Taking the credit for a bonehead decision is tough, especially when your career/life hangs in the balance on that decision. Machiavelli once said “All courses of action are risky, so prudence is not in avoiding danger (it’s impossible), but calculating risk and acting decisively”. Niccolo Machiavelli known for his win at all cost […]
The headline is not a misprint there is a ton a CEO can learn from a high risk child. A few years ago I was asked to speak to a group of at risk high school students who have repeatedly been in and out trouble, and this particular program was the last opportunity to […]
When asked “What’s the most difficult aspect of your job as a manager”? Most managers will say emphatically PEOPLE. Doesn’t matter what context every dilemma/challenge a manager faces has to do with people….according to most. I say according to most because I for one don’t believe that, on the contrary I think people make the […]
Back in the day I could put away a “Big Mac” in seconds and fries in milliseconds….all before my next business call. I went on to have this type of diet regimen for many years while out there beating the pavement chasing customers, and it never occurred to me later how I would pay […]
FAILING into “Servant Leadership Luck” Because like many of you I’ve failed on more than a few occasions in my life….but I’ve succeeded a lot and not necessarily only financially or career wise but “SERVANTLY WISE”! Prior to venturing out on my own 8 years ago I spent a lot of time working with non-profit organizations […]
It’s not a matter of threatening or conning…it is a matter of inspiring I don’t care what business you are in your ability to inspire and get the most out of your direct reports is a priceless trait to obtain. Having been in the people management business for many years I’ve yet to […]
To all my CEO’s, President’s, Vice President’s, and Corporate Head’s when you give direction to your direct reports do they get it right? Do you find yourself giving that same direction again and again? Well, I would say the majority of this problem falls on you….not your direct reports. Yep, I said it it’s […]
Recently, I gave a lecture on the perils of leadership and how our view of this sometimes vague attribute gets muddier almost every moment of every day. While going through the various challenges leaders of today experience I had one of those out of body experiences a lot of tenured lecturers have when you’re […]
Perhaps the most difficult aspect of LEADERSHIP is leading those who are not accountable to you. Have you ever been placed in a situation where you had the proverbial “dotted-line” responsibility of leading a group of people who just assume you go away and not bother them? Well, I have and it certainly tests […]
They say the two guarantees in life are death and taxes…and some will say it’s the taxes that cause the death. I’d like to make a 3rd appendage to that short list and argue that fighting “Change” can be deathly taxing to you. Change is guaranteed and quite frankly there’s absolutely nothing you and I […]
