As leaders, our job descriptions often call upon us to manage projects, people and budgets. Seldom will you see a job description that includes managing your mind. Yet, it is our mind that will determine how we manage those projects, people and budgets. Here are 7 opposing characteristics of thought. Where do you tend to fall?
Read moreThe Nine Mistakes I Told Myself I Would Never Make... But Did
The words jumped off the page of a Harvard Business Article and hit me square between the eyes. "If you're highly successful, your achievements are obvious. It's more novel and inspiring for others to learn about your mistakes.” So here it goes - the nine mistakes I told myself I would never make, but did, and what I learned that countered those beliefs.
Read more9 Things Smart Leaders Do in Their First 90 Days
The first ninety days in a new job are critical. Why? Because those first weeks and months will often set the tone for your future. If you are a leader about to enter into a new position, here are 9 smart activities we have found to be vital in those early months. (These principles are also useful for those already established in a leadership role!)
Read more7 Gifts to Give Your Team This Christmas
One Christmas, my family’s gift to our neighbors is Perogi Fest, an open house featuring a variety of perogies including our own homemade favorite – potato and Longhorn cheese! Dough, cheese and butter, and then throw on some sautéed onions – What is there not to like? Here are 7 gifts your team will actually appreciate this Christmas, besides perogies!
Read moreDon’t Fool Yourself – Leadership Is Hard Work
We continue to hear common themes that leaders from all backgrounds are facing serious challenges - troubles, sleepless nights, hard work, relentless criticism… Some of these challenges are in their organizations, others are in their personal lives. Here are five tips for you to consider when facing the challenges of leadership in your life.
Read more7 Things I Am Thankful for but Often Forget to Acknowledge
Growing up, my family never had the tradition of sitting around the thanksgiving table and sharing what we were thankful for. But as we approach Thanksgiving, I gave some thought to what I should be thankful for – especially those things I think about less often but really do find important. Here are seven things I am thankful for but often forget to acknowledge. What are you forgetting to be thankful for this November?
Read more8 Actions That Will Build Trust in an Epidemic of Distrust
Who can you trust these days? According to a recent study by the Pew Research Center, Americans are struggling with trust. For example, the following percentages of Americans noted having little or no trust in elected officials (63%), business leaders (57%), news media (52%), religious leaders (38%), and police officers (31%). Here are 8 actions that will help build trust in an epidemic of distrust.
Read more5 Reasons Why Leaders Sometimes Harm the Organizations They Love
Have you ever heard of factitious disorder (often referred to as Munchausen Syndrome)? One of the characteristics of this mental illness is when a caregiver makes the person under their care become sick. It is interesting how often we see something similar in our consulting with organizations. Over the years, we have seen multiple examples of a leader of an organization, and sometimes even the founder, making the organization sick while claiming to love it and care deeply about it. But why would a leader harm the organization he/she claims to love? Here are 5 reasons.
Read moreLeading Blind: The Common Occurrence of Blind Spots & How to Correct Them
Picture yourself with a blindfold on and then attempting to drive a car (bad idea and also illegal!), or to walk your dog, or to throw a Frisbee. It’s hard to picture anything but problems emerging. The same is true for those who lead but with the inability to see what they should be able to. This results in leading blind, and the outcomes can often be embarrassing at best, and at worst, damaging to ourselves and others. Here are four of the most telling signs of blind spots and five ways to correct them.
Read moreThe 10 Greatest Life & Leadership Lessons I Have Learned (So Far)
If we are going to lead well, we better learn well too. Here are ten life and leadership lessons I have learned that may be of help to you as well.
Read moreA Mistake Was Made, But It Wasn’t My Fault
Mistakes happen and are almost always a result of human error – which means they aren’t going away anytime soon. While we need to strive to prevent as many mistakes as possible, we also need to respond appropriately when they happen. Here are some of the most common reactions when confronted with an error and a few suggestions on a better way to respond.
Read moreWhen to Quit & When You Should Think Twice
The toughness of Navy Seals has become well known through movies like Lone Survivor and American Sniper. Becoming part of this elite group requires surviving grueling tests of mental, emotional, and physical toughness. And then there is the infamous bell. The bell is ever present while the Seal trainees endure the intense exercises; and all they must do to quit and receive a nice meal, hot shower, and clean bed is to ring it three times. So when is it the right time to quit and ring the bell in your life, and when it is better to think twice?
Read more2 Key Characteristics of Influential Leaders
Few things are more energizing than getting to watch a gifted leader at work. And, few things are more irritating than watching an incompetent person pretend to lead! Leaders with influence have a healthy blend of ability complimented by confidence. Here is a simple matrix to identify four types of leaders. Where are you? And where are members of your team?
Read more7 Actions to Improve Employee Retention
“We can’t find any new employees!” “Younger employees sure don’t stay in one job for very long.” Our consulting team hears statements like these a lot. The struggle to find and retain qualified employees is partly a result of low unemployment and economic growth. Here are seven actions that each of us can take to help create a higher retention environment among our teams.
Read moreThe Smell of Legitimacy: 10 Things Deceptive Leaders Do to Fake Their Way to Success
“There is nothing new under the sun.” While most deceptive leaders do not become as infamous as Bernie Madoff, they do have some things in common in faking their way to success.
Read more5 Actions That Can Make You “Exceptional”
Everyone wants to be “exceptional.” The 15-year-old high school basketball player who aspires to be an NBA player. The 24-year-old who dreams about becoming a successful entrepreneur. But becoming exceptional doesn’t just happen. Here are 5 things that can help make you exceptional.
Read moreCheating Our Way to the Bottom: 5 Ways We Shortchange Ourselves & Others
We all have heard about the most recent case of cheating – wealthy people lying, bribing, and spending huge amounts of money just to get their children into elite universities. But cheating is not only limited to the high profile examples we hear about. Here are some of the more common ways we as leaders can shortchange ourselves and others.
Read more5 Gifts to Leave the Person Who Will Take Your Place
Everyone likes gifts, especially really nice ones. And that is true for your successor. As a leader, you make the choice of what to leave for the next person. Here are 5 gifts that the person who takes your place will really appreciate.
Read more7 Modern Leadership Lessons from History [from Napoleon Bonaparte]
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Leadership lessons do not only rise from the present. Yes, we can learn a lot of what to do and what not to do from the likes of Bill Gates, Richard Branson, Andy Stanley, Warren Buffett, and Bono. But we are fools to forget the lessons from the past – lessons from leaders like Napoleon Bonaparte, the French leader who emerged in the 18th century and become one of the most powerful leaders in the world. Here are 7 modern lessons from the history of Napoleon that are worthy of our attention.
Read moreWho Attends Your Church & Why They Come [Infographic Data]
![Who Attends Your Church & Why [Infographic Data] - The Center Consulting Group - Leadership Coaching and Organizational Consulting for Businesses, Non-profits, and Churches](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/571fc0ea1d07c0fd6d72c167/1551992954193-MX0TKKF4RT50Y3TC54RG/Church+Attenders.jpg)
Who is attending your church? We recently looked at the church health survey results from 35 of the churches we have worked with to identify the common themes including who their church attenders are, why they come to that church, and what they think about the ministries at the church. Here are the findings.
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