As a leader, the only effective way you can direct your life and the lives of others is to truly know what you stand for. Your personal principles, or values, direct your thoughts, priorities, preferences, and actions. The aspects of life that you value shape your character, which determine how you … [Read more...] about Leading By Your Values
character strengths
Is Truth Dead?
In a world where leaders spin reality and use alternative facts to make things seem better than they are, is dishonesty becoming the new norm? Or, as a Time Magazine cover asks, “Is Truth Dead?” "Morality, like art, means drawing a line somewhere." ~ Oscar Wilde When leaders play loose with … [Read more...] about Is Truth Dead?
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
Do You Know Your Strengths?
Most of us have a poor sense of our talents and strengths, yet are acutely aware of our weaknesses and flaws. Throughout the education system and subsequent careers, there's often been much more attention paid to how to improve and fix our shortcomings rather than enhance our strengths. "Most … [Read more...] about Do You Know Your Strengths?
In Search of Authentic Leaders
Authenticity has become the gold standard for leadership. But a simplistic understanding of what it means can hinder your growth and limit your impact. ~ Herminia Ibarra, The Authenticity Paradox, Harvard Business Review, January 2015 Employees at all organizational levels seek meaning and … [Read more...] about In Search of Authentic Leaders
In Praise of Leadership Humility
The attribute of leadership humility is not often celebrated in performance reviews, nor is it a part of leadership development programs. Maybe it should be. We live in an era of self-celebration, and bravado announces our confidence. At work, ambitious people enthusiastically self-promote in order … [Read more...] about In Praise of Leadership Humility
Mental Toughness for Success
Few of us wake up in the morning with the intention of being a hero. Instead, we hope to get by without any major stumbling blocks and aim to do what is expected of us. It’s only when confronted with obstacles that threaten to derail our routines and plans that we don the armor and go into battle. … [Read more...] about Mental Toughness for Success
The Past as Prologue: How Experience Shapes You
Life is full of daily lessons. We interpret experiences; tag them as good, bad or neutral; file them into memory (or not); and create stories about ourselves. If you want self-awareness, take a look at how experience has shaped your stories. “Many leaders point to their childhoods as the source of … [Read more...] about The Past as Prologue: How Experience Shapes You
Overcoming Leadership Blind Spots
There’s no escaping it: Everyone has blind spots. No matter how hard we try to be self-aware, everyone—including the best leader—has unproductive behaviors that are invisible to us but glaring to everyone else. Our behavioral blind spots create unintended consequences: They distort judgment, … [Read more...] about Overcoming Leadership Blind Spots
The Leadership Trust Deficit
Employees want consistency between their leaders’ words and actions. But only 11 percent strongly agree that their managers “walk the talk,” a 2011 Maritz poll reveals. Fairly or unfairly, leaders’ behaviors are magnified and weighted, including their values, work ethics, integrity and perceived … [Read more...] about The Leadership Trust Deficit