Now Is the Time for Feedback

Hopefully, we all know the value of feedback – whether we’re gifting others with honest feedback or receiving it ourselves. The trouble with feedback is not a failure to see its value, but a failure to express that value through our actions—for example, failing to care enough to make time […]

In Search of Wisdom

Do you ever think about wisdom? The idea recently leapt into my consciousness, and I realized that it’s not a concept that I (or anyone else) seem to think much about. What struck me is that wisdom is such an essential part of leadership, yet we rarely think of it […]

What If We’re Not That Far?

This past week I had a driving experience that’s not that rare – another driver vigorously flipped me off. Rather than be provoked, I smiled and waved. Apparently, he didn’t like that response. As I pulled away, he sped up, pulled up beside me, lowered his window and began screaming […]

Leaders Storyize

If you’re confused by the new word in the title (storyize), there’s a reason – I made it up. Actually, it turns out that others have used this word, but it popped into my mind during a recent training session when we were talking about the importance of stories in […]

The Power of One Word

Recently, I heard the following communication thought: “Don’t offer blah, blah, blah when blah is enough.” It was a simple message about the ways we are imprecise in our communication, resulting in us saying more than we need to. Thus, one leadership lesson for all of us is to simplify […]

The Nature of Impactful Teams

I regularly read a handful of blogs and daily newsletters, including the following: Seth Godin, Notes from the Universe, Ransomed Heart and Richard Rohr. I also have a spiritual practice that involves reading various daily devotionals on my YouVersion app. While I typically look to my YouVersion devotionals to fill […]

The Illusion of Accountability

One of the first questions I ask business owners and leaders who come to me for a consultation is, “How are you doing with accountability?” Typically, when leaders are honest with themselves the answer is either “We could do a lot better” or “We are terrible at it.” Certainly, it […]

A Tolerance Process

Recently, I wrote about the role and impact of tolerance in your leadership (and life), offering this truth: “Your leadership, your relationships and your career are not defined by what you preach, but by what you tolerate.” I’ve gotten a great deal of push back and resistance to this position […]

“This Has to Stop” Is Not the Answer

If you’re like most leaders and team members, you’re familiar with this phrase:  “This has to stop.” It’s a phrase we use in meetings and conversations when one or more people have identified a problem in the organization – something that’s not working or which is getting in the way […]