ALL POSTS
Overloaded: The Thing That Keeps Us From Leading Well
“Are we carrying around things that make us poor leaders?” It’s easy to collect things, harder to let them go. But as leaders we have to be aware that some of those things, one in particular, can get in our
Following the Follower: 15 Ways to Lead Better by Following Better
Can being better followers make us better leaders? Focusing on following may seem an odd way to tackle the challenges of leading, but there’s a power in this approach we can easily overlook. There’s a danger in ignoring it, too.
Setting Limits: 15 Ways to Do More By Giving Ourselves Less
Is having no limits really a good thing? We often find ourselves wishing that the limitations in our lives were gone. We yearn for a mythical time when we can do whatever we want however we want for as long
The Eraser Test: How to Know When It’s Time for a Change
How do we know when to change the plan? A casual remark by a friend last week got me thinking about the idea of flexibility and change. As leaders, we choose the objectives and set the course. But once we’re
Change the Game: 7 Ways to Build Teammates Who Can Do More
How do we increase the odds of “winning” with the team we have? At the beginning of any game, everyone starts with the same number of players on the board. And in the rush to get things done, we focus
Reintroducing Quibbling: The Kryptonite of Leadership
What is quibbling and why does it matter to leaders? Do you remember watching Superman, and seeing what happens to him when he comes in contact with Kryptonite? How weak and ineffective he becomes? I think that there’s something just as
Type 2 Fun: The Secret to Achieving Your Goals
Who knew there were different categories of fun? Not all fun is created equal. If you want to accomplish great things, it’s the Type 2 fun that you’re looking for. Here’s what I mean…
Learning to Fly: Innovation, Risk, and Leadership in the Real World
Most of us have probably heard of the Wright Brothers and their invention of the airplane. But did you know that one of their earlier flights featured a canoe strapped to the bottom of their flying machine? Why would such
Authentic Leadership: Ornamental Hermits and Why We Should Avoid Them
In the middle of the 18th century in Europe, it was fashionable to have your own personal hermit. Sounds crazy, I know, but there it is. How did this come about, and more importantly, what can it tell us about
Where Did Everybody Go? 23 Ways to Stick With Your Goals
It’s happening already. If you go to a gym or fitness facility, you know this to be true: there’s that sudden influx of new faces in the new year. With the turn of the calendar often comes a desire to
Kings, Cannibals, and Cultural Bias: Overcoming the Limitations of Convention
A strange encounter between a French king and several cannibals from South America sheds light on cultural bias, and what it takes for leaders to see past the limits of our own experience.
Overcoming Indecision: 7 Ways to Find the Strength to Make the Leap
“Indecision may or may not be the problem.” – Jimmy Buffett Have you ever gotten to the point where you think you know what you want to do, but had a hard time actually committing to doing it? This story
21 Acts of Kindness to Make the World a Better Place
“What’s the maximum effective range of a good deed?” It was 4:30 in the morning. Two weary fire fighters walked into a local diner in New Jersey. Smelling of smoke and tired from battling a warehouse fire all night, they
Leadership Acoustics – 3 Ways to Send a Message That Gets Heard
“What do we have to do to make sure our message gets through?” When it comes to leadership acoustics, there are three key things to be aware of if we want others to hear what we are trying to say.
New Manager Nightmares: 11 Creepy Leaders and How to Avoid Morphing Into One
“Have you experienced New Manager Nightmares?” You are going about your business when suddenly a new manager walks in. A dark cloud seems to blot out the sun, reality distorts, work grinds to a halt, and nothing seems normal anymore.
