Change by Choice or by Chance
As I look back on my career, the major milestones are combinations of things done by choice and some by chance. I would like to claim I had made all of my decisions by choice, not chance. That simply would not be true. Regardless of the reason for making a move, in all cases, change was […]
6 Reasons Change Is So Challenging
It’s no coincidence that the word ‘change’ fits into the word ‘challenge’. Change is challenging, but it doesn’t have to be stressful or unpredictable. We all face changes in our lives. Whether on a personal level or at work, change is inevitable. By taking a deeper dive into the dynamics of the human change process, […]
Managing “UP” the Organization or Fixing a Bad Boss
Do you have one of those hard-to-work-for bad bosses? OK, that’s too kind. Is your boss a jerk? Do you sometimes want to pull your hair out? Or even throw things after a talk with Mr./Mrs. Wonderful? Bad bosses almost always lack emotional intelligence. They play favorites, gossip, and have private agendas not always in […]
Embracing Risk: What is Your Risk Appetite?
Leading a business involves risk. For some of us, just getting out of bed each day seems like a risk. For others, they can’t get enough of it. Being a risk taker is on the high end of the scale for entrepreneurs and visionaries. Our business culture is full of stories about famous risk-takers. Yet […]
Leaders: Are You a 2023 Contender or a Pretender?
If your desire is to be a better manager at work, at home, or in the community, you may want to develop some actual leadership skills. However, if you are already following certain leadership principles, there is always room for lifting the lid to expand your reach and influence. After many years of working with […]
When You Lose, Are You Bitter or Better?
Here’s the scenario: life throws you a curve ball. Things don’t go your way. You suffer an embarrassing moment in front of colleagues, your spouse or your kids. You lose the deal, the game, the promotion, or the moment. The other guy wins. You failed. What are your responses? Yes, I believe there is more […]
10 Things I learned About Life and Business from a Single Mom
I was raised as the only child of a hard working single Mom. In my formative years, she taught me so much about life and business. Truthfully, I didn’t know that’s what I was learning until the day came for me to enter the business world. Then, moment by moment, as the tests and trials […]
Leaders: There’s a New Way to Understand Change
Author’s NOTE: I wrote the first version of this article in 2018 – a full 2 years BEFORE the whole world locked down and faced the COVID-19 pandemic. Business has not been the same since. At a recent luncheon, I was involved in a discussion that I find becoming more common. The topic was this: […]
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 […]
Procedures? We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Procedures
Managers and leaders at all levels rely on process and procedure to execute scalable and sustainable delivery of the work they do. Yet from time to time, you will hear talk of being totally free-form in the operation of a business. Results speak for themselves. When you dive deep into the leadership success story of […]