Leaders love starting lines, and they love finish lines. But effective leaders know that the battle is often won in the less glamorous “in-between” lines. Starting lines provide energy and excitement. They represent the launch of a new project or initiative. They represent take off, lift off and the possibilities of a new leadership adventure. And,…
How to Avoid the 4 Temptations of Being a Kind Leader
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…
How 5 Simple “To Do” Items Can Transform Your Leadership
Self-leadership requires self-evaluation. Leaders must be able to end their day, look back, and know with certainty whether or not this was a good leadership day. That means having a “to do” list that reflects priorities worth pursuing. It means knowing exactly what comprises an effective leadership day; it means understanding the elements that work…
How to Leverage the Power of Declarations to Boost Your Leadership
What you declare will go a long way to determining who you will become. Many leaders have values, most have opinions, and some even have convictions. But declarations are different. A leadership declaration is a personal statement of resolve that definitively underscores a leader’s core “DNA”. As an example, when I was in my early…
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…
