Of all the challenges leaders face, none is more pervasive yet hidden than fear of failure. “Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.” – Robert F. Kennedy Leadership is a tough job that requires courage. Doubts, insecurities and fears make organizational challenges more … [Read more...] about Leadership Challenges: Fear of Failure
How to Motivate Other People
No matter what your full-time job or role in life, most of us are part-time motivators. We not only have to motivate ourselves, but others as well. We need colleagues to complete tasks, partners to do their share, and children to become self-sufficient and responsible. If it weren’t hard enough to … [Read more...] about How to Motivate Other People
Finding Future Leaders: Why Personality Matters
Given the financial and societal impact of global business, there’s an urgent need to understand leaders’ personalities. If we fail to appreciate how personality influences leaders’ strategic decisions, we risk selecting leaders who are incapable of setting an organization’s direction. We are in … [Read more...] about Finding Future Leaders: Why Personality Matters
Presentations that Persuade in 20 Minutes or Less
If ideas are the currency of twenty-first century business professionals, then their presentations must persuade action. Unfortunately, many fall short. Presentations are critical, yet we too often focus on how slides look or where to stand on stage. Worse, we are prone to pack them with data, … [Read more...] about Presentations that Persuade in 20 Minutes or Less
Lopsided Leadership: When Strengths Fail
In the last decade, leadership development experts have enthusiastically pushed to improve their clients’ strengths instead of addressing their weaknesses. This approach may have some success in growing individuals’ effectiveness, but it’s fundamentally flawed. Strengths training and coaching have … [Read more...] about Lopsided Leadership: When Strengths Fail
Overcoming Boredom at Work
Even though you may have a great job, you can still experience boredom. Who hasn't been sitting at the computer when a restless feeling starts gnawing away and thoughts meander anywhere but on the task required? A feeling of boredom can cause one to question the meaning and value of just about … [Read more...] about Overcoming Boredom at Work
The Art of Receiving Feedback
“We all need people who will give us feedback. That’s how we improve.” ~ Bill Gates Receiving feedback with grace is a valuable leadership skill, yet many managers struggle with it. While we’re often quick to critique others, being on the receiving end involves an entirely different set of … [Read more...] about The Art of Receiving Feedback
Do You Have an Attitude of Gratitude?
Do you regularly express gratitude? It turns out that an "attitude of gratitude" is not only wise for building positive relationships, but good for your health. "If [thankfulness] were a drug, it would be the world's best-selling product with a health maintenance indication for every major organ … [Read more...] about Do You Have an Attitude of Gratitude?
Growing Better Leaders:5 Developmental Stages
The increasingly complex and chaotic marketplace poses an urgent need to grow better leaders. Companies that seek competitive advantages require strong leadership. Leaders remain confused, however, about how to strengthen competencies. Formal training and higher education haven’t sufficiently … [Read more...] about Growing Better Leaders:5 Developmental Stages
Disentangle Difficult Conversations
Why do we avoid difficult conversations? At some point, many of us have had to deliver the dreaded line, “We need to talk.” And this often precedes an argument rather than any conversation. Why are some conversations so difficult that we’ll do anything to avoid them? Possibly because: We are … [Read more...] about Disentangle Difficult Conversations