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…
Halloween Alert: 5 Costumes That Mislead in Leadership
October 31st is Halloween in many parts of the world. Of all the costumes you might see this Halloween, those of the Inauthentic Leader might be the most common, at least in leadership circles. And if you are wearing these fake costumes, you are not leading at your best. Think of it this way. Comedian…
Is Your Change Strategy Doomed by a Common Leadership Flaw?
To introduce significant change, leaders must know when and how to cash in their “change chips”. Leaders possess a certain number of ‘change chips’, made up of credibility, respect, authority, good will and other essential leadership ingredients. You pick up change chips every time you keep your word, share credit with the team, achieve a key…
3 Leadership Challenges Where “I Don’t Know” Fails You
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…
The Journey of Authentic Leadership: Turning Ideas into Meaningful Change
This article is part of my Global Leadership series; Insights from more than a decade of leadership training around the world… What does it mean to be an authentic servant leader? It means putting the needs of everyone else ahead of your own interests. And while such selflessness can be easy to say, it can…
