Its time for me to say good-bye to this blog and to  you. I’ve been writing here (at least) weekly for 11 years, and my internal compass indicates the signs are all there that something needs to be different. I don’t yet know what that means, but I know that it’s the right thing to do to open space for something else and to move on. I do want to thank all of you who have been with me through this writing journey, either as readers, contributors or sharers. I’ve learned so much more than you can imagine from you in so many different ways. Know that I am grateful. My work continues as an executi ..read more

You are a leader who cares about your stakeholders, but do they know that? Your answer matters because when they know that you care, they will care about you, the work they do, and their team. Caring is a powerful way to deepen your relationships with others. So, if you feel that you are distant from the people who are out there doing the work that keeps your business or organization humming, remember that the relationships you have with them are important. What are these simple daily opportunities that you can demonstrate every day to relate on a deeper level to those at work? Listen more tha ..read more

Creativity makes your business go ‘round! As a leader it’s important to encourage your team and others around you to innovate. Despite those who claim they aren’t creative, its one of those things called “latent potential” that can be coaxed out of almost anyone. So, when someone tells you they aren’t creative, don’t buy their story. As a leader you can help them to bring out their own latent imagination and contribute to changing the work of your organization, one new idea at a time. Here are some ways that you can help: Encourage them when they take initiative to innovate. This means you mus ..read more

I was mad. I didn’t get the kind of service I expected to get from a local company. After shelling out around eighty dollars for their work! So, I marched back to this business, and demanded to speak to the manager. I told him about the problem (and he could see that I was angry) and asked him to prove to me that I could trust him and the work of his company. On the drive over, I’d made up all kinds of stories about this manager: that he was at worst a crook and at best would give a refund. He listened patiently to my concerns and explained what he thought had happened. He asked for another ch ..read more

Have you ever noticed someone who made a significant positive change to the way they “showed up” as a leader? If you have, you might wonder what was in the water they were drinking. My guess is that something caused them to take a deep look at themselves and realize that they needed take personal responsibility for a change in their behavior. In other words, for years they had been blaming others or circumstances outside themselves for not getting what they, their employees, or their organizations wanted or needed. It’s emotionally easier for us to blame someone or something else when things g ..read more

It is unusual of for me to do interviews or promote books on this site. An exception was made when I was asked to interview Pamela McLean. A well respected thought leader in the the emerging and evolving world of coaching for 30 years, I couldn’t resist. And when I read her latest book called “Self as Coach, Self as Leader”, I knew that you also needed to hear what she had to say. (P.S. the book is accessible, compelling, and tells a story that shows how difficult it is to be a great coach. Whether you are a leader who coaches others in your organization or an independent professional coach, w ..read more

Whether you’re just beginning to lead or you’ve been a leader for a long time, you know that eventually something will go wrong. Because you are a good or even great leader, you know that you’ll be able to get through it. This is true because you have strong, healthy work (and outside of work!) relationships to support you. You know that others will be there for you because you are: Intentional about building authentic relationships. At some point in your career, you realized that relationships were important for no other reason than to be of mutual benefit in the rough and tumble of the work ..read more

I know you are a good leader. But you might have one flaw. You talk too much.  If you’re not sure that you do this, observe yourself as you go about your day and take notes on how little you listen. You might have learned that you need to begin to listen and you work hard at it. But there are those times when you just can’t help yourself. You interrupt, talk louder, and become more insistent. What was the trigger that caused this behavior? My guess is that it’s when you disagree with someone. This is, for most leaders, the most difficult time to shut up. Learning to stay quiet and listen for u ..read more

You believe you’re a good leader because you delegate, develop, and encourage others. You hire good people with great skills who know what needs to be done. The work gets completed on time and within budget. But something is missing. It’s quiet out there where they do their work (physically nearby and virtually). And it’s quiet in here in your office. Your team doesn’t interact with others on the team and they don’t come in to ask for your guidance. Being a good leader and hiring good people who get the work done isn’t enough. People want to connect and collaborate. Consider what hidden potent ..read more

For many years in the last century, Coca-Cola had an advertising campaign called “It’s the Pause that Refreshes”. Let’s borrow those words to consider the importance of a pause for your leadership and ways that you can refresh yourself. Unlike elite athletes, you could be in the workforce for 30 to 50 years. The stress of a corporate career can take a similar (but different) toll as the kind athletes experience. Your work can affect you physically, mentally, and emotionally. A long career without “pauses” can wear you down. Unfortunately, there are too many leaders who aren’t intentional about ..read more