So many workers feel their leaders talk at them, not with them or simply to them. That feeling was only magnified when Zoom calls and masks became routine during this pandemic. Leaders and employees feel stuck in a dysfunctional communication cycle of giving information and providing updates instead of really connecting. We all feel more disconnected than ever - and it’s very hard to find meaning in a video chat or email.
I was coaching a CEO this week - and we were speaking about our "lessons learned" in leading. While the conversation was casual and friendly, I left the meeting feeling the need to document these important insights. Each came with a significant amount of pain and scar tissue (from learning the hard way). I hope you find these helpful.
Here’s a few lessons I’ve learned in leading businesses for the past 25 years.
Early in our leadership journey, we tend to act more like the “captain of the team” rather than the coach. We are “leading others” rather than “leading through others.” This works fine when the company is small. But at some point, you’re going to feel like you’re running a circus.
Here are 5 lessons I hope we are learning through this COVID-19 pandemic. The only long-term failure is blaming others and failing to act. We are a Nation with brilliant scientists and researchers. We have the resources, skill and knowledge. We need leaders who care more about the common good than their individual stock portfolio. And we need those leaders to take action in crisis.
These are unprecedented times. There is no playbook for what to do in such a crisis, yet leaders must step up now and guide our communities and businesses as we face some of life’s most demanding challenges. These challenges may include large quarantine areas, limited access to essential services, and medical shortages for those who fall ill to this virus. Any one of these can also create paralyzing fear.
As the leader, you cannot always control the environment you find yourself. But you can always control your response, your attitude, your behavior, your words and actions. You can always choose to be proactive rather than paralyzed.
Not every situation we are bold enough to face can be changed. But nothing can be changed until we are bold enough to face the situation. So find the courage to boldly face the injustice you see. Look into the eyes of someone you've wronged & make it right. Face your fears. Face your enemies. Face your shortcomings and failures, and learn from them.
How do we find the humanity in business? We don’t. It is already human - an organism made up of real people with real stories, real dreams, and real pain. Some call it culture - but it’s deeper than company slogans, mission statements, and props.
Emotional intelligence is an understanding of what it means to be human. By recognizing that everyone has a personal story and by actively listening and showing empathy; we can connect and build relationships based on trust.
f you are the leader - take a hard look in the mirror. And evaluate the trustworthiness of the person looking back at you. Your own sincerity, reliability, competence and compassion for others defines your own trust quotient.
In any business environment, an idea isn’t worth much - unless you do something with it. This “do something” is all about how we choose to put an idea into practice (how we execute). It involves the moving from the abstract to the real. It’s a difficult journey. It's filled with ambiguity and uncertainty. It requires an extraordinarily rare leadership trait - and it’s called GRIT.
Privilege is an especially insidious lens. It causes us to see others through a filter that discounts them or assumes their plight is of their own doing - a set of bad choices or the lack of trying.
It's not your personal integrity that will build trust. Having personal integrity is an expected norm in most workplaces, and awards you no added trust points as a leader or coworker. In order to build trust you must demonstrate your behavioral integrity. It's essential for creating and operating with trust currency at work.
When do we best see a person's true colors? Most often, character is most often revealed by two extreme emotions: fear and greed.
Today, I am more certain of what really matters. I am more thoughtful of how I spend my time on a few dreams that might make a difference for someone. My encouragement to you is to never stop dreaming, no matter how old you are or what your circumstance may be. Within us are the dreams that can change lives. Dare to keep dreaming.
Success defined in dollars or power is temporary. But success defined as a network of people who trust you as a person of integrity is forever.
An idea isn’t worth much… unless you do something with it. This unique trait, the ability to make things happen, to execute through adversity, is the essence of entrepreneurial leaders - and it’s called GRIT.
The more powerful you are, the more your words impact other people - and the more responsibility you have to ensure your actions and words build trust. If you don’t, you will ruin yourself, you will harm others, and your organization will never achieve all that is possible.
Fear and blame are the ultimate culture killers. When fear and blame creep into the company culture, the organization’s performance suffers. Fear slows organizations down, causes hesitation, drives stress, and keeps individuals from reaching their potential. Fear and blame leads to dissatisfaction and employees become disengaged.
Leading would be much easer if we could say all the right things all the time. But we’re all just human. So while words do matter - what we do and how we act matters far more. Those around us watch our feet more than our lips.
When we invest in our human network, we have the best shot at reaching our highest potential. More importantly, we also have the best shot at making a difference in the world.
The journey from founder to Chief Executive is akin to crossing the ocean in a row-boat. It's a difficult journey that few founders survive. And, if you think about it carefully, there's logic to the reasons why.
So why do leaders known for integrity and leadership engage in unethical activities? Why would they risk great careers and unblemished reputations? Do they think they won't get caught or believe their elevated status puts them above the law?
Leadership begins within the individual, as a process of relating to the world. But if we are to lead with purpose, to impact others positively, we must understand, build and rebuild the connections that link us to others - the making of "we."
It's not about who has the most talent or intelligence. It's about who is willing to make the choices that others are not willing to make.
We are never truly great merely for what we are --- but for what we may become. Spend this day becoming...
And should you get lucky - and find yourself in a place of grace and abundance - consider holding the door open for someone else. You'll find it's the greatest gift you can give - the gift of opportunity.
As a business grows from idea to an organization - there are 3 leadership roles that shape the organization: Founder, CEO and Board Chair.
Why do some organizations feel energetic and creative while others feel stale and stagnant?
Successful people spend a large part of their time engaging in activities that provide meaning and are at the core of their strengths.
I feel sadness that we must do what we must do – but hopeful that someday we will live in a world where our children feel safe.
I formed Narus Health with a singular purpose: to change the healthcare conversation for those facing life-limiting illness. If we are truly going to revolutionize the way we care for those with life-limiting illness, we must build a culture rooted in the service of others. Listening first to understand and placing what matters most to our patients and their families above all else.
If Americans will come together and support one another in having universal healthcare, we can lift this worry from our fellow citizens. It requires us not to be "blue" or "red" — but to simply be compassionate humans.
For too many people, healthcare just happens — often causing frustration, expense, and lack of certainty. Narus believes individuals prefer to have someone truly listen, provide personal support and offer specific guidance for them and their family. We believe if you provide that 24/7, you can be available when people need help and support the most.
There are 141 million visits to the emergency room each year, and nearly all of them have a charge for something called a facility fee. This is the price of walking through the door and seeking service. It does not include any care provided.
n a competitive labor market, employers are looking for new cost containment strategies beyond shifting more costs to employees. They are pursuing new contract arrangements with providers, offering care coordination to their employees, and considering narrow networks to help them tackle healthcare prices.
I would characterize 2017 as the year of “watch and wait for Congress” within many health plans. I expect 2018 to be the year of “do something big or become irrelevant.”
We are at a moment in time where the fusion of people, process and a technology can re-define the patient experience, improve patient access points, and manage total costs. Such innovation will likely be found as traditional players collaborate with new entrants and form non-traditional partnerships along the healthcare value chain.
Employers that are serious about reducing total health care costs — and improving the health and well-being of their employees — should take a serious look at how innovation through smart use of people, process and technology can streamline all three of these cost areas. And there are many more areas of opportunity for consideration. Most of these innovations will be found in younger companies looking to disrupt the status quo.
Such policies will have a damaging ripple effects, driving up costs for consumers with serious medical conditions and prompting more insurers to flee the law’s marketplaces. I worry for the common man with a chronic disease.
If you know someone who is being a caregiver today, reach out to support them. Make a meal, offer to sit with the person who is ill for an afternoon and give them a break. Bring a gift for the caregiver with a thoughtful note. Sit with and really listen to your caregiving friend. Finally, ask “what can I do to help.” And do something.
Our patients and their families have all grown tired of the status quo. They want a hassle-free experience and coordinated care. They want to build a trusted relationship with our healthcare community.
We must acknowledge that our one-on-one human interactions are at the heart of the consumer’s health care experience. That includes our customer service lines, front desk teams, care management support, scheduling, and practitioner interaction. All of our “improvements” must support and enhance those interactions.
While legacy health plans wring their hands, a new entrant has emerged - the Health Solutions Company. Far more agile than legacy insurers, these new organizations are hyper-focused on reducing overall costs for the employer and providing a high-value experience for the employee.
Few insurers will want to remain in a wobbly market with an uncertain future. If not the ACA, then congress must agree on a cure - or an alternative.
Converging trends are causing healthcare's incumbent players to be more challenged to meet customer expectations and maintain margin.
It is time for innovators to transform home health care by completely reshaping the experience for patients and their families.
7 ways healthcare organizations should think about meaningful patient engagement
The underlying business model of today’s care management processes is dated - built for a different era and purpose. It’s time for a change.
The care management models in use by most health plans are vintage designs created over 20 years ago and are not consumer centric.
Lessons learned from the Third Annual Oliver Wyman Health Innovation Summit in Chicago | 10.12.15 - 10.14.15
Invision Heart represented Nashville, Jumpstart Foundry & the Nashville Entrepreneur Center at Google Demo Day and won $100,000
Health care may not be a human right, but the lack of health coverage in a wealthy democracy is an unjustifiable & unnecessary human wrong.
Today, I am more certain of what really matters. I am more thoughtful of how I spend my time on a few dreams that might make a difference for someone. My encouragement to you is to never stop dreaming, no matter how old you are or what your circumstance may be. Within us are the dreams that can change lives.
Work is the biggest team sport in which any of us get to participate. And as a team sport, business cannot be just about the numbers. Great teams have a great culture driven by great leadership. Relationships are meaningful and teammates are connected. The collective attitude is very positive and everyone on the team works hard to accomplish their mission.
A team with a collection of powerful shared values is the real story of creativity, community, and corporate culture. The rest is just an illusion.
Law of Disruption: People change incrementally - technology changes exponentially. Disruptive innovation brings new technologies to market, new business models, and offers customers new options. When technology outpaces skills, workers are displaced.
As a business grows from idea to an organization - there are 3 leadership roles that shape the organization: Founder, CEO and Board Chair.
Successful people spend a large part of their time engaging in activities that provide meaning and are at the core of their strengths.
It is not enough for a leader to do things right; the leader must do the right thing.
Great leadership lies in how leaders care about, visualize, and act on their own and their followers’ values and motivations.
There is nothing like the classroom. I love teaching! Each student brings something unique to the experience. Every time I teach, I learn.
Know these before you start an MBA: Advice I wish I'd been given before I started my MBA degree!
Economic power is exercised by means of a positive (value driven) ; political power is exercised by means of a negative (fear driven).
Three capabilities that are often overlooked include: unique assets, growth drivers and leverage relationships.
I've learned a lot about managing Board of Directors, don't make the mistakes I did.
Building a solid management team is absolutely critical. Take some advice from me.
Often new leaders set themselves up for failure by simply falling into the common traps associated with taking on a new role of leadership.
If you find yourself spending time on the things that matter to you – both at work and outside of work – you’ll find life balance.
Think about these 7 messages that we often hear from leaders – then think about which type of message you constantly send as a leader.
The first impressions others form are from our face, our height, weight, language, dress and our curb appeal - these are our personal brand.
We need our own dashboard - our own tools to ensure we are creating a productive environment and building our business in a meaningful way.
In your company, what is your Unique Selling Proposition (USP)? Having a USP is essential to our company and our own individual brand.
Health care may not be a human right, but the lack of health coverage in a wealthy democracy is an unjustifiable & unnecessary human wrong.
16 Great Leadership Lessons from Colin Powell. Below are 16 leadership lessons that I’ve adapted from Oren Harari, Univ. of San Francisco.
So, how do we work on our own motivation as the leader? Here’s 7 great ways to work on your own motivation:
If you don't have a customer, you don't have a Business - Just an Idea.
In America, virtually all net new jobs were created by firms that were five years old or less, according to New York Times communist Thomas Friedman. Friedman proposes that for a nation to thrive, it needs more start-ups not bailouts.
To stay ahead of the competition, we must constantly reinvent ourselves. We do this is by having an entrepreneurial mindset. An entrepreneurial mindset is about altering your perspective: No matter how long you’ve been in business, you’re starting anew today.
Invision Heart represented Nashville, Jumpstart Foundry & the Nashville Entrepreneur Center at Google Demo Day and won $100,000
Great leadership lies in how leaders care about, visualize, and act on their own and their followers’ values and motivations.
Financing the "Valley of Death" is the ultimate test the commitment, determination, and problem solving ability of every entrepreneur.
In our ever-changing world, we are constantly forced to reinvent our businesses and ourselves. This reinvention process requires an entrepreneurial mindset. It’s the view that no matter how long you’ve been in business – you’re starting it anew today.
How does an entrepreneur with little or no track record gain credibility? Typically, they either borrow it or they demonstrate it.
Three capabilities that are often overlooked include: unique assets, growth drivers and leverage relationships.
I've learned a lot about managing Board of Directors, don't make the mistakes I did.
Don't fail before you start. Don't start an investor pitch with any of these lines.
In your company, what is your Unique Selling Proposition (USP)? Having a USP is essential to our company and our own individual brand.
16 Great Leadership Lessons from Colin Powell. Below are 16 leadership lessons that I’ve adapted from Oren Harari, Univ. of San Francisco.
So, how do we work on our own motivation as the leader? Here’s 7 great ways to work on your own motivation:
So the day has arrived - I’m turning 59 - the official countdown to 60. How the hell did I get here so fast? In honor of this big day, I sat down and wrote out 59 things I now know to be true - sort of life lessons. If I’m lucky and I get to 60 next year, I’ll add another observation to the list. I’ll keep going for as long as I keep going. And if I’m lucky, I’ll create a really long list.
I am living in the decade of reality: the very real sense that I’ve lived a full lifetime - and the knowledge that there’s less time, not more, has come crashing in on me. Today I’m reflecting on what I have I done and what am I going to do with what’s left of me.
I want to live authentically as I was created - some of us are meant to bring living color to this otherwise “black and white” world. So I will celebrate the things that make me a bit different.
The journey of life unfolds unexpectedly - filled with highs and lows, moments of joy and times of deep sorrow. It’s easy when life is really good. But when things are really bad, finding meaning and creating purpose gives us something to hold to; something to live for; a reason to move forward. It gives us hope.
Gratitude is the music of the heart. Gratitude makes me a happier person. Gratitude gives me strength, reduces my stress, and, improves my outlook. Gratitude transforms the routine into joy; and causes the ordinary to become extraordinary. Gratitude is the ultimate spiritual practice.
Today marks 1000 days without him… And I have discovered that I am not born with a fixed amount of resilience. I have more capacity than I knew to get through just about anything. I am stronger than I ever imaged.
“It is my desire that people viewing my pictures will find that quiet, contemplative part of themselves. A place that allows them to feel some degree of peace in the midst of a storm." If you’ve taken the time to carefully view his photographs, I believe you’ll discover what he hoped you’d see: peace.
I think most people who have not dealt with direct loss of a child tend to believe that the overwhelming emotion tied to grief is sadness. I can confirm that I only wish that grief could be defined so simply. Grief is a powerful cocktail of emotions that - at times - become all consuming.
One of life's greatest revelations happens the moment we finally realize the prison bars we’ve been banging our cup on - the feelings that we are flawed or don’t quite measure up - are actually spaced far enough apart to walk through.
Grief is the price of deeply loving someone. Grief’s presence is a testament to the endless love I felt for my son - and that love has to have somewhere to go - it didn’t end when his life ended. The fact that I am feeling such a deficit in grief’s presence is a celebration of how blessed I’ve been, to have someone for whom I grieve so fully. The love for a lost son pouring out of my soul with nowhere to go - so it materializes in tears.
Grief visits again. It’s fog descending upon me on the anniversary of my son’s death. I lost my handsome 25 year old son 2 years ago today. And it feels like only yesterday.
I’ve felt everything from anger at God to wondering if God exists at all. Having faith in anything is hard after losing a child. Yet faith is essential to survive such an ordeal.
Every year we make 1 more trip around the sun. And along the way is a pathway littered with both the good and the bad - and memories made in the best of times and the worst of times.
Scott and I go together like "peanut butter and chocolate" - or that was at least what our team thought. Scott is the chocolate - I'm the peanut butter. Together, we shared a magical moment, and I left the stage feeling gratitude. The audience was the real teacher. And all the learning of the day was wrapped inside their stories.
To truly be champions of the freedom of people - the true pursuit of life, liberty and happiness - we must be concerned with every miscarriage of justice, every unreasonable limitation of liberty, every arbitrary act of court or state house or capital.
Of all the lessons a man or woman must learn to be truly human, tolerance may well be the hardest.
All I have to offer is my voice, my hands and my actions. And regardless of what Washington does (or doesn't do) I will continue to advocate for those who do not have the strength, the health, nor the resources to advocate for themselves.
Creating a compelling future begins with accepting and embracing the present. Tomorrow is built on the back of today.
I am learning that living with a grateful heart unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough.
We are never truly great merely for what we are --- but for what we may become. Spend this day becoming...
May our Country continue to be a place where human rights, freedom, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are always part of our vocabulary.
And should you get lucky - and find yourself in a place of grace and abundance - consider holding the door open for someone else. You'll find it's the greatest gift you can give - the gift of opportunity.
There are certain universal truths that should not be forgotten if we value the foundations of our Democracy - Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness
These are my lessons of hope and strength. My lessons about about the fire within each of us that cannot be extinguished.
Engagement is really a process in which an ongoing network of exchanges between people changes their behavior. Here's how to create it!
I feel sadness that we must do what we must do – but hopeful that someday we will live in a world where our children feel safe.
My Core Values: Professionalism. Learning. Diversity. Unconditional Love. Competence. Fitness.
To stay ahead of the competition, we must constantly reinvent ourselves. We do this is by having an entrepreneurial mindset. An entrepreneurial mindset is about altering your perspective: No matter how long you’ve been in business, you’re starting anew today.
Ayn Rand: To live, man must hold three things as the supreme and ruling values of his life: Reason, Purpose and Self-esteem.
Economic power is exercised by means of a positive (value driven) ; political power is exercised by means of a negative (fear driven).
Often, young entrepreneurs are challenged to find an audience with the right investors for their concept. They struggle to get meaningful meetings. Here are 3 solid tips to help you get investors to listen to your pitch.