A group of senior leaders from several different organizations gathered together for a discussion. As time went on, the conversation turned to the criteria used to select candidates for leadership roles. While formal interviews were important, the leaders felt additional strategies were needed to gain insight into candidates. How to Identify a Strong Leader The [...]
Imagine for a moment that you’re sitting in on a focus group of new leaders. They begin to discuss the parts of leadership they’re most looking forward to. You listen as they explain how much they’ll enjoy assigning the most unpleasant or challenging tasks to the team members they oversee. This approach might not seem [...]
Healthy boundaries are about more than simply saying “no.” When you set a boundary, you’re providing yourself with the resources you need to meet your commitments, achieve your goals, and maintain your values. Boundaries allow you to be intentional and clear about where you’re going to spend your time and effort. When people ask for [...]
Do you have a memory of a favorite brand that no longer exists? Can you recall a business with a high level of service, or well-loved product that has long since closed its doors? These brands were desired because they found a way to differentiate themselves from their competitors. Somehow, they created a feeling that [...]
Productive and high-functioning teams share several traits. They almost always have a clear vision of the purpose and goals they’re striving to fulfill. They share norms around communication and levels of professionalism. They also establish values and expectations around performance and improvement. These values and expectations are not only understood by all team members, but [...]
Many people dream of stepping forward, taking on a leadership role, and leading a team to glorious victory. However, a leader cannot expect to do this effectively without first making a commitment to what we at Fired-Up! Culture call “leading self.” Otherwise, any wins or gains will be short-lived. Leading self involves cultivating self-discipline, remaining [...]
There are some actions that seem small initially, but end up paying great dividends over the long term. For example, 10% of each paycheck might not seem like a lot of money. But, if you make a habit of putting that money aside for the future, it will add up. There are plenty of small, [...]
Ask yourself, “What type of leader would I choose to follow?” When you think of a person in a position of high authority, what qualities come to mind? Do you imagine bombastic words, unsubstantiated claims, or shameless self-promotion benefiting off the work of others? Too often society seems obsessed with the outrageous and absurd personalities [...]
There’s a moment in the popular 1995 movie Braveheart where William Wallace is running across a mountain range in Scotland. Everyone is counting on him, but he’s all by himself as he travels through the cold rain and wind. As a leader, have you ever felt that way? Have you ever had the sensation of [...]
Our current culture encourages us to maximize our experiences in every phase of our existence. From super-sized meals, to ultra-strength cold syrup, and VIP concert tickets, there’s endless encouragement to do more, get more, experience more, and live beyond our means. Every Truck Has a Load Limit Chris Ihrig, CEO of Fired-Up! Culture, often makes [...]
