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A battle plan against exhaustion

A battle plan against exhaustion

Some owners and leaders are waking up exhausted today. They spend a few extra minutes in the shower, stare into the mirror with tired eyes, and drink an extra cup of coffee. Once outside, they stare at the wall with both hands on the wheel before starting the car. They

Five things that make HR work difficult

Five things that make HR work difficult

I’ve spent time as a senior HR leader and more time as an internal client. Unlike other company functions (i.e., accounting), there is significant variation in how HR work is designed (often haphazardly) and deployed across organizations. There is an ongoing question of how HR earns a seat

What are you getting up in the morning to be?

What are you getting up in the morning to be?

What are you getting up in the morning to be? Do you wake up to make a difference or focus on three more days until Saturday? Will you take an extra moment to thank someone for their contribution or assume that their manager already did? Will you say hello in

How can leaders handle internal disputes?

How can leaders handle internal disputes?

Leaders are sometimes called upon to intervene in a dispute between direct reports or peers. This situation can be handled adeptly with some thought, practice, and courage. We can easily mishandle things in the absence of each. A Case Study A CEO wrestles with a sales shortfall in the second

How we demonstrate courageous leadership

How we demonstrate courageous leadership

I recently wrote about some fears that leaders face. As part of my practice, I work with people to define mission-critical activities and develop courageous leadership habits. This post focuses on demonstrating courageous leadership. First, let’s get past the notion that courageous leadership is fearless. Fears are a useful

How to lead during adversity

How to lead during adversity

Over time, I’ve fielded questions from leaders in companies that have experienced client data exposure from hacks or internal fraud that harmed or destroyed the company’s reputation. The leaders are concerned with how to lead during adversity and whether they are putting their reputations on the line by

How do successful people answer this question?

How do successful people answer this question?

“I needed to make something of myself.” “You about done?” Jake Perry and Melanie Smooter in the film Sweet Home Alabama We need to make something of ourselves. Continuous and never-ending improvement is a noble trait. But on the way to making ourselves into what’s next, we often lose