Have you ever encountered a “Watch Me Swim” leader? This is the person who insists on letting you know about every accomplishment they’ve achieved, no matter how small or insignificant. The attitude is very similar to the child splashing around the swimming pool, desperate for the grown-ups to notice their aquatic abilities. For children in…
10 Qualities of the Leaders I Always Want To See On My Team
The starting place for building an effective “dream team” is in having a crystal clear picture of the qualities you want in the people. If you were to make a list of the attributes you would want on the members of your leadership team you would likely include such characteristics as: Go-getter. Someone who ‘makes…
This Halloween, Beware of these 5 Fake Leadership Costumes
October 31st is Halloween in many parts of the world. Of all the costumes you might see this Halloween, that of the Inauthentic Leader might be the most common, at least in leadership circles. And if you are wearing these costumes, you are not leading at your best. Comedian Jerry Seinfeld has a hilarious routine…
3 Times When Saying, “I Don’t Know” Is A Terrible Leadership Response
When a leader responds to a question by saying, “I don’t know”, it can reveal transparency and authenticity. But sometimes, “I don’t know” is the very worst thing you could say as a leader. Increasingly, leaders are being coached that “It’s okay to say ‘I don’t know’”. This is a largely positive trend and, in…
3 Commonplace Lies That Will Always Shipwreck Your Leadership
“The water should be deep enough here.” Many a ship’s captain has believed that lie, and many of their ships have ended up stranded on a sandbar or dashed against a reef. In the same way, there are lies that leaders are tempted to tell themselves every day. And some of these can shipwreck their…