The phone rang at 6:45 on a sunny Thursday morning. Calling me was a person I’ve known for 30 years. Originally, our relationship was one of a mentor and mentee but over the years, it had evolved into a strong friendship. A Conversation Unfolds This young person is now only a few months short of [...]
Being in a leadership role comes with an understanding that any action or statement you make may come under scrutiny. Effective leaders manage this situation proactively. They establish protocols so questions are answered, and their team has regular access to important information, even when it’s in developmental stages. Leaders Live in Glass Houses Because your [...]
“If I had an hour to solve a problem, I’d spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and five minutes thinking about solutions.” — Albert Einstein Have you ever felt tempted, when initially facing a problem, to grab a tool and start working away? As the quote above demonstrates, that’s not always the most effective [...]
So many of our interactions these days are transactional in nature. We might go into a busy store, grab the items we need, make our way through the checkout line, and be on our way, the whole experience barely registering or making an impact. However, when you begin searching for ways to make these mundane [...]
While some individuals might have the talent, skills, and persistence to perform exceptionally well, often it’s the work of their team that helps bring outstanding results. Think of the quarterback, lead singer, headline performer, top salesperson, or any individual able to operate within a given system to great personal advantage. Often these people receive repeated [...]
I once had a consultation with the owner and CEO of a small but steadily growing business. She was rightly proud of the results the company was achieving and the culture that had grown amongst its 16 team members. Our conversation shifted from what was working well to what the owner envisioned, as the company [...]
There are 168 hours in a week. That’s 10,080 minutes. We each get the exact same quantity of time within that period, and it’s a limited resource. Each day we all make choices about where we’ll invest and allocate our time. How you choose to use your time says a lot about what sort of [...]
As leaders, we need to keep an eye out for team members who might be going through hard times in their lives, at work, or at home. These are the most important times for us to be aware and act, not only for our own sakes, but on behalf of those we have the opportunity [...]
People find comfort in consistency. When a singer has a hit song, and they perform it over and over again, their fans tend to build a special connection to that song. When a sports team is reliably successful, supporters gravitate to their games again and again, cheering them on and buying merchandise. Consistency is especially [...]
Leading is a tough job! In addition to all your other responsibilities, you must build, nurture, and grow a culture. The culture in a business, department, or organization has the power to not only support the mission but also provide a working environment where team members can grow and succeed. If you ask your team [...]
