A leader is a beacon of hope. She is the first one in line to take actions to support her followers. She looks at the horizon to anticipate opportunities and obstacles so she can clear the path for her team. She is all about serving others. She exists to make individuals and teams their best.…
We have been blessed with the opportunity to serve hundreds of CEOs since we started our leadership advisory business. Our clients lead Fortune 1000 enterprises, mid-market companies, and smaller, growth businesses. We continue to grow with them and learn from them. So, in this new series, we will share the best leadership advice that one…
Two young men were working their way through Stanford University in the late 1890s when, during one semester, their funds got desperately low. They came up with a plan: They would invite Ignacy Paderewski, the great Polish pianist, to give a performance. After paying the concert expenses, the two students would then use the profits…
Can you recite the flight attendant’s safety speech? We bet you can. You know, the one that goes something like, “. . . In the event of a loss of cabin pressure, an oxygen mask will drop from above. If you are traveling with a child, place your mask on first . . ..” We…
Leaders at Toyota coach toward autonomy to build ownership behavior in their teams. As part of The Toyota Way, employees submit suggestions to their team. They are suggestions the employees can implement themselves or with a teammate—in other words, this initiative is something employees control without need for management approval. At one point, Toyota received…
Jeff Immelt is the former CEO of General Electric and a three-time recipient of Barron’s “World’s Best CEO.” One of Immelt’s leadership tips is: Manage by setting boundaries, with freedom in the middle (in other words, give your employees autonomy). He says, “The boundaries are commitment, passion, trust, and teamwork. Within those boundaries, there’s plenty…
When it comes to coaching, questions are actually the answer. By simply asking questions, your employees will reveal challenges and opportunities that could potentially take you months or even years to identify. Remember, we all want to be seen and heard, and asking questions meets that need. Asking questions and then really listening demonstrates personal…
Oftentimes, cultivating talent isn’t a linear path—it zigs and zags. As part of your role in helping your employees find their sweet spots, you need to structure their wanderings with a sense of direction. This was true of Tony Robbins. Most people know him as a self-help author, speaker, and philanthropist who has transformed millions…
Most types of sports equipment—a golf club, a tennis racket, a baseball bat—have a certain spot that, if the ball hits it, will give the player the optimal result. Hitting this sweet spot yields a long drive down the fairway, a swift crosscourt return, or a home-run swing. If you have experienced it, you know…
Research from Gallup revealed that the most effective teams have at least a 3:1 ratio of positive to negative interactions. Demonstrating appreciation for contributions is a powerful way to create a positive interaction. On the home front, this same research found the ratio for the most effective marriages is at least 5:1. Bottom line: It…
