The Vital Role of Watchmen in Leadership
Long before satellite and space technologies existed, cities and nations would place watchmen on top of city walls and in towers to see what was coming their way from a distance. They were looking for good and bad. They alerted the leaders and citizens inside the walls of traders coming with goods, as well as, […]
The Importance of Going First in Leadership
“Do what I say, not as I do!” I heard this tongue-in-cheek phrase many times over the years and it describes what poor leaders often model. If you want to become a GREAT leader, you must first do what you’re asking your followers to do. In essence, you must “walk the talk.” In our competitive […]
Embrace Accountability to Go Farther Faster
Accountability is something we all need, but few enjoy it. When you truly embrace being held accountable to achieve your dreams, goals, and objectives, you can take off like a rocket. Why is this so? Because when you begin to see accountability as positive reinforcement, you’ll do whatever it takes to accomplish whatever you said […]
7 Steps to Help Followers Navigate Change
We live in a world of constant change, but some changes feel bigger than others. For instance, occasionally we’ll hear people grumbling about a social media platform changing its style, but everyone adjusts fairly quickly and accepts the new reality. Then there are changes that feel big and scary to people. Maybe it’s an untested […]
Strategy and Action: The 1-2 Punch of GREAT Leadership
“Are you primarily a strategist or an action-taker? Are you more of a thinker or a doer?” I was asked this question several years ago when considering a new job opportunity. It was one of those questions that I knew I needed to explore more to read between the lines. As I did, I realized […]
Leadership Requires Using Your Resources Well
Leadership can make us so busy that we overlook the resources available to us to accomplish the vital tasks at hand. I was reminded of this recently as I was considering how to complete some projects. I was focused on what I needed to accomplish, yet was unsure of how to make it happen. In […]
True Growth Requires a Stretched Mind
Have you ever studied something new and found yourself having a headache? Have you ever done a new activity and found yourself feeling more tired than normal? If you have, there’s nothing wrong with you. The reality is that learning or doing anything new requires more focus and energy than we’re used to expending. I’m […]
Achieving Greatness Is Never a Solo Act
Many people aspire to achieve greatness, but too many try to accomplish it on their own. Consider the following legendary duos that have achieved greatness in their respective fields: Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen – Chicago Bulls 6-time NBA Champions Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak – Apple Co-Founders Bill Gates and Paul Allen – Microsoft […]
A Plea for Leaders to Take Care of Themselves
After more than 20 years of experience and observation in leadership, I’ve noticed that leaders rarely slow down to take care of themselves. Sometimes it’s because you feel there’s not enough time in the day to get everything done. Other times it’s the fear of being perceived as lazy. Many times it’s because you want […]
8 Key Characteristics of a Calling
***This article is inspired by chapter 12 of “Leadershift” by John C. Maxwell – “Career To Calling”*** “Some wake up to an alarm. Some wake up to a calling.” – Author Unknown This is such a powerful statement amidst a workforce where only 30% of employees are considered “engaged”. The other 70% are either considered […]