Inheritance is what we leave to others. Legacy is what we leave in them. Here is my favorite true story of living and leaving a legacy. In the early 1900s, Al Capone virtually owned Chicago. Capone wasn’t famous for anything heroic. He was notorious for entangling the Windy City in everything from bootlegged booze and…
Communication is typically the lowest-scoring topic on any climate or culture survey. It has been that way for decades. During times of crisis or disruptive change, leaders are required to elevate their communication game to keep their teams focused, connected, and productive. These 5 C's of communication serve as a checklist for leaders: Calm Confident Clear Compassionate Consistent.…
Uncertainty really elevates the need for leaders to bring the right mindset and actions to their teams. Here are some quick tips to help you lead with resilience during these uncertain times. Contact us to see how we can support you and your team.
For years, Julie and I had a date night each Wednesday night while our children were young. We would often go to dinner at a local Tex-Mex restaurant. An experience during one of our visits helped me see the direct, positive business impact of passionately performing employees. An energetic waiter came charging up to our table…
A few years back, I had the privilege of interviewing the late Colleen Barrett, President Emeritus at Southwest Airlines and chief nurturer of their famed culture. She was a treasured friend. You can watch that interview here. Colleen was as good a follower as she was a leader. During our interview, she addressed the concept…
With Independence Day right in front of us, I wanted to share this video from a visit to the Statue of Liberty to illustrate how passion enables us to perform ordinary tasks in extraordinary ways. https://youtu.be/86ad8SmgkiU You can inspire your team to deliver passionate performance by fulfilling six universal needs: 3 Intellectual needs: Achievement, Autonomy,…
A good plan might get you into the game, but sticking with it catapults you into the winner's circle. Based on more than 20 years of field research with the highest-achieving leaders, here are the habits they stick with: Keep it simple.Think in threes to simplify strategies, metrics, messages, and actions. Apply the 80/20 principle to focus…
Very few tasks are performed completely in isolation for today's leader. Leaders harness diverse resources and collaborate across functions. In fact, our favorite definition of teamwork is "connected independence." The success of most organizations is directly proportionate to their leaders' ability to inspire excellent teamwork. High-performing teams consciously apply the Team Effectiveness and Alignment Model (T.E.A.M.). As…
Most of us are so technologically connected that we couldn’t disconnect even if we tried. Many of us fear having to stare down that dark tunnel of technology withdrawal. What we are talking about, however, is connecting human-to-human versus being connected via technology. We live in a high-tech world, but building healthy relationships is still…
“Your purpose is where your greatest joy meets the world’s greatest need.” —Frederick Buechner There is only one of you. No one is exactly like you, and no one was created for the purpose you are to fulfill each day on Earth. Your purpose may or may not be what you do for a living, but it…
