Effective leaders see the world through the lens of possibilities. This ability is a learned skill, and it is a skill that must be developed if the leader is going to garner any sense of optimism among those they seek to influence. It is not a naive, “don’t worry be happy” type of mindset. Rather,…
How To Discover A Christmas Leadership Miracle
A leader must be as jealously protective of their people as they are zealously focused on their goal. And as the Christmas season is upon us, you can find a vivid picture of how these two vital leadership principles can be intertwined by looking at one of the time-honored carols of the season. In Good King Wenceslas you…
How To Go From Control Freak to Results Freak
If you can’t resist the urge to control every detail of every plan, you will be the single greatest lid on your team’s potential. Leaders who feel the need to personally involve themselves in the minutia of the team’s operation rarely call themselves a “control freak”, but without realizing it, their need to control is impeding…
5 Times Leaders Just Need to Stop Talking
Leaders need to talk. They must cast vision. They must issue challenges. They must extend encouragement. But just as importantly, effective leaders also grasp another fundamental truth: Sometimes leaders need to just stop talking. These are times when the most effective communication strategy is not say a thing. 1. When it’s time to listen When…
5 Dangers of Fire-Drill Leadership
“All hands on deck!” “Emergency meeting!” “Everyone into the conference room, PRONTO!” These shrill calls can create tremendous urgency, even excitement in an organization. I call this “Fire Drill Leadership”. Everything seems like an emergency. But the best leaders I’ve known keep these fire drills to a bare minimum. Because they know that, overdone, keeping such a…
