Five Ways Leaders Can Get “Fresh Eyes”
There are a plethora of upsides to tenure. You learn the organization over time. You understand the context better and better. You build relationships with the team and the people you are serving. For the most part, tenure makes leaders more effective. But there is a major downside to tenure; leaders can lose their fresh […]
Two Key Communication Benefits From the “Buy-In Bullseye”
It is hard to overstate the importance of communication when unveiling a new initiative or introducing change. The communication of a change is as critical as the strategic thinking behind the change. The communication of a new initiative is often as important as the initiative itself. A leadership team may have an incredible strategy, but […]
Four Ways to Be a Less Bossy Boss
As I recently shared, some bosses are leaders, but not all of them. It is possible to be a boss and not be a leader, or be a leader without being a boss. A person may be in positional authority but not have influence, respect, or the ability to lead. And many people are able […]
Ten Differences Between a Boss and a Leader
Some bosses are leaders, but not all of them. It is possible to be a boss and not be a leader, or be a leader without being a boss. Someone may be in positional authority but not have influence, respect, or the ability to lead. And many people are able to lead and influence others […]
Three Warning Signs Your Life Is Drifting from Your Vision
Harvard business professor John Kotter has stated, “Behavior from important people that is inconsistent with the vision overwhelms other forms of communication.” If Kotter is right, and I believe he is, then a leader whose life does not match the vision being articulated nullifies the vision message, the website, the brochures, and the catchy slogans. […]
Three Ways Lateral Leadership Develops (and Proves) Your Leadership
When people speak, write, or think about leadership, they often are thinking about “downward leadership” and influencing people they oversee. “Upward leadership,” or effectively communicating to and fostering a great relationship with one’s leader, is just as critical and has crushed many talented leaders. Much more challenging than both “downward” and “upward” leadership is “self […]
Language, Literature, and Culture Formation
In his acclaimed work Built to Last, Jim Collins described the culture of “visionary companies.” Collins observed four common characteristics, admittedly cult-like, in the cultures: Fervently held ideology: All team members are expected to believe strongly in the company ideology. Indoctrination: The people are continually taught the essential beliefs and values of the company. Tightness […]
Five Leadership Books You May Not Have Read, But Should
Harry Truman said, “Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.” Reading is important for leaders, not only because of the content being read but also because reading teaches one to think, reason, and formulate thoughts. Popular leadership books can be very helpful, especially if they are popular because leaders have found them […]
Four Reasons You Need a Leadership Pipeline
To develop leaders on a broad scale, a leadership pipeline is important. A leadership pipeline aides in systematically and intentionally developing leaders. For example, Ram Charan, in The Leadership Pipeline, articulates six leadership passages along the journey of development, passages that leaders must experience to be fully developed: From managing self to managing others From […]
Twenty Great Leadership Quotes
Here are 20 of my favorite leadership quotes. Some are statements about leadership, and others, such as quotes about people or culture, directly impact leadership. These quotes have made their way into talks I have given, meetings I have led, or things I have written. What makes a great quote? For me, a great quote […]