Every leader seeks to be an effective communicator – but so few really are. We don’t lack for communication in our day and age. If anything, all of our communication is so deafening we can’t actually hear anything.
Blog
Are you playing to win or playing not to lose? – The best offense is a great offense
You’ve heard it before “Defense wins championships.” Well, technically this isn’t true. I recently read an article about a classic state basketball championship from the 1940s. The final score was 2-0. The team that won this championship didn’t have the best defense, they had the best offense.
The Power of a Good Question – The Greatest Question Ever
Years ago I learned a simple lesson while watching a teaching by Bobb Biehl, an Executive Mentor. He said if you ask no questions, you get no answers. If you ask simple questions you will get simple answers. If you ask powerful questions you will get powerful answers. Super simple—yet super profound.
The Role of Humility in Leadership – 3 ways to shape humility
Can you learn humility? This is a question that comes up frequently, and my quick answer is not easily. Humility is not necessarily a character trait to be learned or a skill set to be developed. You have it or you don’t. The longer answer is that we can grow in our existing humility, and … Read More
Drink Before You’re Thirsty – How to prepare for what’s next
Several months ago I was talking with a young speaker about how to improve his craft. He is a gifted story teller, an amazing thinker, and he draws his audience to conclusions that help reframe their way of thinking. After listening to him speak several times he asked me for some advice: “How can I … Read More
The Gift of Feedback – and why you struggle receiving it
Feedback is a gift, and it isn’t always friendly. I have talked with some leaders recently who are getting some tough feedback from their teams. They don’t necessarily like what they are hearing, but they know that they need to hear it so they can grow and improve. We all know we’re supposed to say … Read More
Live Your Life On Purpose – the power of intent and action
I see people working in jobs that are not fulfilling and for companies they don’t like. The mundane Mondays are more common than I would like to see. If all you have to live for is the weekend, something is wrong.
What good is it if you gain the whole world but lose your soul? 4 questions that will change your life
“For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” Matthew 16:26 Whether you read the Bible or not, this verse is powerful and has great personal implication. In our Strategy of More world it has become nearly impossible to, as Stephen Covey puts it … Read More
The Power of Saying No – 6 ways to say no gracefully
During one of our leadership development sessions, the newly appointed CEO addressed the group saying, “Anytime someone says that ‘you can do anything you set your mind to,’ I tell them to dribble a football for me.” I wanted to yank him from the front of the room and yell “LIAR” to protect this group … Read More
The Strategy of More is Killing You – moving from more and mediocre…to less but better (Part 2)
The “Strategy of More” is everywhere around you. We are doing more with less resources, seeking more opportunities, taking on more responsibility, and unless you are “crazy busy” you are not doing enough. So what are you to do when you find yourself crazy busy with more commitments and priorities than you should have? … Read More