What makes a lousy leader? That is easy, they do the opposite of what great leaders do. Not so fast. Our biases forget the differences between leadership we agree with, and leadership from people we do not like. The differences rest partly in … [Read more...]
Reflections on Leadership 3/29/15
Commitments have lost their weight. Making a commitment used to mean being dedicated to a cause or action -- no matter what. Good leaders keep that definition while far too many others now treat a commitment as an obligation laced with dread. It … [Read more...]
Initiate More, Commit to Less
Lack of initiative is because of an abundance of fear. While it is true apathy could play a role, those who do not care are not reading this, so why bother to spend any time trying to appeal to their better judgment. It is not important to … [Read more...]
Reflections on Leadership 3/22/15
Prepare for success ahead of time. Too many people wait for success before they act. Leaders expect success and treat it like an expected houseguest. They know the visit may be short, but they still prepare a space prior to arrival. What actions … [Read more...]
Leadership Starts at Home
Think back to the early leaders in your life. I suppose, you could argue that the doctor who delivered you counts, however, most would agree it was probably your parents or other guardians who were your first leadership models. Every day, through … [Read more...]
Beware Leaders of Silos who Think it’s a Lighthouse
There are some busy executives who appear bigger than life. Their charismatic, bold, innovative expressions with sweeping visual displays make a nice, even inspiring show. However, leadership is not about being bigger than your surroundings. It is … [Read more...]
Ask Your Direct Reports Their Opinion and They May Hate You Less
Probably your direct reports don't hate you, Things are not that bad. It might be mild discontent. But, what could explain the fact that they don't seem to get it. If only they could stop driving you crazy and just do their job like they are supposed … [Read more...]
You Don’t Have 99 Problems
Becoming overwhelmed is easy. Busy professionals have to deal with team performance, their boss, their directs, demanding clients, business partners, vendors, and more. They also have car problems, leaky faucets, untended gardens, messy garages, … [Read more...]
Have you set a theme for your year yet?
Have you set a theme for your year yet? I am a big fan of planning your year and creating metrics to keep you on track SEE HERE. A theme is something different. It is simple focusing. Many people do not plan the night before, meditate the day of, … [Read more...]
15 Prescriptions
In the last post, "How Many of the '15 Ailments' Do You Have?" I used a recent address from the pope to inspire reflection on your own leadership and the development of your team. Now, with a little positivity and grammatical jujitsu, I offer a … [Read more...]
How Many of the “15 Ailments” Do You Have?
Set aside your personal development goals and put away any management books you’re reading for the rest of the year. Pope Francis just outlined “15 Ailments of the Curia” and it’s all you need to assess you and your team’s performance, regardless of … [Read more...]
Cease – Commence – Continue
The Triple C In the waning days of the year, think about ways to improve your performance in any area of your life by spending a quiet moment reflecting. Use the Triple C as a guide. Cease - Think about one or two of the biggest things you … [Read more...]
Let’s Take a Walk Around the Block
Early in my management career I had a span of control of about 20 people. Most of my direct reports were scattered around customer locations in downtown San Diego. Meeting with employees for one-on-one conversations was sometimes a challenge. Pulling … [Read more...]
Plan on Success
At the end of every year, busy professionals are faced with the problem of a nagging sensation that they neglected their personal goals; because they did. Sustaining high-performance in your professional life can take a toll. That’s why I … [Read more...]
Leading Young
There is a freshman in high school who is a fantastic writer. She is a voracious reader and studies her craft. She has received positive feedback from a variety of people, all of which has contributed to her confidence. Like most writers, she argues … [Read more...]
What Kind of Leader Do You Want to Be?
What kind of leader do you want to be? Have you given that any thought, lately? Have you given that any thought, ever? It's the difference between making deliberate choices or being open to vagary. Here's a hint; have you ever enjoyed … [Read more...]
You May Be A Poor Leader
Great leaders occasionally have doubts in their leadership. Poor leaders never do. How do you know if you are a poor leader? Rate how often you demonstrate the following traits. 0 = Never, 1 = Rarely, 2 = Sometimes, 3 = Frequently, 4 = … [Read more...]