Our brains enjoy novelty. It is good for us and helps us create new neural connections. What do you enjoy? Seek variety in your life. Consider peppering your life with some high-excitement activities to spice things up. For some, this may be skydiving or bungee jumping, but you can also reach new heights on the…
People want to feel valued for their work. In fact, lack of appreciation is a key reason people leave jobs. Showing appreciation is a common blind spot for leaders—and for people in any relationship, for that matter. You no doubt feel appreciative of your team; yet, it’s highly likely there’s a gap between how much…
On March 4, 1914, my late father, Peter Colantuono was born and would soon become part of the Greatest Generation. Over 100 years later, I sit in my ergonomic office chair gazing out my window at a beautiful tree line. It’s a welcome mental break from considering a particular client’s challenge and polishing up a…
All living organisms move toward things that are life-sustaining and away from those that are life-depleting. We see this in action when the plant on our windowsill moves toward the sunlight. Light activates chemical reactions in plants and people that generate life-giving energy. This movement toward light is called the heliotropic effect. It’s a good…
When the great American poet, the late Maya Angelou, reflected on her life and learnings, she said, “I’ve learned that… No matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. You can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three…
Something is healthy when it is in an optimal state of well-being. We strive for healthy relationships, a healthy diet, a healthy body, a healthy mind, healthy emotions, healthy perspectives, healthy conversation, healthy awareness, and healthy finances. With all this focus on healthy everything, we asked, “What about healthy leadership?” There are far too many…
Sticks and stones may break my bones, and words really can hurt me. Many of us grew up saying a slightly different version of the previous phrase, asserting that words could not hurt us. However, we now know that words are building blocks for our self-image and personal expectations. Our words create worlds. The English language…
Complexity creates a maze between you and success. Simplicity creates a clear line of sight. Thinking in 3's is a technique we have been using for years. It is a powerful way to simplify organizational thinking. As a byproduct, it forces prioritization and focus, and the resulting clarity trickles down the organization. For example, we routinely…
Sparky didn't have much going for him. He failed every subject in eighth grade. In high school, he flunked Latin, Algebra, English, and Physics. He made the golf team but lost the only important match of the season, and then he lost the consolation match. He was awkward socially. He never once asked a girl…
Many of today’s leadership practices are rooted in historical military testing, application, and refinement. But what can business leaders gain from current-day military leadership practices—specifically from the U.S. Navy—that have been honed for years? It turns out a lot! Thanks to his lifelong friend, retired Bob Ernst, U.S. Navy Commander, Lee had the privilege of…
