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…
Do you coach your team in real-time? What are the possibilities for offering feedback, adjusting on the fly, tweaking execution, changing plans mid-game if needed, and encouraging them? Not only does your team deserve a leader to help them realize their full potential, but Gallup’s research also reveals that your team wants a coach, not…
We often hear leaders say that they will appreciate their teams once a certain goal is achieved. These leaders do not understand the power of appreciating progress. Healthy leaders appreciate results and progress. They understand that employees want to feel connected to their leader, their organization, and their purpose—not just after the final buzzer when…
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…
Charles Plumb was a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, one of the original Top Gun pilots, and a pilot in Vietnam. On May 19, 1967, during his 75th combat mission (five days before the end of his tour), his plane was shot down. He ejected and parachuted into enemy hands, where he spent six years in…
Back in your childhood, you may have belonged to a club that had a secret handshake. Just knowing that handshake made you feel like you were a part of the group, right? It was a “belonging” factor that made you feel connected. The handshake was something special that only members could do or know. In…
Healthy leaders create emotional bonds with their teams. We are wired to seek connections in our world. Humans are social creatures by design—and healthy leaders know and prioritize this truth. They excel not only at connecting directly with their team members, but also at helping team members connect with one another—in healthy ways. We often…
Healthy leaders are bridge builders. One important bridge they build is between a team member’s work and a bigger purpose. There are two levels of purpose that leaders connect employees to: organizational purpose and team purpose. Organizational purpose relates to making the world a better place or improving the human condition through work. For instance,…
