Why is it that, for some organizations, aspiring for “excellence” leads to an inspiring environment of achievement, while for others it seems to 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…
4 Freakish Ways You Can Stop Being a Control 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…
How To Correct The Biggest Myth in Leadership
Teams don’t make decisions. The idea that there is such thing as a “team decision” is one of the biggest myths in leadership. And correcting that myth could represent a significant leadership breakthrough. Teams don’t make decisions. Individuals make decisions. Every decision must have someone’s name written next to it. Someone must own the outcome. Someone…
4 Secrets To Know Who Makes the Decision
Leadership is all about making decisions. But before you can make the call you need clarity on whose call it is to make. Several years ago a previous organization I led had partnered with another organization to present a leadership conference. The schedule was set to go all day Friday and all day Saturday. But noticing that there…
This Is What Leaders Do When The Dogs Start Barking
At the first signs of trouble, the first steps you take are the most important steps you’ll take as a leader. This is called “walking towards the barking dog”, and I learned many years ago that this is an instinct that’s vital for leaders to develop. When confronted with an actual barking dog, the instinct…
