“Americans are among the most stressed people in the world.” That was the title of an article in the New York Times in April 2019. And that was before the pandemic and its political conflicts and mask wars existed! So yes, it is fair to say we are stressed. Here are five helpful ways to reframe stress and move towards solutions.
Read more3 Low-Cost, High-Impact Ways to Create, Retain or Restore Your Credibility and Trust
Over the past few years, there has been extraordinary relational damage in many towns, schools, organizations, and churches – trust and credibility are hanging on by a very thin string. Here are three low-cost, high-impact ways to create, retain, or restore your credibility and trust.
Read more12 Signs the Wheels Are Falling Off Your Organization
Recently, the front left tire fell off my daughter’s car and flew across four lanes of traffic! Slowly, with a little corrosion, the tire just worked its way off! That same thing can happen to organizations. Here are 12 warning signs that the wheels may be falling off your organization, and what you can do to prevent it.
Read more12 New Habits for a New Year
“The most practical way to change who you are is to change what you do.” - James Clear. As we head into a new year, here are 12 habits worth starting to grow yourself and improve the lives of those around you.
Read more8 Leadership Lessons from Home Alone this Christmas
We can learn from so many different sources - good experiences, difficult events, people young and old, reading books, and even from watching movies. This Christmas, here are 8 leadership lessons from one of America’s most popular holiday movies – Home Alone!
Read more“Silos Are Only Good for Farms!”
Growing up, I always loved silos – towers of strength across the landscape. But as a leader, I’ve learned that organizational silos are not towers of strength, rather signs of weakness that can fuel conflict. Here are five ways to prevent departmental silos in your organization.
Read more4 Great Reasons to “Fight” for a Compelling Vision
While there are plenty of bad examples of “fighting” these days, there are also good reasons to stand up for meaningful vision and values. Here are four great reasons to “fight.”
Read moreHow to Leverage the Experience & Passion of Young Leaders
For many of us, someone's investment made a difference in our leadership, and now we have the opportunity to do the same for others. Here are four ways to leverage the experience and passion of young leaders.
Read more5 Lessons from 20 Years of Consulting & Coaching
Twenty years ago we launched what is now called The Center Consulting Group! We have helped pastors stay in the race, assisted organizations in overcoming complex challenges, walked business owners through succession, and coached individuals to lead with humility and courage. As I reflect on the past 20 years, here are a few of the lessons I have learned.
Read more9 Things Successful People Think About Themselves
Success is not just about what we do, it starts with how we think. Here are 9 things successful people think about themselves, and you should too.
Read more6 Converging Forces Impacting Our Country, Community & Church
It is not an easy time to lead. Leaders have been using terms like “upside down,” “crazy,” and “broken” lately. This is due to the many converging forces that are impacting our country, community, and church right now. Here's what those forces are.
Read more9 Things to Look for in an Organizational Consultant or Coach
As vital as seeking outside help for your organization is, the process can be daunting if you don’t know where to start or how to interview potential consultants. Here are nine things to look for when searching for the best consultant or coach to serve your organization.
Read more7 Culture Builders to Attract & Retain Your Best People
“If you mistreat our staff, you will be refused service.” That statement sounds reasonable, but healthy cultures attract people rather than repel them. Here are seven culture builders that will attract the best team members and customers to your organization.
Read more7 Deadly “Sins” Leaders Like to Ignore
As leaders, we all have shortcomings. And when we ignore them, it only compounds the damage. Here are the seven deadly “sins” leaders prefer to ignore the most.
Read moreWhich Hat Are You Wearing? 5 Hats Every Board Member Must Manage
When you sit on a nonprofit board, you must know which hat you are wearing - personal, family, governance? If you confuse these hats, it can have a negative impact on the organization and your credibility. Here’s how to best manage your different roles.
Read moreHow 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.
Read more7 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.
Read moreWhat 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.
Read moreOffice 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.
Read more5 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.
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