I spend my days discussing leadership qualities with executives of every stripe. And, at times, with non-executives – with people whose job it is to manage absolutely no one. Sure, the content of the conversation changes based on what a person’s role is within the organization. But much of the big-picture context – the focus…
Fear Kills Creativity: Leadership Lessons from Cavemen
The caveman and his family were settling in by the fire for the evening. Father and son had enjoyed a successful day of hunting, and Mom had brought a big stack of wood in from the rain. So the family was fed and warm as Dad talked to his son about the prototype spears they’d…
One Essential Leadership Lesson of Martin Luther King
Too often, we let holidays come and go without really commemorating anything, and MLK Day is no exception. Many of us see this Monday off simply as a break for the kids or an opportunity for a quick ski trip. But Martin Luther King Jr. was a great leader, and one well worth remembering. So…
Shopping for Engagement: Cyber Monday’s Management Lessons
For decades, Black Friday has been a hot media topic every November. The biggest shopping day of the year has evolved into a weekend of jaw-dropping sales, shoppers camped out in sleeping bags, and crowds shoving their way to deeply discounted wares. I won’t even go there. But what about Cyber Monday, Black Friday’s younger…
When I Used to Be a Guy
As a leadership coach, the conversations I have with professionals aren’t often strictly work related, because the lines between our personal and professional lives aren’t always as bold as we might choose to believe. After all, leadership, like life, comes down to understanding ourselves and others. So it seems appropriate that a leadership blog should…
Impact in Leadership: Try Less, Watch for More
“The one who knows much says little.” – Proverbs 17:27 I was watching my grandson play a video game the other day, and I noticed that periodically, in anticipation of whatever trouble his player is about to confront, he will pause the game and select a new batch of appropriate weapons. Good leaders function in…
