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…
Five Ways “I’m So Busy” Undermines Your Leadership Credibility
In a world that has attached a strange nobility to the notion of being busy, effective leaders stand out by avoiding the “I’m so busy” trap. One of the most effective leaders I’ve ever known was highly productive, and yet operated at a pace that was somehow both urgent and yet unhurried. This leader had…
10 Unexpected Leadership Qualities I Need 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…
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…
The Truth About Leadership: 3 Lies That Always Lead to Shipwreck
There are lies that leaders are tempted to tell themselves every day. And the more you tell yourself these lies, the greater the chance you’ll shipwreck your leadership. It’s like the ship’s captain who repeatedly tells themselves, “The water should be deep enough here.” Eventually their ships end up stranded on a sandbar or dashed against…