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…
Innovate, Don’t Imitate: 3 Essential Tips to Evade Copy-Cat Leadership
One of the best ways to develop in your leadership is to learn from other leaders. One of the worst ways is to merely copy these great leaders. Growing leaders will read about other great leaders, will seek to discern their leadership traits, even emulate their leadership skills. Copy-cat leaders do little more than mimic…
How To Maintain Your Integrity, Even When The Cookies Look Irresistible
To protect your integrity as a leader, don’t focus only on the big, obvious temptations. Watch out for the subtle deceptions. Think of it this way. Have you ever made a personal commitment to lose weight, or to simply eat healthier, only to come across a steaming, fresh-out-of-the-oven plate of chocolate chip cookies? You knew…
10 Ways You Can Spot Insecurity In Any Leader
“A lot of things can happen when you have an insecure leader. None of it very good.” That bit of wisdom was passed along to me by a wise mentor many years ago, and it has helped to guide my leadership ever since. The reason for the power of this statement is that a sense…
