Leading Yourself – Part 2: The Signs and Symptoms of Living at C for too long
In my last post I shared how my misplaced beliefs drove me to live at point C for so long that it pushed me over the edge to a Red-X moment (where life falls apart). If only I had enough courage, wisdom, and experience to pay attention to all the warning signs that...
Leading Yourself – Part 1: What’s Underneath?
If you recall the topic of Leading Yourself (Chapter 11), we touch on some key points around needing margin in your life, having a governor or dashboard to help you stay at a healthy level of activity, the Red X, how to say no (or at least not say yes immediately),...
Celebration: It’s Not Just for Holidays Anymore
(This post was first published here on January 4, 2016.) When was the last time your team did something that made a difference? That they went the extra mile? That they hit their goals, or accomplished more than was asked of them? When was the last time you celebrated...
Leaning Into Healthy Conflict
When you think back on your year in LEAD 365, do you remember the number one thing I hoped all participants would learn? If LEAD 365 alums could only be better at one thing when compared to non-alums, do you remember what I hoped that one thing would be? My hope is...
The Problem with Perception
I've never known anyone who was what he or she seemed; or at least, was only what he or she seemed. People carry worlds within them. I love the quote above by Neil Gaiman. I probably use it too much, but it's become a mantra of sorts for me. It helps me approach each...
Mind Your Own Business
Business is the activity of making one's living or making money. Acumen is the ability to make good decisions. Great organizational leaders are able to make great decisions about making money, they practice business acumen. When we use the expression “Mind your...
Diversity in West Michigan Part 3
This is the third of a three-part posting I’m doing on diversity in West Michigan. First let me say that I am no expert on diversity. However I am very interested in it and feel it is an important issue to explore if our community is to be among the best in the...
Diversity in West Michigan Part 2
Last month I started sharing my long-time thoughts on diversity. Today and next week I want to continue sharing my thoughts about what I believe is an important topic if West Michigan is to become the Silicon Valley of leadership. As I mentioned in my first posting on...
Just Say the Word
In July of 2013 I learned that the organization I worked for was restructuring and that my position was one of several that would be eliminated at the end of the year. I was blindsided by this and completely devastated. I loved my work and believed I’d been doing it...
Living Systems and High-Impact Listening
A living system is any group of people who spend time together and therefore become “emotionally wired together.” A Living System is the people and the stuff that connects the people in a defined group.