The Leadership School of Life
My call to action for you: Stand in the truth of your own story and listen to what your life experience is telling you. Demand the credit you deserve, both from others and from yourself. How often do we give ourselves enough credit for the lessons we’ve learned through simply living? Through learning to pay […]
No, You Are Not Indispensable
My call to action for you: Stand in the truth of your own story and listen to what your life experience is telling you. Demand the credit you deserve, both from others and from yourself. How often do we give ourselves enough credit for the lessons we’ve learned through simply living? Through learning to pay […]
Everyone Is in Charge, But No One Is Accountable
What tools do you, as a leader, employ to ensure clarity, direction, and accountability? You’ve probably heard the phrase: Too many chefs in the kitchen, not enough cooks. But what does it really mean? Earlier this week I observed an interesting group strategic planning discussion. Throughout the meeting every leader in the room raised their hand as […]
To Be A Leader, You Must Lead Yourself First
Leaders – especially good leaders – aren’t sprinkled with magic “leadership fairy dust”. Leadership is a mindset. Not a title. Let’s be real. Having a leadership title or role does not immediately make you a leader. It certainly doesn’t transform you into a “great” leader, or even a good or mediocre leader. Why not? Because […]
A Leadership Turnaround Recipe
It is a true joy to read about a leader who models influential leadership, utilizes the tools and resources available with purpose and patience, all while embracing his company’s culture of being both tough minded and tenderhearted. A recent client company of mine was in “a pickle” (that might be a midwestern colloquialism) and brought […]
The Leadership Value of Candor vs. (Toxic) Positivity
Is positivity – the ability to convince your team everything is OK – an essential trait for all leaders? I respectfully disagree that it is, and actually consider it to be quietly, dangerously, corrosive. Shouldn’t we instead value candid, authentic, realistic leadership? Earlier this week I saw a much shared and “liked” quote posted on […]
Courageous Curiosity
Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen. – Winston Churchill Courageous curiosity. What is it? It sounds “buzz-word” worthy, doesn’t it? But, it is what I believe we – the worldwide population, and especially the United States – could benefit from […]
Networking from A Place of Giving
Networking from a place of service, of connection and curiosity, will always come full circle. Often, when you need it the most – if you have tended to your connections with care and a spirit of giving. It might sound counter intuitive. Networking from a place of service? Giving rather than receiving? YES. As someone […]
Can You Make the Tough Decisions? (and DO You?)
“He wasn’t a bad leader because he made bad decisions. He was a bad leader because he made no decisions.” Sgt. Lipton, Band of Brothers Recently I rewatched Season One of Band of Brothers, the HBO min-series about the men of “Easy” Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne in WWII. (Note: […]
Go Slow To Go Fast
It only takes five seconds to mindfully make a decision, rather respond with a knee-jerk reaction. Quick enough to avoid analysis paralysis, but long enough to allow your rational, logical brain to kick in. “Go slow to go fast” is a phrase I use often, with myself, my 10-year-old son, friends, co-workers, my family. For […]