Leadership is full of wonder. Leaders are not machines. Leadership is not about equations, ratios, or formulae. There are no ultimate solutions or final answers. Leadership is caught, not learned in school. The answers are not in the back of the book. The leaders who inspire me believe in the power of the unexpected. They […]
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Being clear is essential to leadership. Leaders make decisions, which are only as important as a leader’s ability to communicate their decisions to other people. We are constantly reminding people about things, asking questions, motivating people. Leaders translate values and vision into tangible goals and objectives. If we are not clear, people do not know
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Some people experience leadership as a real pain. I know women and men who are painfully afraid of doing the things that leaders do. They may be extremely uncomfortable speaking in public, or motivating people, or making difficult decisions. I know people who have been pushed into exhaustion, heart attacks, high blood pressure by leadership
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I pay attention to listening. It is not my natural inclination to be a very good listener. I tend to be too extroverted, too confident that I have something to contribute. I am motivated to get the right answer, to be the first one with my hand in the air. Some people tell me that
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I talk often about the leaders who inspire me. Their examples encourage me and motivate me to keep going. There are times, though, when I am not particularly inspired. I am tired, and cannot find the words to express what I mean. Things are not working. I do not know whether I can explain it
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Leaders face obstacles. There are challenging personality differences, time constraints, limited financial resources. There are blind corners, unforeseen twists and turns, rapid changes. Some obstacles block us from seeing the larger picture, some are precipices where the ground disappears under your feet. There are people in leadership positions who are very good at avoiding obstacles.
Leadership is Seeking a Way Through Read More »
Some people, and some organizations, believe that leadership is monochromatic. They act as though leadership comes in one size, one color, one version. There is a right way to lead, and there are no other acceptable options. For me, this “one size fits all” approach may be the opposite of leadership. Our world is in constant
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I began a great conversation this week with James Krucik. James asks questions that get me thinking. James and I met on Twitter, and he sent me an email that included a question: What is strategy? My short answer was that strategy translates depth and core values into focused action steps. Included in his reply was
Answers make me comfortable. I enjoy solving the mystery, working out the solution, completing the puzzle. I like to figure out the story before the storyteller finishes it. Getting an answer, especially the right answer, makes me feel like I have accomplished something. I really appreciate it when people bring their questions to me and
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Leadership is like being on the trapeze. For one thing, it can be helpful to have a safety net that can hold you. There will be times when your reach exceeds your grasp, and a safety net can make a real difference. It is important to try new approaches and explore new possibilities. A safety
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