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Are you Dismissive of Your Talents?
As you read this, my plan is to be in Tokyo visiting with my daughter. She lives and works in Tokyo as an IT consultant. Not only is she fluent in English and Japanese (we raised her bilingually), but she knows a bunch of those computer programming languages. She is...
Leaders and Trust
One of the memorable parts of the VP debates this past week was Tim Walz waffling around some aspect of his history. The episode is an example of how trust can erode when leaders are not genuine. Leaders need trust to lead. Leaders need to be genuine to earn trust....
Addressing This is How we Have Always Done It
If you are like most growth-minded leaders, you want to change and grow. You are excited to try new things and adopt new technologies, tactics, and behaviors. ...and you might be disappointed when the rest of the team does not share your enthusiasm... Here’s a couple...
Choices
People often ask me if people (leaders) can really change. The answer is yes. People can change. People can make positive changes that will help them be better at work and at home. But change requires a firm decision. We recently decided to change our anniversary date...
Pay the Price for Commitment
I continue to read through a list of books by billionaires and am now on Barefoot to Billionaire by Jon Huntsman Sr. One early nugget in that read is: “You can buy brains, but you can’t buy loyalty.” There’s a lot of truth in that statement. It’s why you cannot trust...
Bonds and Boomerangs
You need strong bonds to be successful. You need strong bonds with friends and family. You need strong bonds with your customers and suppliers. And you need strong bonds with each member of your team. A CEO shared with me that 40% of the people who leave his...
Do you want your leaders to be exceptional?
With over 10 years’ experience working with 1000s of leaders and teams, I know what works and what doesn’t work to improve leadership. I know how to build teams without wasting time and guesswork. There are proven ways to structure programs, training, and coaching...
Communication is TWO Skills in ONE
Learning to sign ASL with a family member who is deaf has reminded me of a key element of communication.... Communication is not just about your ability to SEND a message, it is about your ability to RECEIVE a message. I can finger spell in ASL and know several signs,...
Get the Best from others with Engagement Fundamentals
There was an article in the WSJ that described how some big firms working to shuffle people around to keep engagement high when they cannot offer promotions. That may or may not be an option for you and your organization. It’s not really the best strategy anyway. If...
Do You Want to Be a Respected Leader?
I cannot see or hear you, but I am going to bet your answer is a YES. Most leaders would want respect. Not everyone hits the mark. Some miss because they want to be liked. Some miss because they mistake respect for fear. The truth is getting respect is pretty...
Do You Have Cultural Arsonists on the Team?
A CEO used the term “cultural arsonists” when describing dysfunctional behavior in a company. It got my attention. I hope it gets yours. For me, a cultural arsonist is someone who is working in a way that is destructive to the aspirational aspects of the culture....
Keep Your Focus to Win
My neighbor yelling over the fence: “Hey, Gary! Whatcha doing? Meditating??” What? In fact, I was reading my iPad on the back porch. But I thought his question was both funny and ironic. What if I HAD been meditating? The comment would have broken my focus. You need...
The High Price of Discounting Yourself
In a recent interview*, the guest asked the audience this question: How much has invalidating yourself cost you? It’s worth thinking about. Invalidating yourself means thinking less of yourself without any evidence. It means downplaying your potential. It might...
Lack of Fit is a Sign of Lack of Ethics
I was on a call recently with a young man looking for some career advice.He asked if it was right that that he was looking for another job so soon after getting this one.Me: 100%. In fact, it is the ethical thing to do.The problem is that neither he nor his current...
Team and Tech for the Win
We had a GREAT two weeks in the south of France. (For me, that phrase does NOT get old!) But on the return home, we had many delays, technical snafus, and logistical hurdles to overcome. It all worked out, but success required two ingredients: team and technology. My...
Share Your Belief to Win
Walter Peyton said everything changed when Coach Mike Ditka came to Chicago and firmly stated that this Bears team was going to the Superbowl. Walter believed him and that belief pushed him and the team to think bigger and work harder. It took five years and lots of...
Dispelling Disunity
“Disunity is the enemy.” These words came from a Fire Chief in describing the challenges of leading a team in a very polarized environment. I was surprised to hear that disunity was an issue in a firehouse, but maybe it is not so surprising given all the examples of...
Team Success Requires Curiosity
Great leaders and teams demonstrate curiosity. Curiosity is essential if you and your team want to make sure you quickly get the results that you desire. Sam Walton was very curious about the customer experience and was constantly shopping Wal-Mart’s stores and those...
Do You Have Respected Leaders at Every Level?
One of five key obstacles to getting the team an organization needs to deliver exceptional results is leaders that are not respected. Lack of respected leaders means people are at risk of leaving or (worse) staying and not giving their best. Respected leaders are an...
Who is Coaching you?
Who is coaching you? No, I am not asking for a recommendation. I am asking for a reflection.What inner voice do you listen to most of the time?Working with clients and reflecting on my own self talk I have noticed three primary types of inner voices.The first voice is...
Why Teams Leave or are Not Engaged
I was visiting with a sales leader who helps companies spend less on employee healthcare through predictive analytics. He said “Any company that is in the people business is in the healthcare business.” He has a point. And any business with people is in the people...
Work Until you See the Result
According to McKinsey only 12% of companies who start a transformation project will see it though long enough to see results that last more than three years. Yet those companies that did see their projects through to completion enjoyed (on average) 2X more profits...
Your Formula to Win
Have you heard of Red Bull? Of course you have. But why? The first reason is that the founder saw an opportunity (energy drink in Asia) that did not exist at all in Europe or the US and brought it to market. People loved the product, but that is not why it went on to...
Improving Accountability
Want to improve accountability? Most leaders do. The problem is accountability is a fuzzy word.The first step is to get clear on what outcomes you want people to be accountable for. A simple way to get this clarity is to ask “What can the team count you for?” The...
Constant Improvement
Next level success requires constant improvement. As one of my mentors says, “You can only coast downhill.” Everyday is a chance to improve. This prospect of constant improvement should not exhaust you, it should invigorate you.Improvement is life. Stagnation is the...
Success has a Need for Speed
One of the key success disciplines of any team is the ability to get the right things done in a timeframe that matters.This discipline is called Speed of Implementation.Speed is POWERFUL.In fact, with the world we live in today, SPEED is the new BIG.Remember: Bullets...
You Decide Who You Are
The following quote is from a sociologist named Charles Cooley. Read it carefully. “I am who I think you think I am.” Read it again if you didn’t totally get it. What he’s saying is that people come to understand who they are by imagining what others think of them. It...
You Have the Team You Have Earned
Leaders will say their biggest priority is finding and retaining great talent. They also complain about big companies coming in and taking all the good talent, the effect of government disincentives to work, a pervading culture of entitlement, and on and on. These can...
Will You Make It A Dragon or Draggin’ Year
According to the Chinese zodiac, this is the Year of the Dragon, which, according to my research represents authority, glory, ability, and SUCCESS.How does an entire year of massive success sound to you?I hope the idea gets you fired up. If it does, then get set to...
Name and Apply Your Genius
Bradley Cooper continues to impress me. Several years ago I wrote about how he was going beyond what people (at least me that is) would have expected of him. At that time I was impressed by the work he did on A Star is Born, a film he directed, produced, and in which...
Thinking Bigger and Moving Faster
Yes your team CAN be even more successful in 2024. And this is the key: Thinking Bigger and Moving Faster. Sounds simple, right? It is. And simply powerful. The truth is that most leaders and teams UNDERESTIMATE that they can achieve. They also OVERCOMPLICATE...
Build Opportunity Zones
In real estate, Opportunity Zones are areas prioritized for development by the government and provide special tax advantages for investors. The idea is to create more opportunity for those who live in those communities. A leader should think about their team and...
Charlie Munger and Being You
Charlie Munger, Warren Buffet’s partner at Berkshire Hathaway, passed away this week at the age of 99. People loved him because of his deep insights and cutting wit. He was what he was and nobody could ever excuse him of not being genuine. Just like there are a...
Give It Your All
Every leader and every business goes through challenge. Some have even said that business is like war without the bullets.While there are a ton of people rooting for you, there’s lots of people working against you (your competition) and lots that have their own...
Be Grateful for Your Gifts
Never reject one of your gifts. We all have many gifts and a leader should lean into as many of them as they can. Leaders should also encourage each of their team members to do the same. Just because something comes easy or natural to you doesn't mean it’s not...
Success Decisions
Improving is not always about learning. You can also improve by DECIDING. A leader can improve by learning or honing skills like: how to give feedback, run an effective meeting, link culture to performance, read the financials, interview for fit, or lead through...
Red Flags
You know I like to collect colorful words, phrases, and metaphors to make a point. This one comes from Vic Valliere at CCS Presentation Systems: “Everyone has red flags in their pockets.” What this means is that every member of the team is here to help each other… and...
Tough Team Conversations
The conversations that we often dread the most give us the most relief after they are done. But the message MUST get across. When leaders hear the phrase “tough conversations,” sometimes they will limit their thinking to performance issues of individuals on their...
What is Feedback?
What is feedback? I know you know what feedback is. But what does it mean? When you give it does it represent failure? Bad news? Disappointment? Lack of ability? Judgement? Too often people will hesitate or delay giving feedback. They have weird feelings about it....
Leadership Energy
A world of prosperity and abundance requires energy -- lots of it and all kinds. We need it ALL: coal, nuclear, solar, oil & gas, geothermal, wind, hydropower… PLUS leadership energy. Great leaders get people organized, inspired, focused, and executing at a high...
You are the Answer
I believe you are the answer. Now here are some of the questions: Who is going to keep us focused on the right things? Who is going to have a positive impact on this culture? Who is going to help us raise the bar in new and innovative ways? Who is going to make the...
Expand Opportunities to Succeed
Why did I decide to become a coach to leaders and teams? I get that question from time to time – usually at networking and social events. The answer is both selfish and altruistic. I wanted to have a bigger impact. I don’t think I am alone in having that desire. In my...
Create your Conditions for Success
A CEO used the term “golden telephone” to describe the phenomenon of salespeople waiting for the phone to ring instead of making calls to get appointments to close sales. In an interview, the comedian Kevin Hart expressed his frustration with managers who just told...
Execute More. Complain Less.
During the middle of an August heatwave in Phoenix, I started telling my wife and anyone else who would listen that I thought we were “turning a corner.”And it was true. (Even if we LOVED the heat, there was no way it was going to last.)I said this because it was...
Let People Wear the Hat They Want
Sometimes people are expected to wear a lot of hats. That’s totally fine as long as the important hats are, in fact, being worn. The reality is that people will wear the hats that they enjoy and will ignore or neglect the others. Two examples: A team of sales people...
Prime Time Team Makeover
Deion Sanders (aka “Prime Time”) is making news as the coach of the University of Colorado football team. As I understand it, their first win of the season equaled the total wins of last season. (Yes, the Buffs only won one game last year.) Now the team has a new...
Don’t Make your Plans Based on Sensitive People
After a biopsy, the PA at my dermatologist instructed me to keep a band-aid on with Vaseline, but “no Neosporin.” (She was very emphatic about it.) Me: “Why? I have been using it for years. I thought it was a great medicine.” PA: “Some people are sensitive to it.” Me...
Millionaire Casual
“Millionaire casual” – a CEO shared this word with me as the dress code for a resort she had gone to. I like that phrase, but I am not really sure what it means. It reminded me of the “Values” you hear getting thrown around in companies. Excellence. Extreme Ownership....
Get in Over Your Head – with Experts
For my upcoming podcast, a CEO shared his journey to build the oldest and largest handwritten automated note company in the US. His company makes its own robots from 3D printed parts. It uses AI to automate the production and quality control of the cards. It works...
Commit to Make Great Things Happen
People will say they want to be a great leader, build a great company, or have a great career. But why? The obvious answers will include money and satisfaction. And these are great answers. But I feel that is just the beginning. I think the more successful we are, the...
Jesus Bolts: Maintain the Critical Pieces of your Business
A past client recently shared with me the term “Jesus bolts.” He told me that this colorful word describes the bolts that hold a helicopter wing to a rotor motor assembly. Obviously, these are critical connections. Lose this bolt and the whole thing comes down.How...
Choose Big or Be Small
People of substance become so by choosing to be bigger. We all have a choice to live big or live small.Think of it like a grape. A grape and the seeds it contains can either grow (by putting out roots and vines, and producing more fruit) or it can become a raisin —...
CEOs: Add Successes to the Team’s (and Your) Story
As Dr. Jim Loehr writes so eloquently, we are constantly telling a story about ourselves, to ourselves. Great CEOs make sure these are good stories. Each challenge met by you and your team is an opportunity to add to that story. Stories of success are valuable....
Remember: Your Team Believes What it Sees
It was a somewhat funny glitch: my American Airlines app showed a big green “On Time” banner for a flight that was, in fact, delayed an hour. I can read a clock, plus I believed what I was seeing at the gate (gate door closed, flight crew gathered outside, no plane at...
CEOs: Show Up and Stand Out
The kickboxing gym at which I used to train was basically two gyms in one. They had a series of classes for regular people plus they had other classes that were by invitation only. (The by invitation only classes had more than their fair share of “killers.” Several...
The Discipline to Focus
One of my favorite quotes is “Discipline equals freedom” (from Jocko Willink). As a leader you must be disciplined to focus on the few things that will help the team win. Instead of focusing on what is wrong and not working, focus on what must be in place. The former...
Purpose: A Nugget from a Classic
Victor Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning" is one of those classics that I have just gotten around to reading. What a gem. While the book in part relates Dr. Frankl's experience in a Nazi concentration camp, the book primarily deals with how we answer the question...
Semantic Bleaching
Unfortunately, I can’t remember where I heard this phrase so I can’t give proper credit. But it’s a cool phrase, right? It basically means taking the meaning out of your words. When I first heard it, I immediately thought about mission, vision, and values. These get...
The Will to Win
Do you play to win? This might seem like a snarky question. It’s not. Of course, you want to win. But some teams just don’t act like they want the results as much as they seem to enjoy getting caught up in the details. Teams can get busy. Crazy busy. But busy doesn’t...
Loser
Ever feel like a loser?You’re not alone. Even very successful people struggle with feeling like they are going to be “found out” to have little or no talent after all.One CEO asked me if they were good enough to participate in a group with other CEOs. (Those other...
CEO Backbone and Backing up the Team
The best #CEOs back up their team. Sometimes that means taking the heat for an error, oversight, or generally underdelivering on expectations with customers. As a young and eager salesperson I once made the mistake of including the name of a strategic partner in...
No Perfect Days, Just Excellent Responses
#CEOs have you ever had one of those days that ended up DRAMATICALLY different from what you expected it would be? You are not alone. The life of a leader can be disconcerting. Key people may leave. Key customers can call up with a major complaint. Major holes can...
Find Your Few
Currently, only a small number of the US population have the habit of regular exercise and staying physically active. But that small number can have a big impact. Their example can encourage others to be more active. Their kids might see their efforts and decide they...
Stay Flexible on HOW
I had just started my gym workout when a guy comes up to me and asked “how many more sets do you have?” My answer of “three of four more” made him pretty grumpy. While he stomped off, I looked around the gym. It’s a BIG gym and was lightly attended given the early...
Listen Up: Feedback Worth Listening To
All feedback is not created equal. Some, as my mentor Alan Weiss, likes to say “is for the giver, not the receiver.” One example was at the gym where a guy tapped me on the shoulder in between a set of squats with some helpful advice on my form. I understood his...
Character Development
Ted Lasso, the popular Apple TV series has ended after three seasons.I think one of the reasons for its popularity is that its characters developed over time. It wasn't just what happened to the characters (the plot), but it was how each of the characters...
So Much Tech. So Little Impact.
Imagine being in a room full of CEOs and business leaders gathered to hear from a presenter. The presenter, wanting to get a feel for opinions in the room asks you to use your phone to read a QR code and go to a site and answer questions related to the topic and see...
The Competition Is Real
In the dark, early mornings, it is tempting to think that all is quiet and peaceful. You might think that at that hour, the world is filled with people still in bed or slowly getting ready to start the day. It’s not. Even at that hour, there are plenty of people...
Opportunity from Adversity
Home Depot success story started when the founders were both fired from their jobs leading a home center store.They could have been bitter and spent years fighting for their lost compensation packages. Instead, they focused their efforts on creating an even better...
Start Now
How quickly do you and your team get after new opportunities? Ever experience analysis paralysis? Procrastination? Here’s my take: Do you have a dream? Start now. Do you have an idea to improve the results you are getting? Start now. Do you have thoughts that, if put...
Enthusiasm
Do you think the level of enthusiasm of you and your teams have on impact on business results? If so, how do you maintain or improve it? Here’s my take: Every day is a fresh new day. And every day can benefit from a good dose of enthusiasm. Enthusiasm will open you up...
Maintain Valuable Connections
My Facebook account recently got compromised and I was notified that my account was immediately and permanently disconnected. So far, it appears that there is no appeal to this decision.Even though I do not use Facebook often, this feels like a big loss. I value...
Massive Culture Action
What steps can you and your senior leadership team take that would take your company culture to another level? I had the pleasure to facilitate a meeting of CEOs that included a presentation from the Chief Culture Officer of a regional private bank of 2,000 employees....
Renew for Excellence
What beneficial habits and mindsets could you and your team bring back (renew again) that would have a positive impact on your results this year? Easter and Springtime are enduring and powerful reminders of the possibilities of RENEWAL. The dictionary defines renewal...
Don’t Aim to Break Even
I was communicating with a volunteer for a non-profit and he shared that his goal for an upcoming fund-raising event was to break even. Oof. If I had hair, I would have started pulling it out. Small thinking drives me nuts. But small thinking is...
Don’t Overcomplicate Motivation
How do you support motivation in your teams? Here’s my suggestion… address: ENJOYMENT, MONEY, and MEANING. Enjoyment: People who enjoy their job 75% or more of the time are 3X more likely to succeed at it. Make sure people are a FIT by looking at the factors that will...
Mix It Up
I love my discipline of listening to podcasts while I work out. The combination gets me fired up, inspired and educated. It’s a GREAT way to start the day. But recently, instead of a podcast, I went back to the music on my phone. It was like having some really good...
Leaders: You and Belgian Farmers vs. Bad Ideas
Recent demonstrations by Belgian farmers against their government’s actions to take away farmland to reduce impact on climate change, reminded me of the importance of being on guard against bad ideas. Certainly, the Belgian farmers feel it might be a bad idea for...
Assessments and Excuses
A contact of a contact reached out on LinkedIn. (I welcome people connecting with me on LinkedIn…you should too!)BUT this person also wanted to break the ice by sharing all his scores from different leadership assessments (Kolbe, Enneagram, Strength Finders, etc.)....
Be in the Dream Business
I read recently about Matija Pecotic, as rising star in tennis. His career is notable because until very recently he was working full-time at a real estate investment firm and competing in tennis on the side. After notching some big wins, he is ready to devote more...
Challenge is its Own Reward
Try this: challenge yourself to do 100 of anything that pushes you. Your challenge could be: 100 burpees 100 sales calls 100 acknowledgments of your team in 21 days …anything that pushes you a bit I write 100s of blog posts every year and have done so for years. My...
Make the Most of Your Opportunity to Lead
This past week, Lori Lightfoot lost her bid for re-election as Mayor of Chicago. This is a remarkable reversal for someone who won in a landslide four years ago. Last time around, she took all 50 wards. The people of Chicago gave her the opportunity to lead and she...
Use What You Have
Resources (money, time, etc.) may be in short supply, but leaders and teams have an unending supply of creativity. Take a look at this little souvenir we got in Cozumel. It’s made from one coconut, which are everywhere across the Caribbean. Hummingbird I have seen...
Success Systems
Do you want to really thrive and the absolutely best leader you can be? Stack the odds in your favor with layers of supportive success systems. The human body has multiple layers of systems in place to keep the body in peak condition. White blood cells protect against...
Make Competition Fuel for Your Success
Years ago I was running with my wife in a 10km race. This is notable because she hated (and continues to hate) running. But she wanted to push herself and try something new. To keep her focused and motivated, I asked her to find someone on the course she thought she...
Be Visible to Drive Engagement and Marketing
After a move to a new neighborhood, we tried out a new dentist. But this new dentist only spoke to me from behind. (One of my big pet peeves for dentists.) She did not take the time to come around and talk to me face to face. I had no clue who she was as a person. The...
Setbacks Set the Stage for Growth
Two years ago, after the Chiefs and Mahomes lost to the Buccaneers and Tom Brady in that season’s Superbowl, I posted my interest in how Mahomes would respond to that loss. Today I am curious about how Jalen Hurts will respond to the Eagles loss to the Chiefs...
Improve Your Key Teams
The Wall Street Journal reported that new union tactics allowed by the NLRB might result in a union at a Nissan plant In Tennessee with only 2% of the workforce voting. Unions do this by focusing very narrowly on specific departments and specialties versus campaigns...
Focus on Your Game
Dutch Blitz is a popular card game that involves matching cards in your hand to what is available on the table. The player who matches the most cards, wins. It moves fast and requires a player to KEEP THEIR HEAD in the middle of a lot of CHAOS. (Caution: While fun, it...
Create Space to Innovate with your Team
Leaders need to create the space for their teams to make meaningful improvements in the business. Two factors need to be addressed to create that space: Showing high openness to ideas Providing effective structure As the chart below indicates, showing openness without...
Cancel the Noise
I love my noise-cancelling headphones. They are great at screening out miscellaneous noises and distracting conversations. They make air travel much more enjoyable because they help me to focus, relax, and be more productive. Helping teams tune out the noise is an...
Plant Seeds of Positivity
My daughter likes to make little origami cranes for people and leave them where they can find them later. It is her way of sharing her positivity and kindness. Her grandmother saves all of them and over the years they nearly fill a drawer. People like to receive these...
Resolve to Keep your Life and Work Tidy this New Year
Japan has the tradition of a deep “spring cleaning” that occurs at the beginning of the New Year. During that time, they clean everything in the house. Every nook and cranny of a typical house is scrubbed, dusted, and refreshed. (Marie Kondo is famous in the US, but...
Invest in In-Person Time
While I have come to love the efficiency of email and remote meetings (Zoom and Teams), there really are some big benefits to being in-person and to which leaders should pay attention. These include: Quick and efficient relationship building. You can give and get a...
3 Success Habit Examples
From the many CEOs I am honored to interact with, I get to see many examples of success habits.Here are three such habits I was reminded of this week:Move fast. One CEO I met, shared that they started their winery in the middle of the pandemic, built up production,...
TYOM: Southwest Airlines
As you may have heard, Southwest Airlines received a lot of criticism for an operational meltdown of epic proportions over the holidays. While it is easy to simply be critical of the failures of others, what lessons might leaders learn from Southwest’s experience? A...
Beyond Comfort Zones: Circle of Competence
Leaders will often hear that they should get out of their comfort zone. Good advice.But if you really want to get better results this year, let's take it a step further.Don’t stay comfortable within your current Circle of Competence.In the world of investing, Charlie...
Top Leaders have the Courage to Change
Our pastor recently recommended people read the Serenity Prayer again. While I am NOT trying to make any theological points here, I thought there is some wisdom that can apply to leaders and business too. If you are not familiar with it, the Serenity Prayer asks for...
Avoid These Common Mistakes
A big part of success is avoiding simple mistakes. For leaders these include, but are not limited, to: Do not hire or partner with those who are not competent nor aligned with you. Do not do anything unethical. Do not waste time (or allow others on the team to waste...
Train your Team to Evaluate Downsides AND Upsides
The big news this week was about a breakthrough in harnessing energy from fusion. While I understand it is early research, I would still like to understand the potential downsides. Every upside has some cost. Every plan involves some difficulty to execute. Fission...