What the NFL Can Learn from a Civil War Soldier
"Beware how you take away hope from another human being." — Oliver Wendell Holmes This week, the Miami Dolphins stole headlines from their NFL competitors. Unfortunately for the league, the Dolphins, and the rest of us, the way their players talk and not the way they play invited the scrutiny. Words are unique to the human condition and the thread that connects us to this quilt of humanity.…
Avoiding Problems With Leadership: The #1 Problem Every Leader Has but Isn’t Aware Of
Let’s cut right to the chase - the biggest problem all leaders face is in fact problem solving itself. It's the job of every leader to avoid, minimize, or altogether eliminate problems. When the inevitable problem does arise, it's the burden of a leader to convert said problem into an opportunity. The issue is this; most leaders are woefully inept when it comes to problem-solving. Pick any…
Clear Counsel – How Sweet the Sound
When you want to know how your leadership is working--ask. Years ago, I learned this lesson when I received some unsolicited advice that challenged my professionalism, served as a wakeup call, and changed the arc of my career. The counsel came from a subordinate as I was leaving an important leadership position but it would have come earlier if I had only asked. I was very interested in my…
8 Ways To Spot Great Leadership
If you ever wonder why we’re in a crisis of leadership all you have to do is to watch and listen to those in positions of leadership. While there are clearly many aspects of leadership that must work together in harmony in order for leaders to be effective, everything breaks down when leaders don’t understand how to engage effectively. The saying "success leaves clues" couldn't be more true for…
The Silent CEO Addiction Killing Productivity and Talent Development
Corporate America’s dependency on consulting firms is nothing short of substance abuse in the purest form. The fact is most CEOs suffer from this very dangerous addiction and they don’t even know it – they are clearly in need of an intervention. Addicts don’t often admit they have a problem. They tend to rationalize and justify their behavior as normal. Here’s the thing – normally doesn’t always…
A Simple Lesson from the Declaration of Independence
Fifty-six Continental Congressmen signed the Declaration of Independence in July 1776. With each quill stroke, the men committed treason and placed at risk their lives, fortune, and sacred honor. The act was more than symbolic; it added weight to the cause and tied their personal fate to the Revolution. There was no denying they had skin in the game. While the Continental Army had been at war…
When in Doubt, Rehearse!
Lately I’ve seen several leaders trip over the unexpected outcome of a grand plan. They failed to anticipate the mistakes and mishaps that happen in all organizations. When I see an outcome surprise a leader, I’m reminded of a lesson I learned years ago from my Dad. He had been a great football coach and when I expressed interest in playing quarterback, he agreed to teach me how. He taught me…
To Hear the Truth, You Have to Listen
Thoreau wrote: “It takes two to speak the truth - one to speak and another to hear.” Most of us are great at the former but at the latter, not so much. Truth be told, most of us are poor listeners. When considering great leadership skills, we focus on transmission skills--speaking and writing. The most effective leaders know they have to be great listeners too. They understand the need to work…
How To Predict The Future
Life is just plain easier when you can see what's ahead of you. Some leaders clearly have poor vision - their most polished skill seems to be running into brick walls. Other leaders simply possess adequate vision - they avoid the obvious speed bumps, but fail to stand out from the crowd. Then there are those leaders who possess legendary vision - the rare few who can see around corners. What you…
How To Be In Over Your Head Without Drowning
Do you ever find yourself in over your head? If not, I would suggest you don’t spend enough time in the water. The truth is all leaders find themselves swimming in rough conditions from time-to-time. The difference between those who drown and those who become stronger swimmers is little more than a combination of attitude and preparation. It was T.S. Eliot who said, “If you aren’t in over your…
Flattery and Manipulation
All leaders have blind spots, and blind spots simply pose potential areas of vulnerability. However, not all blind spots are created equal. Few things create areas of risk for leaders like their own sense of pride and ego. Here's the thing - a leader's desire to have their ego stroked makes them vulnerable to a very seductive form of manipulation - flattery. The most common form of manipulation…
Clarity Matters & the Facts Ma’am, Just the Facts
Clarity Matters. While clarity and brevity may have become a lost art, understanding the importance of clear, lucid, and straight-forward communication is nonetheless critical to your success as a leader. In today’s column I'll reveal (clearly and briefly) the tricks of those who practice what I call “the black art of confusion” propagated by the ruse of ambiguity. Have you ever finished…
10 Things Every Leader Should Challenge
Innovation, growth and development cannot occur by pretending we live in a world that has long since passed us by. Leading in the 21st Century affords no safe haven for 20th Century thinkers. Old, static, institutionalized thinking will gate the pace of forward progress faster than just about anything. If you want to expose yourself as an out of touch, dated leader, keep trying to address today's…
100% Of Companies Have This Problem
Process... just the mere use of the word can spread fear and panic in the workplace. This sad reality exists for a reason and 100% of companies unnecessarily suffer from a process problem. They suffer to varying degrees, but they are nonetheless suffering. The good news is bad process is one of the easiest things for leaders to remedy. By simply being willing to stop the madness and reclaim the…
The Case For Ubiquitous Leadership
Do you work in an environment that fosters leadership at every level, or just at the top of the org chart? You can either chasten people for attempting to lead, or encourage them to take risks, to explore opportunities, and to make decisions. If you want to create a culture of leadership, you must succeed in creating leadership ubiquity. I’ve written often on the value of creating a culture of…
Leading In An Avalanche
The point I want you to take away from the video below and the text that follows is an avalanche need not always end in disaster. Pushing the envelope is something all leaders must get comfortable with. It's when leaders push themselves and those they lead past comfort zones that great things happen. Sometimes leaders need to cause an avalanche, and sometimes they'll need to react to one caused…
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