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Stop Negotiating – It Doesn’t Work
Negotiation isn't all it's cracked up to be. In fact, I believe this to be an inherently flawed business practice. Negotiation is not an art to be mastered, rather it's a sloppy approach to be avoided. While many consultants, authors, and trainers have made personal fortunes teaching the finer points of negotiation, it is my belief they have accomplished little more than to create legions of…
Leadership and Office Politics
This is the time of year when most of us turn our attention to presidential politics, but let us not forget that business is also political - to think otherwise is simply naïve. Office politics exist in every organization without regard for industry, structure, culture, or values. Good leaders will do what they can to align interests/actions on matters more important than individual political…
Leadership & The Expectation Gap
When it comes to leadership, I can share the issues of creating and delivering on expectations are no small matter. In fact, understanding how to come out on the right side of the expectation curve can often be the difference between being viewed as an average leader and one held in high regard. Let me make this as simple as I can; managing expectations is gamesmanship - aligning them is…
Great Leaders Are Interesting – Are YOU?
Let's face it - the best leaders have always grabbed our attention and piqued our imagination. They have a way of captivating, fascinating, and intriguing us. It’s the interesting people with whom we want to engage, as they’re the ones who inspire and motivate us to be better and do more. The simple truth is few of us desire to be led by those whom we don’t find interesting. So my question is…
Leadership and Storytelling
Leadership and storytelling go hand-in-hand. In fact, leaders who lack the ability to leverage the power and influence of storytelling are missing the very essence of what accounts for compelling leadership, to begin with - the story. If you've ever been captivated by a skilled orator whose articulation and eloquence have influenced your thinking, you understand the power of the art of the story.…
Leadership & The Power of Listening
Great leaders are great listeners, and therefore my message today is a simple one - talk less and listen more. The best leaders are proactive, strategic, and intuitive listeners. They recognize knowledge and wisdom are not gained by talking, but by listening. Take a moment and reflect back on any great leader who comes to mind...you'll find they are very adept at reading between the lines. They…
Leadership – It’s About The People
If you think leadership is about you, your ego has led you astray. Leadership has little to do with you and everything to do with those you lead. If you think leadership is about the bottom line, think again; it's about the people. Without people, there is no bottom line. Closely examine the core characteristics of great leadership, and you'll find it’s not power, title, authority, or even…
The Myth of Potential
The Myth of Potential... Here’s the thing – we all have potential, maybe some more than others but we all have it. Potential is easy to recognize, but not so easy to realize. Most of us intrinsically recognize the gift of potential, but many simply choose to do nothing about it, and sadly, it’s the rare few who will maximize their potential. The problem with potential is society has deemed it to…
Recruiting vs Talent Management
I recently participated in a panel discussion about the future of the recruiting industry, and quite frankly, I was surprised by many of the prevailing attitudes and thoughts surrounding the topic at hand. As is often the case, I was the contrarian on the panel, and while I probably shouldn’t have been shocked, it was the fact most recruiters seemed to believe the status quo was fine, the future…
Understanding Self Awareness in Leadership
Leader Beware - ignorant bliss, no matter how enjoyable, is still ignorant. If you’re in a position of leadership and don’t feel you have any blind spots, you’re either very naïve or very arrogant. All leaders have blind spots – the question is what are they doing about them? The reality is most leaders invest so much time assessing the cultural and functional dynamics of their organizations they…
Why the “F” Bomb Shouldn’t Be Dropped
I recently read an interesting article on The Wall Street Journal discussing the use of colorful language in business settings. It prompted me to re-post an earlier piece I authored on the same subject. While both perspectives cover some of the same ground, the article in The Journal hedges a bit too much for my taste. You'll find my piece a bit more direct and firm in expressing there is NEVER a…
Creating a Leadership Movement
Every so often a time arrives where society reaches a crossroads - where the situation and/or circumstance so obviously demands change that a populist mandate - a "movement" takes place. I would submit we find ourselves at just such a crossroads today. We are in a crisis of leadership, and our world is suffering greatly at the hands of people who confuse their desire for an ego boost, their quest…
Is Blogging Dead?
I read an interesting article in Inc. Magazine entitled "Where Have All the Bloggers Gone?" If you read this article it would lead you to believe blogging is in decline and on it's way out as a marketing tool. The article cites a study from the University of Massachusetts in which the respondents (170 executives from Inc. 500 companies) indicated the use of blogging was down 13% from the prior…
Leadership and Broken Trust
Over the years I've heard the following statement on more than a few occasions; "I don't have to trust him/her, I just have to work with them." My question is this; why would you want to work with someone you cannot trust? I never cease to be amazed at the great number of leaders who believe they can operate effectively in the absence of trust. Let me make this as clear as I can - you cannot…
Why Influence Matters
Leadership without influence - isn't. In fact, understanding how to leverage the influence factor can make a defining difference in your ability to drive change, build cohesive teams, and successfully implement the strategic vision. As a CEO or entrepreneur your “Influence Quotient” is the IQ you need to pay attention to, as it will be a much greater determinant of your ultimate success than your…
Managing The Board | 10 Things Every CEO Should Know
I've yet to meet a CEO who at some point in time hasn't been frustrated by their board - it goes with the territory. That said, it should be the exception and not the rule. Ultimately, chief executives deserve the board relationships they develop. As a CEO, your board can be one of your greatest allies. Conversely, and just as easily, they can be a significant contributor to your undoing…