This

Communication issues are at the top of the list of challenges 21st-Century leaders are facing. Leaders who learn to communicate best — win. Let’s dig into a simple approach that may help you successfully navigate one communication issue — internal conflict.

Dec 10, 2019

Leading Remote Workers

Leading “remote workers” or people working outside of the office is a challenge some may think is in the future, but it’s actually a growing trend now. A recent statistic says that 56% of global companies allow for remote workers. Even solopreneurs and small business owners like my company are working through the issue. So […]

Dec 6, 2019

Kindness Equals Weakness is A Leadership Lie

When it comes to successful leadership, there are people who believe kindness equals weakness. So in order to be perceived as strong, some leaders are choosing to be forceful, extreme, or brutal in hopes to earn their seat at the table. Does that approach work? Let’s talk…

Dec 3, 2019

Shut Up or Speak Up, What Should I Do?

In a recent meeting of leaders, a person with a title and little common sense, chose to make another leader in the room look small. The harsh, unprovoked criticisms and the willingness to skirt decorum made for several tense moments. It got me thinking. When should a leader shut up or speak up? Here’s some […]