Executive Leadership
Executive Succession Planning: If you want to build a skyscraper, don’t start by buying a hammer.
“We need a way to identify people who could be promoted to top executive positions. What tools do you use to assess leadership?” the head of HR for a small regional bank asked me. “Are you planning to rely on a “tool” to make that determination?” I asked. “We haven’t thought much about the process itself,” she…
Read MoreMeditation is Mental Fitness Training
Meditation: A powerful mind-enhancing drug that has no side effects and is completely free “Meditate?” The hard-driving, successful COO looked at me askance and replied to my suggestion, “That’s not for me. I’ve tried it; I hated it; I can’t do it.” As a businessperson, if you find something that will improve your organization’s performance,…
Read MoreIt’s Not Lonely at the Top: It’s Overcrowded
Here are some ways to reclaim the space you need My client, Bob, was very pleased with his new position at a large health care organization. It was a “skip” promotion in recognition of his leadership capabilities and his reputation as a nationally recognized expert in his field. Despite the challenges of taking on a…
Read MoreEmpathy Is A Skill, Not A Feeling – The Empathy Equation
It is widely acknowledged that the ability to empathize is the basis for all productive relationships. It goes without saying in personal relationships empathy is the glue that keeps us together. In business empathy is essential for collaboration, inspiration, and innovation. And today we need empathy more than ever as we attempt to bridge the…
Read MoreCourageous Leaders: Are You Champions or Reckless?
Courage is often lauded as one of the most important characteristics a leader can possess. Many say that leadership is impossible without courage. But what happens when that courageousness is not informed by curiosity? You have recklessness. Although the following statement is heretical in most of my circles, I think the mob that attacked the…
Read More20/20 Hindsight: If you had known this was coming, what would you have done differently in your business to prepare?
This is the fourth in a series of questions I am asking to help us pause for a moment to notice what we are learning about ourselves and our organizations. There is no doubt that the next disruptive change will be different than this one. That is what will make it disruptive. Nonetheless, it is…
Read MoreWhat has been your superpower in adjusting to the disruption that the pandemic has visited upon us?
This is the third in a series of questions I am asking to help us pause for a moment to notice what we are learning about ourselves and our organizations. A crisis of this magnitude challenges us – some of us to our very core as we face the loss of loved ones, acquaintances –…
Read MoreWhat has surprised you?
This is the second in a series of questions I am asking to help us pause for a moment to notice what we are learning about ourselves and our organizations. If you are interested, here is a link back to the first question. We are facing unprecedented challenges today as we navigate through this pandemic. Challenges…
Read MoreWhat are you learning?
Even as we endeavor to survive this pandemic – to see that people have the basic necessities of life, to keep as many healthy as we can and save those who fall ill, it is important to record what we are learning about ourselves, our organizations, and our society. But it is difficult to take…
Read MoreDifficult Relationships at Work – Don’t Get Caught in the Personality Trap
“He is so difficult – impossible to work with.” “She is so perfectionistic – there is no pleasing her.” “I have two SVPs who simply can’t get along.” “He has such a bad attitude – negative about everything.” “Those folks in IT/Procurement/Contracting [name the department] are just difficult/lazy [name the character defect].” “She undermines every…
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