A hypothetical was put to me recently – one that I’ve lived out in real life many times, incidentally. It went something like this: You’re approached by a young man, just out of college. He’s been trying to determine his next move. “All my life,” he says, “my path has been laid out for me.…
Blocking, Tackling, and the Long-Game Courage of Great Leaders
Transcript: I’m going to talk today about one of the key reasons I see that many managers never become the excellent leader that they could become, but rather remain trapped in a cycle of short-term, manager focus, thereby sub-optimizing their long-term potential. Listen here: Transcript continued: Ironically, the way this happens is by too…
Quick Thought: Beneath the Woody Exterior
Where I live in Northern Michigan, winter hangs around for a very long time. By March, we start to feel increasingly ready for spring’s arrival. And yet, more often than not, there’s still snow everywhere. On the surface, not a single sign of springtime. But things are not always what they seem. Inside the maple…
Podcast: Starting with Service at Replacements, Ltd.
Since many of you have been suggesting audio versions of my blog posts and books, I thought I’d give the format a try from on the road. In this quick podcast, I’ll share some thoughts and lessons from a recent visit to a North Carolina company with a great backstory. I hope you’ll take 5…
Your Word of the Year
At the outset of this year, I was surprised to realize that I’ve never blogged about this tool before, because it has been of great value to many as they work to implement vision – whether a personal vision, team goal, or company-wide vision. Let’s start with the broad view: A good vision is inspiring and…
2½ Performance Review Tips that actually Improve Performance
Most managers hate performance reviews. Which can surprise a lot of employees, who also tend to view the whole event with a universal sense of dread. So, in a season when many are preparing for this regular professional event, let’s look at a few big performance review tips that not only make the whole experience…
