Leaders have the power to give the gift of happiness, or of unhappiness, to those they lead. And the Christmas season is an ideal time to assess how effectively you have been distributing this precious commodity. This is not to say that the primary role of the leader is merely to ensure the personal well-being…
5 Leadership Traits from King Wenceslas That Matter This Christmas, and Beyond
A leader must be as relentlessly protective of their people as they are zealously focused on their goal. And as the Christmas season is upon us, you can find a vivid picture of how these two vital leadership principles can be intertwined by looking at one of the time-honored carols of the season. In Good King Wenceslas you…
Building Real Courage: 3 Truths Every Leader Should Hear
The idea of the “fearless leader” owes more to myth than it does to leadership reality. The goal is not to be fearless, the goal is to be courageous. There’s a world of difference. A fascinating conversation I had with a professional athlete painted a vivid picture of this. During my college days, I supported…
How Great Leaders Measure Their Success Daily
Wherever you lead, and in whatever capacity, there is one question that should be top of mind when the day is done. “Did I lead well today?” If you can’t answer that question clearly and definitively each and every day, what was the point of all of that leadership energy you expended? What was the…
The 4 Big Temptations That Can Hurt Kind Leaders
Being known as a kind person has been considered by some to be detrimental to effective leadership. But the evidence would indicate that just the opposite is true. In today’s world, kind people really do finish first when it comes to leadership. Kindness is not weakness. It is not passive and indecisive. It simply means…
