On Creating A Successful Risk-Taking Culture
Big S’s (successes) are only possible with Small f’s (failures)…. Read More»
The Magical Combination Of Today’s Successful Leaders
Leaders must have both the courage to take people to a daring destination and the humility to selflessly serve others on the journey…. Read More»
Seven Steps that Lead to More Effective Leaders
In today’s world, these things are not merely nice to have, they’re must haves for strategy and execution success. Because your company is only going to execute as fast or slow as your leaders’ ability to adapt to change in the marketplace and to engage their teams in the business. These seven steps are critical for leadership effectiveness…. Read More»
How Great Leaders Make a FUSS About What Works
Why are we always so focused on what’s NOT right? It’s partly human nature, partly habit, and we are just drawn to solve the biggest breakdowns in the business. The problem is that when we do this, we neglect to focus on what actually is working. And that’s where the real opportunity lies…. Read More»
Trust as the Differentiator
Brad Katsuyama was a trader at the Royal Bank of Canada when he discovered how high-frequency traders were front running the market and using milliseconds to take advantage of just about everyone. Brad’s response to this inequity was to start his own exchange called the Investor’s Exchange (IEX), which comes with “speed bumps” that eliminate the advantage of high-speed investors.
While I found this story as intriguing as the other topics Michael Lewis has brought to light, it was Brad’s final comments on 60 Minutes that really caused pause and reflection. He said…… Read More»
Why The Best Leaders View Vulnerability as a Strength
Almost everyone seems to think that being vulnerable is a bad thing – it implies that you’re weak or defenseless. In fact, when someone is willing to admit they’re vulnerable, it demonstrates a level of trust and respect with the person or people they’re opening up to. Great leaders recognize the importance of bringing vulnerability to work because it is the foundation for open and nonjudgmental communications. The boldest act of a leader is to be publicly vulnerable…. Read More»
Authentic Leadership from the Middle Seat in Coach
There is one thing in life that has always boggled my mind. Why is it we can have an in-depth conversation with a stranger on an airplane in coach and yet are unable to speak with the same candor and vulnerability with people we have known for years?
What happens in coach that allows us to have an exchange with a stranger that can be more captivating and intimate than the conversations we have had with a spouse, a boss or team member?… Read More»
Unleash the Potential of Your People With One Word
“No” is often seen as a rejection and most owners of strategies or initiatives don’t want to see their babies rejected. The challenge is that when we don’t say no by drawing the boundaries and frameworks for our people to execute, we inevitably compromise our impact and hugely frustrate our people. Here are a few ways leaders and managers can do a better job of saying no to create greater engagement and results…. Read More»
It Is A Great Day If…
Until people can be allowed to think systematically, they’ll never be able to think big. They will not be engaged until they can see the whole system. This is the primary job of leaders: to help their people see the big picture by helping them think through the “how” and “why” behind it and, most importantly, their role in contributing to it…. Read More»
The Difference Between Vision and a Hallucination
I remember a conversation I once had with a leader of a health system. This leader, a religious sister, was talking about the vision she had for the future of health care for her system when she made a comment I will never forget. She said “the only difference between a vision and a hallucination […] Read more… Read More»