The best leaders understand their words need to be thoughtful and empowering. They strive to provide clarity about the mission, vision, values, and strategic direction of the organization. Every encounter is an opportunity to connect with and empower your employees. They should walk away from the encounter feeling good about their connection to the company.
As a business owner, you already carry the weight. You understand the stakes. But you don’t have to do it alone... Transparency enables you to amplify your leadership—to equip your team with the tools, trust,…
What can modern leaders learn from Abraham Lincoln? I thought that Memorial Day was a fitting time to write this blog. More than a century after his death, Lincoln's approach to leadership continues…
Throughout my journey as a leader, business coach, teacher, and mentor, I’ve come to realize that leadership isn’t a final destination—it’s a continuous process of growth and self-discovery. I’m sharing this blog to…
Honesty is all about being truthful, sincere, and straightforward in our thoughts, words, and actions. It’s more than just avoiding lies; it’s about embracing transparency, authenticity, and integrity in every aspect of life.
There are many times in life when we can't control what happens to us. External factors do have a tendency to make themselves known at inopportune moments. And if business leadership was easy,…
“Humility is the most difficult of all virtues to achieve; nothing dies harder than the desire to think well of self.” – T.S. Eliot What is Humility? Humility is highly esteemed across cultures…
It's essential to remember that everyone deserves respect and that all individuals are created equal, regardless of their achievements...We live in a world where our actions affect others, so we should treat each…
Remember, what you do at work isn't just about hitting KPIs or closing deals. It's about building a team that's all in it together, where everyone feels like they're part of something bigger.…
It's a challenging journey, but one that's necessary. In a world rife with increasing darkness, it is our duty to be the bearers of light. Every small act, every kind word, and every…
Words Matter In many workplaces, achieving clear communication is a distinct challenge. We might assume that everyone understands industry terms or company lingo. However, even a straightforward word like “accountability” can take on…
Compromise, at its core, is an expression of empathy and a testament to our ability to rise above differences. It is through these bridges of compromise that societies evolve, governments function, and businesses…
Donald T. Phillips, in his book Martin Luther King on Leadership, does an impressive job of providing significant details as to why Martin Luther King (MLK) was a great leader. He was more…
I am regularly surprised by the lack of conversational courage in professional circles these days. Not every conversation ends up with a positive outcome. Occasionally, you must deliver disappointing information. You may even…
I ask you to look inside yourself and make an assessment based on these traits and characteristics of who the best people are to lead our nation at all levels of government. I…
n my many years studying leadership, nothing has troubled me more than the leader who takes a divide-and-conquer approach to their role. Sadly, it is much easier to do this than to bring…
Some esteemed organizations and institutions have spent considerable time and money exploring their knowledge missions and identifying who disseminates useful information. Let’s all take a step back, let the experts do their jobs,…
None of us knows how long this current crisis will go on. As leaders, we need to provide a positive way forward for those around us. This storm will pass, and another one…
As we wind down another year, I thought it would be helpful to share some of the best practices I have observed over the years from leaders who tend to end every year…
The most important thing we do as human beings is communicate with one another. Without honest communication, we would have no idea what the other person is thinking or be able to fully…
When I meet a leader for the first time, I typically ask them what they are passionate about in their business. How they answer the question is usually a useful guide as to…
I remember my mom telling me early on that “words matter.” Once you say something, it cannot be unsaid. Even if you apologize and/or make excuses, the imprint on another person’s brain is…
The ability to listen is an essential leadership skill. Over the years, I've noticed that inexperienced or mediocre leaders often feel the need to dominate all conversations. It's as if only their opinion…
The leader of an organization must always set the tone. Never forget this fact. I am regularly bemused when I hear a leader complain about the state of things in their organization. It…
What do you stand for? This is a question all leaders should able to answer fairly easily but most struggle with addressing. I've been in many organizations where if you asked the question,…
It may take awhile but most liars eventually get caught. There is a great saying that “if you don’t want to forget what you did, then always tells the truth." I also like…
As you grow as a leader and start to have some success it's important that you not get too full of yourself and remain somewhat humble. This is especially true as you begin…
Leaders should never surround themselves with people who only tell them what they want to hear. Even though it's tempting to exist in a positive feedback bubble, you need to fight this inclination…
Quite a few people bemoan the length of our presidential primaries and other election campaigns these days - I don't. For a brief period, people can maintain an act or deliver what you…
There is nothing wrong with having strong opinions, but always remember this doesn't mean you are right. There is a difference between a fact-based opinion and an experiential opinion. In one case, you…
You can be right, but you can alienate others if you are not careful. How you communicate can often be as important as what you communicate. Going all the way back to our…
We have all met people who seem to argue for the sake of arguing. Some people seem to need to find flaws in everything or disagree just to be disagreeable. It is one…
In a competitive business environment, it's not okay to be like everyone else. Clients/customers are becoming increasingly sophisticated about their options. If you don't stand out in a discernible, valuable way, then you…
Not every audience member is ready to hear what you have to say, but say it anyway if you believe in your message. Sometimes a little resistance is good. It forces you to…
When individuals are feeling overwhelmed or confused, they want simplicity. The more words you use, the harder this becomes. It is not about proving how smart you are on a given topic; it’s…
In my experience, successful people focus more on what they are doing instead of being caught up in talking about it. They understand that "talk is cheap." It takes genuine courage to act…
Not everyone is destined to reach the summit or lead a luxurious lifestyle. In fact, it is impossible to make such achievements happen from a socioeconomic standpoint. But in all cases, the people…
In my experience, the best leaders become comfortable in a variety of work and social settings. They can adjust their style to meet the needs of their audience or conform to the group…
Leaders cannot be low energy people - it is that simple. When you walk into a room the energy level should automatically pick-up. When you meet someone who is low energy your own…
While email and text messaging are effective communication tools, they are often inadequate vehicles for resolving conflict. Sadly, they can be used very effectively for instigating conflict. I have seen passive-aggressive behavior taken to…
I encourage you to make achieving organizational clarity a top priority. Even if you are not the CEO or business owner, you can provide answers to the basic questions every employee needs to…
Many leaders struggle to receive honest feedback about their performance. There are many reasons for this, but fear is usually the primary obstacle. Most people struggle with responding critically to others who can…
In organizations as in democracies the inability to foster constructive conflict is a troubling development. To grow and get better, there needs to be disagreement about how to best do things and find…
When I was a young boy, my mother used to say to me when I was angry (which wasn't very often) to "count to ten before saying or doing anything." The mere fact…
In the course of a given day the average person has interactions with dozens of people (if not more). Many times these are only brief encounters with very little substance involved in the…
I have seen more damage done in organizations and families by people saying what they think the other person wants to hear rather than by people telling each other the truth. The concept…
Disagreement is a fact of life. You cannot expect to reach complete agreement with someone on every issue. Every individual perceives the world from a slightly distinct perspective. What matters is how we…
High-performing organizations don't shy away from disagreement. In fact, they encourage constructive conflict between team members. The best solutions are rarely the ones where everyone comes to the same conclusion right away. Different…
I always find people who hold overly strong opinions a bit suspect. They present their opinions as fact, yet only a handful of beliefs can receive validation as truths. Most things in life are…
The objective of a leader, especially a public figure, should be to bring people together and foster a dialogue that strives to bridge our differences and find areas of agreement. The result should…
Empathy matters. Life can be difficult at times. Whether it is business-related or not, the people around you need to know you care about them. This doesn't mean you have to step out…
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…
In short, this book is a powerful reminder that leadership isn’t about knowing it all. It’s about being bold enough to ask, humble enough to listen, and wise enough to act on what…
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.…
When making a decision, we will less frequently enjoy the luxury of fully considered analysis of the total situation but will revert increasingly to focus on a single, usually reliable feature of it……
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,…
Introduction: The Power of Effective 1:1s Using Simple Conversations So much of leadership is wrapped up in big things—budgets, strategies, growth plans, new technology. Yet what often separates great leaders from average ones…
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…
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