I Don’t Know What He/She Does
There are no words that ring more sadly in our work world than when a boss is asked about an employee and says those words. I know. It happened to me once. I had just completed a 19-month assignment leading a large team of professionals through a tough assignment. We were geographically split and tasked […]
We Need to Eliminate Command and Control
I never thought I’d say those words. Being a former commissioned officer in the U.S. Army, command and control were integral to my success. The ability to stand on the rank and position I held helped direct troop movement and engagement. Fortunately for most of those in my command, I always commanded from more of […]
Business Leaders – Plan, Equip, Train and Lead
There is a mantra used by the U.S. military to describe the essential framework for building an effective military presence. It’s a simple formula: Plan, Equip, Train and Lead.
Change the Climate Before You Try Changing the Culture
Recently, during a weekend of watching college football, I heard a commentator describe a situation at one school’s athletic program. Though the university is a good one, the football program had been mired for years in mediocre success, often barely rising about a 500 season (win half, lose half). Two years ago a new coach […]
6 Great Questions to Lead Your Team
Being a leader requires the ability to build rapport with your team. Those following you must have good reason to do so. Every time you have a one-on-one, you have a big opportunity to add to and build that individual rapport.
Building the Right Leadership Foundation
If you’ve ever watched a building project, the laying of the foundation is critical. It is the foundation that sets the long-term stability of the structure. The way the foundation is dug in, reinforced, and poured or built is so important. The same can be said for your ability to become a strong leader. The […]
Leadership, It’s in the Bag
When trying to coach leadership, there is one word picture that does so much more than all the others. That picture is golf. Those of you might ‘hate golf’ or don’t know much about it, please stay with me. The game of golf is a collection of challenges intentionally designed to test your skills. In a standard round […]
EOS or Not?
As an advisor to small businesses, I often get asked about the Entrepreneur Operating System or “EOS.” This system was made popular by Geno Wickman in his book, Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business. For the record, I am not a certified EOS Implementor. But, I am a fan of the approach. I’ve studied […]
Understanding the Big Five Personality Traits
Executive Leadership Development frequently turns to various forms of personality assessment to help leaders better understand their view of the world. As we grow and mature, we ‘evolve’ into core beliefs, values, preferences, and motives. The blend of these factors makes up our ‘personality.’ With that comes the inevitable conflict of realizing what we believe […]
Using Principles to Create Leverage and Make an Impact
Making an impact requires a lot of effort, and it can be challenging to keep working at it. Sometimes it feels like we are constantly working but not making any progress.