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.
Read MoreI 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.
Read MoreHere 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.
Read MoreThese 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.
Read MoreNot 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.
Read MoreHow 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.
Read MoreEmotional 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.
Read Moref 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.
Read MoreIn 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.
Read MorePrivilege 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.
Read MoreIt'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.
Read MoreWhen do we best see a person's true colors? Most often, character is most often revealed by two extreme emotions: fear and greed.
Read MoreToday, 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.
Read MoreSuccess 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.
Read MoreAn 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.
Read MoreThe 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.
Read MoreFear 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.
Read MoreLeading 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.
Read MoreWhen 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.
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