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…
5 Ways “I’m So Busy” Is Killing 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…
The Books That Defined My Year — 2025 Edition
Leaders are readers. And that’s one reason why, when two leaders connect, one of the first questions they will ask is, “So, what are you reading these days?” I love to learn what other leaders are reading, and very often what they share with me ends up on my own reading list. And so, to…
How To Prepare Your Soul For More Effective Leadership In 2026
There will be hundreds of posts readily available this week to help you set new leadership targets for 2026. Today, I want to ask you a very different leadership question: “Is my soul in a better place today than it was a year ago?” For 12 months you’ve been doing the hard work of leadership.…
Practicing ‘Fire Drill Leadership’? Here’s Why Your Impact is Taking a Hit
If everything is an emergency, nothing is an emergency. The truth of this leadership axiom is lost on many leaders who seem to lurch their leadership, and their team, from one panic-riddled crisis to another. I was once on a team led by such a leader. “All hands on deck!”, “Emergency meeting!” and “Everyone into the conference room,…
