Your strategic plan is either an after-thought, or it’s a decision-driver. And turning your plan from an after-thought to a decision-driver can be the difference between leading an organization that’s stalled, to one that is gaining momentum. So how do you do it? Years ago a leadership mentor taught me a simple yet profoundly effective…
3 Ways to Restore Sanity to the Excellence Value
Aspiring for “excellence” can lead to an inspiring environment of achievement. But it can also lead to a neurotic atmosphere of fear. I once was talking with a new team member as part of his on-boarding process, when I mentioned to him that “excellence” was one of our core values. “Oh no,” he sighed. “Not…
How To Know When NOT To Say ‘I Don’t Know’
When a leader responds to a question by saying, “I don’t know”, it can reveal transparency and authenticity. But it can also reveal areas of a leader’s weakness. Increasingly, leaders are being coached that “It’s okay to say ‘I don’t know’”. This is a largely positive trend and, in the right context, can indeed point…
Are You Missing the Messages Hidden in Silence?
Effective leaders know that the art of communication is as much about listening as it is about talking. But to really master this art, leaders must learn to listen to, and interpret, silence as much as they listen to words. If you’re going to really understand what is happening with your team and with your…
3 Leadership ‘Wins’ Not Worth Celebrating
Leaders build culture by what gets celebrated, and by what does not get celebrated. That which gets celebrated very quickly becomes embedded in your culture. If you celebrate teamwork, then collaboration will become a part of the culture. If you celebrate treating one another with kindness, then compassion will become a part of the culture.…
