You can be a tough leader without being a jerk. In fact, to be authentic, you must. All too often, being a tough leader is confused with simply being a jerk. But if you want to see your leadership impact grow, you need to know how to be tough without the “jerk factor”. Somewhere along…
When “Half Cookie” Integrity Results In a Leadership Disaster
To protect your integrity as a leader, don’t focus only on the big, obvious temptations. Watch out for the subtle deceptions. Think of it this way. Have you ever made a personal commitment to lose weight, or to simply eat healthier, only to come across a steaming, fresh-out-of-the-oven plate of chocolate chip cookies? You knew…
Why “Remove Negative People” Is Terrible Advice For Leaders
The world may tell you to remove negative people from your life. But if you strive to be an authentic leader, your goal should be just the opposite. You should be seeking out negative people, and placing yourself directly, and intentionally, in their midst. Authentic leadership requires nothing less of you. Authentic leadership is built…
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. I learned a…
4 Ways That Exaggeration Can Damage Your Leadership
As a leader you must certainly project optimism. But when you cross the line into hyperbole, your leadership is facing significant risks. Recently, a leader in my orbit described a meeting as “Quite possibly our best meeting ever!” Right away, the thought flashed through my mind, “I need to keep watching my own communication for any signs of…
