6 Steps for Creating a Game Changer
At one time or another, all great leaders experience something so big and so impactful it literally changes the landscape – it’s what I call a “Game Changer.” A game changer is that ah-ha moment where you see something others don’t. It’s the…
0 Comments7 Minutes
Leadership, Influence & Relationships
Have you ever wondered why some people have more influence than others? It's because they invest more "in" others. Those with leadership influence have built into others through some form of a consistent direct or indirect contribution to…
11 Comments17 Minutes
Successful Leadership Requires The Right Order Of Operation
Ever heard the following statement? “Focus on the what, not the how.” While this may appear to be sage advice, it’s actually quite the opposite. I find it troubling at two levels: Firstly, it’s a horribly incorrect and incomplete message. Secondly,…
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Why Your Leadership Is Overrated
How are your leadership skills? Likely not as good as you think. There’s no shortage of independent empirical data generated over the years supporting the fact most people tend to overrate their leadership ability. The best leaders the world has…
8 Comments10 Minutes
Leadership Isn’t About Checking Boxes
Today’s post is a short rant, but one every leader should take to heart – STOP CHECKING BOXES. Leadership isn't about checking boxes, anyone who believes leadership can be reduced to task management is simply flawed in their thinking. Here’s the…
11 Comments2 Minutes
Change: Three Essentials For Every Leader
The sustainability of any organization hinges on leadership's ability to understand, embrace, and implement change. Whenever leaders are surveyed about what keeps them awake at night, “change” is usually at or near the top of the list. When change…
18 Comments5 Minutes
The #1 Reason Companies Make Bad Hires
Do you ever find yourself wondering how so many good companies can make so many bad hires? The fact is, all the rigorous and sophisticated hiring processes employed by the best companies in the world don’t prevent this issue. The good news is,…
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Leadership and Conflict
Here's the thing - leadership and conflict go hand-in-hand. There's no getting around the fact leadership is a full-contact sport, and if you cannot address conflict in a healthy, productive fashion then you should not be in a leadership role. I…
18 Comments12 Minutes
A Leadership Job Description
When was the last time you read a leadership job description? We have job descriptions for every position under the sun, but I’ve yet to see one for leaders. Virtually every job description you’ll read lists “leadership ability” as a…
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Leadership & Curiosity
Have you ever noticed how the best leaders also tend to be the most curious leaders? Great leaders simply aren't satisfied with what they know. They possess an insatiable curiosity for discovery and learning - they are in constant pursuit of what…
8 Comments5 Minutes
Strategy, Capability & Really Bad Advice
Today’s post is a rather short rant, but one I felt compelled to put forth. I just finished reading an article where the author (a self-professed innovation guru) recommended strategy be aligned with capability, and that to allow ambition to exceed…
10 Comments4 Minutes
Leadership & Perception
We’ve all heard the saying “perception is reality,” but is it true? Does perception never, rarely, sometimes, or always equal reality? While I long ago reached the conclusion perception does in fact matter, it may not be for the reasons you might…
12 Comments7 Minutes
Extreme Makeover – Leadership Edition
The fastest transition from inept to adept occurs when leaders turn the topic of change on themselves. When was the last time you changed something about you? Not someone or something else, but your thinking, your philosophy, your vision, your…
15 Comments6 Minutes
Leadership Is About Breaking Things
There's often a very subtle difference between those who lead and those who lead well - those who lead well are very forward-focused. If you're more interested in protecting what is than you are finding the answer to what if you might be in a…
35 Comments7 Minutes
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…
18 Comments5 Minutes
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…
8 Comments5 Minutes