Mind the Gap

I’ll acknowledge that I can be a bit of an ornery curmudgeon, but there’s one piece of flawed leadership advice that has been floated so often in recent years, by so many, that most people are starting to accept it as conventional wisdom. I hear it all the time: “Focus on the positive.”

Healthy Teams are an Antidote to Self-Sabotage

A couple of weeks ago I was in a client meeting that didn’t go the way I had hoped. One of the participants was visibly distracted, upset even.

20/20 Vision?

So much for the whole “20/20 vision” jokes we heard back in January. Yep, that’s right, it was just 3 short months ago! Most company’s 2020 vision statements seem a little uncertain right now. Unfortunately, a lot are wondering if they will even survive the current situation. Yes, it’s wise to quickly pivot and realize visions need to change if you’re going to survive this disruption. But what about your company’s mission?

A Letter on Making Sense

How do we make sense of these turbulent times we find ourselves in? We read. We talk. We take action. We withdrawal. We grasp for some bit of information or some kind of traction that will give us a sense of control. The news offers little beyond death counts and closures. Most conversations just end up comparing notes on our shared uncertainty.

Closing a Chapter

I’ve been in a reflective head space lately. A significant chapter of work is coming to a close at the end of 2019 and it’s made me think about the big leadership lessons that have formed me into the person I am today.

Six lessons stand out from the past few decades…