ALL POSTS
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.
Finding the Right Direction: How do You Know Which Way to Go?
Life is full of choices; how do you know the right direction to take? The choice one woman makes while walking alone out in the American southwest can serve as a good example for the rest of us in how
Leadership Exercises: 7 Ways to Build Your Influencing Muscles
Are there any leadership exercises I can do? Someone asked this question recently, and I thought it was a good one. Learning leadership is tricky business. It’s not like practicing musical scales or pumping iron at the gym. But I
Who’s Your Second? Are We Really Leading, or Just in Charge?
Are you indispensable? Should you be? We make the plans, give the orders, follow-up on everybody and everything. Nothing happens without our say-so. The machine is humming and we are at the controls. It feels like leadership. But is it?
Comfortably Uncomfortable: 7 Ways Seeking Discomfort Makes You Better
“How can seeking discomfort be a good thing for leaders?” Hey, I’m here at a local park in Minnesota, getting ready to do my weekly tempo run. Believe it or not, I think that there is a very close parallel
