Leadership Legacies
For most of us the word "legacy" invokes images of wealth through accumulated assets (money, marketable securities, properties and the like) that are passed on when someone dies.
Nurturing Human Needs
Leaders have a unique obligation to recognize the special connections they have with each other and to pay attention to the way they treat team members and customers.
How to Develop Healthy Habits
Successful leaders know the power of habit. They have learned to move beyond self-discipline by creating habits that align with their goals and dreams.
Practicing the Art of Silence
It seems long overdue for leaders to learn how to practice the art of silence.
Where’s the Beef?
It’s time to lead more effectively by asking tough, honest questions and inviting constructive feedback from others.
Just Say What You Mean
Let’s ban business jargon altogether and use words and phrases that allow us to explore the context of a given situation or simply express what we actually mean.
The Art of Apologizing
In today’s volatile marketplace the most significant competitive edge leaders possess is themselves; their own emotional intelligence. When mistakes happen, and you know they will, it could be the power of your apology that saves the day.
In Search of Epiphanies
Organizations and communities need more epiphanies. The power of fresh ideas, new eyes, and the courage to act…these ingredients will affect lasting social change.
A Christmas Dream
A Christmas Dream poem (with apologies to Clement Clarke Moore and A Visit from St. Nicholas).
The Gift of Presence
How might we, as leaders, avoid the distractions of our busy days and find time for the one thing that makes all other things real—being present for others?
Choose Gratitude
Commit to practicing gratitude as a regular habit throughout the year, not just on a special day designated to celebrate it.
Saving Daylight
Controlling things is one of the reasons some people aspire to leadership. It’s a weak position to take since most of those who report to anyone in authority resist being controlled. Every human being values freedom and liberty over a tyrannical government or a domineering boss.
The Value of Thinking Differently
Leadership is more than managing efficiently; it is also about leading effectively. Being willing to think in new and different ways is one opportunity to do this.
Measuring Effectiveness
While current business metrics may quantify the performance of employees or the company, that data only reveals part of the story.
The Importance of Leading on the Margins
When someone reaches the pinnacle of business power and position, it’s easy to forget where you started or to acknowledge how staying in touch with one’s roots might be a valuable leadership practice.
Dealing with Passive-Aggressive Behavior
Dealing with passive-aggressors isn’t easy. That’s because their behavior may represent a pattern of thinking that triggers how they respond to conflict.
A Legacy of Labor
What if legacy also includes the intangibles a leader models during a lifetime – principles, values, behaviors – and yes, even labor.
Moving Beyond Mirrors
The daily image we present is often quite different from the person we really are. If every mirror also reflected our fears, anxieties, and self-doubts would we behave differently?
Asking Better Questions
The right questions have the power to change our frame of reference, to refocus our energy, to imagine new possibilities.
Do You Have Zeal Appeal?
Zeal is defined as “eagerness and ardent interest in pursuit of something; fervor.” Synonyms include eagerness, enthusiasm, intensity, and passion.