Coaching
ARE YOU LOST AT SEA?
Out in the ocean, as long as you see the barest edge of the land, you know exactly where you are. But move a few yards in the wrong direction, and the horizon disappears. Without that visual beacon, it is easy to lose your bearings. You have no idea where you are, or even how…
Read MorePATIENCE IS NOT A MUSCLE
I was speaking with a colleague who was lamenting her issues with patience. She felt herself either caught the victim of being too patient or losing opportunities by not being patient enough. She wanted to know how to develop more patience and use it more productively. I told her the key thing to understand is…
Read MoreDOES THE END JUSTIFY THE MEANS?
I thought it was obvious the answer is no. Yet a Google search produced 111,000,000 results of debate, justification, and philosophizing in less than one second. Regardless of the discussion, the end never justifies the means. This belief is an essential part of humanity. I know you already know this. Still, sometimes amid the…
Read MoreDO YOU GROOM YOUR LEADERS OR JUST PROMOTE THEM?
“It was her turn,” said the CEO. I had asked the CEO how a specific member of their leadership team was promoted to that position. I’ve heard other answers like, “They’ve been with me a long time.” “I trust them. She is very loyal.” “He needed to make more money.” “My [family member] needed a…
Read MoreTWO HEADS ARE BETTER THAN ONE
How Important Are the Decisions You Make? Leadership is a lonely position. Big decisions require wise counsel. The more critical the decision, the more important the counsel becomes. Do you have the proper support system to help you with decisions? Do you find yourself struggling, as described by Winston Churchill, “Want of foresight, unwillingness to…
Read MoreCULTIVATING TRUST
Trust is Essential to Leadership. People enter new relationships with a degree of trust. Then trust either grows or recedes as the relationship develops. If people don’t trust you, they might follow your instructions (kind of), but they won’t follow you. In Stephen M. R. Covey’s best-selling book, “The Speed of Trust: The One Thing…
Read MoreDEALING WITH INSANITY
I saw someone wearing a t-shirt the other day with the kind of snarky comment that I appreciate with my sense of humor. It read: “I don’t suffer from insanity; I enjoy every minute of it.” After a chuckle, I wanted to buy this t-shirt to give it to the owners and CEOs of companies…
Read MoreIS YOUR LEADERSHIP STYLE “NICE” OR “KIND”?
The commercial message for the KIND® protein bar was a smart play on words, “Nice tells you what you want to hear, but kind is honest.” It brought me back to a time long ago that taught me to be kind, instead of nice. I was at a software company, and we were having difficulties finding new…
Read MoreA Real Life Leadership Story
A Real Life Leadership Story A college senior I know was the Director of a team of engineering students competing in SAE Aero Design, an international competition to design, build and fly an original aircraft. I was asked to coach him in leadership and team building. The time came for the competition. There were dozens…
Read MoreHOW DID YOU DO THIS YEAR?
It’s that time of year when we get a clear view of how the year will turn out. There is still much business to do, but the planning is complete, and the decisions made. You can begin assessing how your organization performed. One more question, how did YOU do this year? As the organization’s leader,…
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