Nothing of consequence is ever accomplished without some form of leadership. Leaders are the change agents of society. They architect the future by challenging the status quo and striving to make things better. They lean into big problems and seize large opportunities. They create opportunities for others to find meaning through doing good work. I have been fortunate to work closely with hundreds of leaders through the years and this category is inspired by this experience.
Leadership Is a Daily Choice — And Most Leaders Drift Without Realizing It Most leadership breakdowns don’t happen because someone isn’t smart enough, committed enough, or hardworking enough. They happen quietly. They happen…
One-to-One Meetings: A Missed Leadership Opportunity Most leaders will tell you they believe in one-to-one meetings. Far fewer run them well. In too many organizations, one-to-ones slowly drift into status updates, get cancelled…
Introduction – Don’t Get Stuck in the Short-Term I’m increasingly concerned that more business leaders have slipped into short-term thinking. After years of volatility and nonstop disruption, many seem almost shell-shocked. Instead of…
Introduction: The Last Tudor Standing Few leaders in history have carried the weight of expectation—and the sting of doubt—quite like Queen Elizabeth I. Born into chaos, dismissed as illegitimate, imprisoned by her own…
Here is the next installment of my fictional interviews with important historical figures. This time it is Confucius. “When we see men of worth, we should think of equaling them; when we see…
Build The Organizational Structure That Fits Your Strengths “There is no one perfect org chart—only the one that helps you win.” This blog was triggered by a Vistage group meeting today. We were…
Pat Murray’s legacy, and why he still matters Pat Murray left behind a profound legacy. He served as a President of TEC (Now Vistage) before I became a Chair and, for decades, was…
High performance is achievable You don’t need jargon to run a tighter, faster shop. You need a simple way to set priorities, make decisions quickly, and keep work moving without drama. I think…
Introduction – Interview with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Here is another in my series of fictional interviews with historical figures. This time, it is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) It feels fitting…
Are You a Steak Knife or a Butter Knife Leader? A few weeks ago, I watched a business leader wrestle with a decision he already knew he needed to make. Every week, he’d…
Introduction—Be the Best Part of Their Day Communication matters. Every leader leaves a footprint after every interaction. The only real question is: did you lift people up—or wear them down? In Be the Best…
Language and the Pursuit of Leadership Excellence How Extraordinary Leaders Build Relationships, Shape Culture and Drive Breakthrough Results(2nd Edition) Leadership Isn’t Just About Action—It’s About the Words That Shape It We’ve all seen…
Facing the Hard Truth About Leadership: A Closer Look at Bad Leadership Most leadership books aim to inspire. They showcase heroic figures, bold visionaries, and transformational change agents. But what if we flipped…
Layered Leadership by Lawrence R. Armstrong Book Excerpts INTRODUCTION Leadership, whether of a startup; Small, mid-sized, or large firm; team; church; or any organization, must work as a whole across the continuum…
There is nothing more important than understanding how reality works and how to deal with it. The state of mind you bring to the process makes all the difference. I have found it…
Myth and legend treat leadership as if it were the private reserve of a very few charismatic men and women. Nothing is further from the truth. Leadership is much more broadly distributed in…
Managing a business, or any organization, I came to see, was more practical art than applied science. Yes, there were some useful disciplines, as in any art form, but what worked best could…
Very few of us have a life curve that is only upward-sloping. The difference is that “lucky” people just do not let their periods of adversity define them in unhelpful ways. They just…
You do not have to settle for a life of quiet desperation and hope that one day things will change. The future is now, and the sooner you start living the life you…
I believe that business and nonprofit leaders need to think differently about what constitutes success. Besides the quality of their people, what differentiates most high-performing companies is their vision, focus, and discipline. Culturally,…
The leadership journey requires you to cogitate constantly on the role you and others should be playing. As you achieve some level of success, your business may challenge your capabilities to lead it.…
Surrounding yourself with great people. Learning to delegate early on - not trying to do everything yourself. Making sure you've got the kind of people who are praising the team around them, not…
Please click on this link for the Leadership – Essential Writings By Our Greatest Thinkers Book Summary STUDYING THE SYSTEM “Our little systems have their day.” – Alfred Lord Tennyson In Organizational…
Please click on this link for the Leadership in War Book Summary Chapter 1: Napoleon Bonaparte “Napoleon recognized that the best way to inspire his people was through two means: imbuing people…
Chapter 1: The ONE Thing “What’s the ONE Thing you can do this week such that by doing it everything else would be easier or unnecessary?” “Where I’d had huge success, I had…
Introduction: Why communication matters on the shop floor (and in the boardroom) Most teams don’t stall out because of skill gaps; they stall because people feel unseen, uncertain, or uninspired. When communication frays,…
Central Thesis Leadership is layered, not linear. Enduring organizations align several layers—self‑leadership, team development, clear strategy, disciplined execution, market focus, innovation, culture, and succession—so each layer reinforces the others. The leader’s ongoing task…
Introduction In the pursuit of organizational excellence, aligning the hearts and minds of employees is crucial. Jon R. Katzenbach’s “Peak Performance: Aligning the Hearts and Minds of Your Employees” provides a comprehensive guide…
Achieving lasting success isn’t just about working harder—it’s about working smarter and understanding what truly drives you. In Managing Oneself, legendary management thinker Peter Drucker provides a powerful guide to self-awareness, helping professionals…
By embracing the principles outlined in these sections, leaders can inspire their teams, drive sustainable success, and create a lasting positive impact within their organizations. The path to success involves not just strategic…
This collection of essays and excerpts provides a diverse perspective on what it means to lead, drawing on the wisdom of influential figures from various fields.
Introduction “Leadership and Self-Deception” by The Arbinger Institute explores how our inherent tendency towards self-deception affects our relationships and leadership effectiveness. The book delves into the concept of being “in the box” of…
Effective leadership and management practices that prioritize employee satisfaction and engagement are critical for retaining top talent. By addressing the needs and concerns of employees, providing opportunities for growth, and fostering a positive…
Through detailed analysis and numerous real-world examples, Cialdini identifies six key principles of influence that are universally applicable. This expanded summary delves deeply into these principles, providing comprehensive insights into human behavior and…
By learning from the experiences and wisdom of successful leaders like Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, and others, readers can develop the skills and mindset needed to lead effectively. Rubenstein's emphasis on…
Effective leadership involves connecting with one's purpose, maintaining physical and mental well-being, fostering curiosity, embracing altruism, and managing crises with integrity and authenticity. By internalizing and practicing these principles, leaders can enhance their…
By focusing on understanding and developing employees, setting clear expectations, and recognizing achievements, managers can create a motivated and high-performing team. Implementing these principles ensures a productive and positive work environment, driving both…
By understanding and addressing the stages of hubris born of success, undisciplined pursuit of more, denial of risk and peril, grasping for salvation, and capitulation to irrelevance or death, companies can avoid decline…
The transition from good to great is not easy, but it is possible with the right mindset, leadership, and culture. By embracing Level 5 Leadership, focusing on the right people, confronting the brutal…
By studying the experiences and strategies of America's founding fathers, modern leaders can gain valuable lessons in how to navigate challenges, build strong teams, and create lasting impacts. This summary encourages readers to…
By understanding the nature of illusions, their causes, and strategies for addressing them, managers and leaders can foster a more truthful, effective, and dynamic work environment. Implementing these principles helps create a culture…
Succession planning is one of those business strategies that everyone acknowledges as important, yet many organizations fail to implement it effectively. Often, the urgency to fill a position only arises when it becomes…
Leadership is not a passive role; it demands action, decisiveness, and the ability to embrace challenges head-on. The best leaders thrive under pressure and find the most demanding aspects of their roles to…
"Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies" by Jim Collins and Jerry I. Porras offers invaluable insights into what makes some companies enduringly successful while others fall by the wayside. The principles…
By embracing authenticity, self-care, talent development, financial savvy, and strategic thinking, leaders can inspire their teams to achieve extraordinary results. The blend of high-level insights and practical guidance makes this book a valuable…
"A Sense of Urgency" by John Kotter provides a compelling exploration into the necessity of cultivating and maintaining a sense of urgency in organizational change and leadership. Kotter emphasizes that true urgency goes…
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