Leaders spend a great deal of time and effort addressing issues of under-performance on their team. But in most cases, the issue that should really be dealt with is that of Mis-Performance, not under-performance. Mis-performance is the all-too common problem that sees members of a team deliver less than optimal results not through lack of effort,…
Why Leaders Heed the 4 Warning Signs of “Watch Me Swim” Leadership
Have you ever encountered a “Watch Me Swim” leader? This is the person who insists on letting you know about every accomplishment they’ve achieved, no matter how small or insignificant. The attitude is very similar to the child splashing around the swimming pool, desperate for the grown-ups to notice their aquatic abilities. For children in…
How a Line in the Sand Strengthens Your Leadership
Have you drawn a leadership line in the sand? A line in the sand is where your core values intersect with real life situations. Several years ago I was called in to help stabilize a non-profit organization which had been in a financial tailspin. About three months into this journey the Chief Financial Officer came into…
5 Surprising Ways That “I’m So Busy” Is A Credibility Killer
In a world that has attached a strange nobility to the notion of being busy, effective leaders stand out by avoiding the “I’m so busy” trap. One of the most effective leaders I’ve ever known was highly productive, and yet operated at a pace that was somehow both urgent and yet unhurried. This leader had…
3 Leadership Truths That Can Turn “Fearless” into “Courageous”
The idea of the “fearless leader” owes more to myth than it does to leadership reality. The goal is not to be fearless, the goal is to be courageous. There’s a world of difference. A fascinating conversation I had with a professional athlete painted a vivid picture of this. During my college days, I supported…
