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.
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…
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…
In today’s ultra-competitive marketplace, good results aren’t good enough. To win, you need to produce extraordinary results. Extraordinary results come from extraordinarily performing teams. And where there is an extraordinary team, you can bet there is an inspiring leader. That’s why leadership – specifically, your leadership – matters. Leadership matters because extraordinarily performing teams are…
As a youngster, I always thought Rose Colan, my beloved mother, originated the phrase, “This too shall pass.” She used it frequently to help me keep perspective during challenging times. Since then, I have learned that this saying appears in the works of Persian poets and in Jewish folklore from King Solomon ... quite a…
We have worked with thousands of leaders since co-founding The L Group in 1999. Here is what we have observed as the top 10 derailers of leadership success. Have all the answers. (instead of asking all the questions) Not connecting with the person behind the employee. (view employees as a means to an end) Slow…
