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 […]
Bereavement Leave Is A Joke
Isn’t it time to lead with compassion, trust our employees, and challenge the current thinking around bereavement leave? In this article, I share my own very personal story about bereavement leave and its impacts. A world of numbers, meetings, schedules, and logic cannot reconcile the death of a child. Especially not the death of my […]
How to REALLY Recognize Burnout – A True Story
Burned out and cynical at age 48, I asked myself, “Is this truly the life I aspired to attain? How did I get here…?” In my lifelong quest to “have it all” I had, quite simply, “had enough.” Just two short years ago I was at what should have been the pinnacle of my career. […]