How to Stop Procrastinating and Manage Your Scarcest Resource
Peter Drucker, often considered the father of modern management, described time as a “unique, irreplaceable and necessary resource.” Noting that most people take time for granted, Drucker observed, “Nothing else, perhaps, distinguishes effective executives as...
The Shadow Side of Leadership
Once you've been in a leadership role for awhile, you develop a leadership style that is comfortable. You begin to relax in that role, feeling you are at the top of the learning curve and confident that you know how to be a leader. Beware! This is the slipperiest spot...
25 Powerful Coaching Questions to Get Where You Want to Go
Coaching is not just for problems. Coaching helps you avoid problems by providing space to think and be more intentional about your goals and actions. And coaching is especially helpful for getting clarity on where you want to go. Working with a coach gives you: •...
Why You’re So Lousy at Problem Solving
Guest Post by Nat Greene Humans have done a good enough job solving problems throughout the ages--otherwise we would not have made it to 7 billion people on the planet. Bravo. But countless problems still plague humankind. Some are problems in your life, like staying...
Clear Values Are a Business Imperative
It's springtime! The trees are beginning to bud, and soon they will be in full bloom. I am reminded of the "great tree service debacle" several years ago. We had several beautiful trees that required spraying to ward off disease and bugs. Our tree service would come...
How Middle Managers Provide Leadership Everyday
Let’s set aside the boring debate about managers vs. leaders for a moment and take a look at daily life for most managers in organizations. The reality is that middle managers provide real leadership all the time. Although some middle managers think their job is to...
The Dog that Rarely Bites: A Leadership Lesson
Guest Post by Timothy R. Clark, author of Leading with Character and Competence: Moving Beyond Title, Position, and Authority When a dog bites, word gets out. You stay away and keep away. There’s no discussion or negotiating with the dog; you simply avoid the...
15 Things Leaders Can Manage (and One They Can’t)
15 Things Leaders Can Manage Things Leaders Can Manage (and Should) 1. Focus and Attention You can manage what you put your attention on. You can focus strategically on where you’re going, or you can focus on short-term fires and go from crisis to crisis. 2....
Master Your Brain’s Response to Stress for Leadership Success
I'm delighted to host this guest post by one of my favorite authors, psychologist Dr. Melanie Greenberg, in honor of the release of her excellent new book The Stress-Proof Brain. In her post, she explains how our brains produce and control stress and shares three...
Dialogue Bridges the Divide
We had not discussed politics since the election, treading warily with each other, neither of us wanting to trigger an unpleasant scene. But tension was just under the surface and seeping out in other forms. Since the US presidential election, many people have...
Lead with (Real) Vision – Remarkable Leadership #Podcast
I recently had the pleasure of being interviewed by one of my favorite leadership experts, Kevin Eikenberry, on his Remarkable Leadership Podcast about how to lead with (real) vision. During our 20 minute interview, I shared the story of what drew me to investigate...
To achieve your vision, you must be willing to tolerate discomfort…
Thursday Thoughts: Are you committed enough to your vision that you are willing to tolerate discomfort? If you are willing to hold onto your vision in the midst of discomfort, and if you are willing to live with the tension that is generated when you care about...