"I strive very hard to build relationships with staff," a client told me recently. "I take lunch breaks with them, we talk, we play cards, we joke around. Then I come to find out that because of that, they say they can no longer trust me as a leader and manager! So...

The idea that if you’re nervous you don’t have confidence is patently false. Remember: courage is not the absence of fear (or nervousness); courage is action in spite of the fear.  In fact, I would go so far as to say: If you’re not nervous, that can actually...

We know that our staff, our team, are not the same as our kids. They are fully capable adults. But when you're a parent who's also in a position of leadership, you can't help but notice some similarities — not with them and their role, but with your own role in each...

If you're driving a car, and you want to change direction, what is the most essential thing you need to make that happen? If you had to pick one element, one crucial thing to make changing direction possible -- what would that thing be? Your first thought might very...

We talk about the CVI fairly regularly around here, but there's one quadrant we don't discuss very: the Builder. Builders, fiercely independent and often with less social diplomacy than some of the other quadrants, are often misunderstood -- but we can all learn a lot...

Here’s a thought to ponder: the quality, skills, & talents that it takes to start and build a company or project are not the same qualities, skills, & talents that it takes to then solidify and grow that into something bigger.  To start and to grow are two...

If Will was defending his wife, that would make Jada the “victim," yes? So the million-dollar question (and the leadership lesson we can find) is this: At what point was she consoled? I'm not going to get into the right and wrong of Will Smith and Chris Rock, because...

Remember that Far Side cartoon (at least, I think it was Far Side!) where the dog finally catches the car? He sits next to it, a little forlorn, and the caption reads, “Now what?” Have you ever gotten a promotion and felt the same way?   When someone gets promoted,...

There is one simple and universal truth that, while clearly undeniable, often goes unnoticed or intentionally ignored by leaders especially. That truth is this: Every 'yes' is a 'no' to something else.  Think about it. If you say yes to staying late, you're saying no...

With all due respect to The Godfather and a healthy fear of the mafia, Micheal Corleone got it wrong.  I mean, come on -- if you’re about to kill me for business, I'm gonna take that pretty personally, dontcha think? "It's not personal, it's strictly business.”...