What sets visionary leaders apart isn’t magic—it’s a few key traits that turn big ideas into reality. Whether it's Karl Benz revolutionizing transportation or a local entrepreneur transforming her community, here are the three traits that separate a visionary leader from all other leaders.
Read moreA Father’s Top 10 List for a Child Heading to College [Or Anywhere Else for That Matter!]
When my daughter was heading to college, I gave her the best advice I could from my experience in life and leadership. These principles also have a lot of use for those who lead. So if you are heading off to college, starting a new job, or are a seasoned leader, here is my best advice for you.
Read moreHow to Extend Your Leadership Shelf Life
Mayonnaise, turkey, and milk are not the only things that have a shelf life. Leaders do too. Symptoms include loss of motivation, decreased learning, and adding less value to the organization. Here are 8 ways to extend your leadership shelf life.
Read moreIf Your Consultant Doesn’t Provide These 7 Essentials, It's Time to Move on!
There are almost 1 million consulting businesses in the U.S. Every consultant works hard to seem unique, but it comes down to how motivated and capable the client is and how capable and experienced the consultant is. If your consultant is not providing you with these 7 deliverables, it may be time to move on.
Read moreDelegation: How to Get More Done, Empower Others, & Guard Against Overload
Almost all leaders struggle at some point with either not delegating (“there is no one who is experienced enough to do it right”) or delegating poorly (“I don’t feel like doing it, so I’ll just give it to her”). Here are ten steps to advance your organization’s effectiveness with wise delegation.
Read more5 Traits of Humble Leaders That They Won’t Tell You Themselves
When thinking of a humble leader, many people think of the stereotypes of meek and weak. But that has not been our experience working with leaders who manifest humility. Here are five traits of humble leaders.
Read moreSludge: 6 Causes of the Muck That Hinders Organizational Growth
Sludge is not only found in your sink drain; it can also be found in your organization in the barriers that keep it from moving forward. Here are the six greatest causes of the muck that most often hinders organizational growth and health.
Read moreYou Can’t Have What You Want: 8 Desired Leadership Types & Why No One Can Be Every One
Organizations are often looking for a leader who is an “A” in every category, when they should instead be looking for someone whose leadership style fits with their culture and needs. Here are eight types of leadership.
Read more5 Leadership Lessons from Make-A-Wish
Years ago, my family was treated to a trip by Make-A-Wish, which grants wishes to children who have experienced a life-threatening illness. The entire process was a remarkable example of vision and excellence. Here are five things I learned from Make-A-Wish that can make a difference for every leader who applies them.
Read more7 Leadership Lessons from The Titanic
The Titanic, the largest and most luxurious passenger ship of its time, is a reminder that even the most impressive organizations can fail very quickly. Here are 7 lessons every leader can learn from the tragedy of the Titanic.
Read moreTop 10 Ways to Derail Momentum & Growth
Every organization that is experiencing success one day can find itself floundering the next. By understanding these ten derailers, we can more effectively prevent our organizations from going off the tracks.
Read more8 Leadership Lessons from Home Alone this Christmas
We can learn from so many different sources - good experiences, difficult events, people young and old, reading books, and even from watching movies. This Christmas, here are 8 leadership lessons from one of America’s most popular holiday movies – Home Alone!
Read more7 Signs That You Really Are a Leader
People are infatuated with the concept of leadership. Many want to be and think they are leaders, but are they truly leading? Here are seven signs that you really are a leader.
Read moreWhat Can We Learn from Emerging Leaders? A Lot.
This past week, we hosted our first Emerging Leaders Initiative with a group of 11 participants, 18-23 years old. This impressive group made me think, "What would leadership look like if leaders who are in their 40’s, 50’s, or 60’s manifested the same traits we saw in this group?" Here are five things we can learn from these emerging leaders.
Read moreLeading with a “Clear Head” [VIDEO]
We all have our own doubts, fears, past experiences, and potential conflicts that have a way of staying in our memories and clouding our minds and decisions. As leaders, we need to clear our heads to be able to lead our team well. Here’s how.
Read moreHow to Invest in the Next Generation of Leaders
“It’s the beginning of the end if we do not reach young people.” Today, young people age 10 to 24 make up close to one quarter of the world’s population and will shape the future in dynamic ways. Here are five practical ways to invest in the young people in your life.
Read moreCandor: How to Balance Truth with Care [VIDEO]
Speaking with candor is easier said than done. People can either speak so directly that they forget how it will affect the other person, or they are so compassionate that the meaning of the feedback is lost. Here are helpful tips for balancing both care and confrontation when giving candor and how to receive it well.
Read more50% of All Employees Will Need to Be Re-Skilled by 2025 - What Is Your Plan?
The skills needed for employees to succeed are changing due to disruptions in our culture. One report states that 50% of all employees will need to be retrained in the next five years in specific areas. Here’s what they are.
Read moreThe Power of Planning: Why a Lack of Planning Results in Pain & What Leaders Can Do About It
“Why do I need to have a plan?” Here are three good reasons: the pandemic, the march on Capitol Hill, and the deep freeze in Texas. There were many contributing factors that produced these crises, but first and foremost was the LACK OF PLANNING. Here are six steps that will help you capture the power of planning for your organization.
Read moreDis-ability or Different-ability? 6 Leadership Lessons from Those Who Are Different
There are about 40 million people in the U.S. living with some type of disability. People with disabilities have extraordinary abilities, or what I call “different-abilities.” Here are six lessons from them that we can apply to our life and leadership.
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