Blog
Bad Soil, Good People: When Workplace Culture Keeps Talent From Thriving
I never expected a dying tree in my backyard to teach me something about workplace culture. But after years of replacing trees, hiring landscapers, testing soil, and spending money trying to fix the problem, I finally realized something leaders often miss: sometimes the problem isn’t what you’re planting. It’s the environment you’re planting it in....Read More
Leadership Accountability: When Common Sense Isn’t Common
Why “they should know better” isn’t a leadership strategy There are few things more frustrating as a leader than dealing with something that feels like it should be common sense. Why didn’t you say something six weeks ago? Why wait until the last minute? Why send a text instead of having the conversation when you...Read More
The Feedback Sandwich Is Broken: What Leaders Should Do Instead
I was sitting in church this weekend when my pastor asked a question that stopped me mid-note-taking. “When you’re about to get good news and bad news,” he said, “which do you want first?” He asked the congregation to raise their hands. Overwhelmingly, people wanted the bad news first. Then he made a claim that...Read More
What a Power Chain Taught Me About Leading Organizational Change
Organizational change rarely fails because leaders choose the wrong strategy. More often, it fails because organizations mistake discomfort for failure. Every meaningful transformation creates resistance before it creates results. Ironically, I learned one of the best lessons about leading change while sitting in my orthodontist’s chair. Eight months into braces, I thought I knew what...Read More
Why Eating Dessert First Might Beat Eating the Frog
There are many gurus out there who say “eat the frog” first thing in your day, especially in sales, getting the hardest thing or the thing you dread out of the way to ensure it gets done. I’ve taught this for years. I’ve tried it myself. It works, in the sense that the hard thing...Read More
When “Communication Problems” Are Really Resistance to Change
Leaders tell me they have a communication problem more often than almost anything else. Sit with the details for a while and a different picture usually shows up. What they have is a problem with change, and communication is taking the blame. I notice this faster than I used to, and I think it’s because...Read More
How to Return from Vacation Without Burning Out
The first week back after a long holiday is one of the most fragile weeks in the professional year. Energy is low, expectations are high, and the gap between the two can create unnecessary stress and guilt. Instead of trying to snap back to full speed, this is the perfect moment to design a more...Read More
Why High-Achieving Leaders Still Feel Behind (Even When They’re Winning)
“I Feel Like I’m Sucking as a Leader” Several high-performing leaders have said those exact words to me in coaching sessions this year. In retrospect, I recall saying the exact same words in my leadership roles! Sales are up. Teams are hitting targets. Peers are asking for their input. From the outside, these leaders look...Read More
The New Choice Effect: A Strategy for Eliminating Overthinking
If you struggle with decision-making, it’s probably not because you’re afraid of making the wrong choice. You’re probably afraid of what making any choice means about you. Every day, you make approximately 35,000 decisions, from what to wear to which strategic direction will define your career. Yet despite this constant practice, decision-making remains one of...Read More