If I were to ask you to explain your organization's culture, how would you do so? I have often asked the same question to groups of individuals, and in return, I get either a blank stare, a confused look, or a simple answer of "it's great" or "it's bad" with little...
People will sometimes say profound things without realizing the power of their words. I often have coffee with Mike, a dear friend I've known for many years and a licensed counselor who always has great insight into human thought and behavior. One thing Mike said to...
We have three immediate reactions when there’s sudden uncertainty: fight, flight, or freeze. We’ve evolved those responses to escape imminent danger. But what happens when the stressors are more persistent? Leadership is challenging at baseline and exhausting when...
In conversations with bosses of various organizations, from publicly traded to privately held, the effectiveness of leadership development programs is frequently discussed. Specifically, how is your leadership development program positively affecting your...
I have spent the last several months teaching my teenage daughter to drive. My shortcomings in teaching her to park, back up, and anticipate hazards forced me to reflect on my own leadership tendencies. The experience has reminded me about the importance of mutual...
Recently, a client shared with me how their inbox can feel like a weight, a constant source of stress, and how seeing 50+ (or even 500+) unopened emails can drain your energy faster than a Friday afternoon full of meetings. So how do we remove this source of stress...
Think of the contrast between the all-powerful Wizard of Oz and the man behind the curtain. At some point in people's careers, most worry that they're the weak person controlling the levers instead of the formidable wizard. Known as imposter syndrome, 70% of...
In my former leadership roles, I had the great opportunity to lead culturally diverse teams worldwide. Some of those teams were remote as each entity existed separately from our parent headquarters. Each was remote and self-sustaining, but remote by location -- not...
Several years ago, I worked in an organization where the hashtag #LeadershipMatters was a top-down message communicated in everything we did. I certainly agreed and echoed the "Leadership Matters" message, but I added a dimension to the Leadership Matters hashtag:...
I learned a great deal about influential leadership from my father, even as he had severe Alzheimer’s and dementia. He was a strong, hard-nosed, no-nonsense man, but he had a fascinating talent for connecting with people. He seemed to have a unique knack for combining...