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Everything you need to lead well — free blogs, videos, and panel discussions from people who are passionate about helping leaders thrive.
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How to Make a Good Decision: It Takes More Than Agreement
Have you ever wondered how a group can make a unanimous decision, and yet that decision ends up as an epic failure? Making a good decision is a balancing act between group agreement and accuracy. Here’s how to manage it.
7 Signs That You Really Are a Leader
People are infatuated with the concept of leadership. Many want to be and think they are leaders, but are they truly leading? Here are seven signs that you really are a leader.
What Can We Learn from Emerging Leaders? A Lot.
This past week, we hosted our first Emerging Leaders Initiative with a group of 11 participants, 18-23 years old. This impressive group made me think, "What would leadership look like if leaders who are in their 40’s, 50’s, or 60’s manifested the same traits we saw in this group?" Here are five things we can learn from these emerging leaders.
Office Drama & How to Tame It
The workplace is made up of people, and with people naturally come quirks, jerks, and… drama. Office drama can have devastating effects resulting in added stress, more missed days, and higher turnover. Here are 7 ways to help tame the drama in your office or workplace.
5 Steps to Leading Through VUCA: Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity
The military uses a lot of acronyms, one of which is VUCA which stands for Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity. When I talk to leaders across all sectors, they are all feeling this. Finding and retaining employees, managing a pandemic, political divisiveness, etc. Here are five steps to help you lead through times of VUCA.
Start Assuming: 7 Assumptions Worth Making
As a kid, we all remember being told by a parent or teacher, “Don’t assume!” Like when you assumed the snowstorm was going to happen, so you didn’t do your homework. But assumptions can be important for a leader. If you are a leader or manager, here are seven assumptions worth making, starting now.
C-Suite to C-Den: Leading with Authenticity
The C-Suite has now become the C-Den with many asking, “Will we ever go back to ‘normal’ working environments? For some YES, but for others maybe not. Here are 3 tips to help you adapt and lead with authenticity into a post-pandemic world.
3 Dysfunctional Thoughts That Are Signs It Will Not End Well with Your Employer
All it takes is one dysfunctional thought to create an unhealthy relationship between leaders and the organizations they serve. Here are 3 dysfunctional thoughts we have seen show up in a variety of contexts, leading to poor outcomes every time. Are any of these present in your thinking?
The Power of Rewards: How Whipped Cream & Other Incentives Can Shape Performance
How can you get an 85-pound, strong willed, powerful dog to listen? All you need is a spritz of whipped cream. Rewards can both enhance and change performance in us humans as well. Here are five ways to unleash the power of rewards in your team.
What Is Your Purpose? Leadership Lessons from a Seasoned Executive
“What do you do for a living?” This is one of the first questions asked when meeting someone new. We live in a society where our position and purpose matter, but knowing our purpose is not always clear. Here are two lessons from one of our senior consultants, Mark Salyer, MBA, CPA, as he searched for his purpose in his life and work during his 40-year career journey.
Energy Thieves! Protecting Yourself from Those Who Steal Your Energy & Joy
Working with or for someone who is stealing your emotional energy is draining. Here are six suggestions to protect yourself from them.
Energy Thieves! 8 Warning Signs That People Are Stealing Your Emotional Energy
Growing up in my town, we were often on the lookout for thieves who would take your bike, grill, tires, or just about anything. But we need to be aware of a different type of thief in our lives and organizations, the energy thief. Here are eight signs that you may have someone tapping into your emotional energy and zapping your joy - without your permission.
Looking to Hire “Good People”? You May Want to Re-Think Your Expectations
One of the most common phrases we hear is “I can’t find anyone to hire!” Everyone wants “the best,” but there are only so many “bests” to go around. Here's why most employers can't find what they are looking for and three things they should keep in mind during the hiring process.
Want to Influence Others? Touch the Heart. Here’s How.
Jack Hanna, the “animal guy,” has been known for the phrase: “You have to touch the heart to teach the mind.” And this is also true for leadership. If you want to influence those around you, you have to make deep personal connections. Here are 7 ways to do so.
The Leader Who Travels Without A Trusted Guide… Gets Lost: 3 Things to Look for When Choosing a Guide
People use guides for many reasons: hunting, traveling, rafting, etc. But leaders are on a journey too, and it can be worth having a guide assist you in reaching your greatest accomplishments. Here are 3 things to look for when choosing a guide, coach, or consultant.
8 Ways to Move from Brokenness to Resilience
We are living at a time when it feels like most things in the world are broken and difficult to cope with. Here are 8 ways we can help ourselves and those around us to move from the label of “broken” towards greater resiliency.
5 Reasons I Don’t Listen & What to Do About It
“I promise to listen to you if you promise to stop talking!” These words are probably truer than we would like to admit. Listening is HARD. Here are five of the reasons listening is so difficult and what we can do to get better at it.
How to Invest in the Next Generation of Leaders
“It’s the beginning of the end if we do not reach young people.” Today, young people age 10 to 24 make up close to one quarter of the world’s population and will shape the future in dynamic ways. Here are five practical ways to invest in the young people in your life.
50% of All Employees Will Need to Be Re-Skilled by 2025 - What Is Your Plan?
The skills needed for employees to succeed are changing due to disruptions in our culture. One report states that 50% of all employees will need to be retrained in the next five years in specific areas. Here’s what they are.
The Power of Planning: Why a Lack of Planning Results in Pain & What Leaders Can Do About It
“Why do I need to have a plan?” Here are three good reasons: the pandemic, the march on Capitol Hill, and the deep freeze in Texas. There were many contributing factors that produced these crises, but first and foremost was the LACK OF PLANNING. Here are six steps that will help you capture the power of planning for your organization.