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Bill Berthel
Intersection Observations
Have you ever approached a 4-way intersection simultaneously with three other vehicles? It happens to me sometimes at an intersection near my home. It’s the type of intersection that has four stop signs and no traffic light, and when four vehicles arrive at the same time, there is often a moment of observing the other…
Why is it so hard for leaders to practice self-care?
And it’s not just leaders. Many corporate high performers struggle to care for themselves well – myself included at times. My healthy habits – restful sleep, good nutrition, diligent hydration – are sporadic at best, and my exercise routine is not routine at all. I also find that I am often a very shallow breather…
Leading Self-directed Teams
The topic of self-directed teams surfaced in a recent conversation with a few leaders around the dynamics of decision-making and authority on teams. One leader asked, “How do you lead a self-directed team?” – a brilliant question with a complicated set of answers. I didn’t want to rely solely on my leadership experiences, despite having…
Six Conversations
It is said that every story is based on one of six plots; some writers think of them as the six archetypes of literature, while some see them as the building blocks from which to build more complex plots and stories. While I’m not a writer, I’ve noticed a parallel in my leadership coaching of…
Leadership Integrity
During a group learning meeting as part of our 6-week-long Performance Experiment / 42-Day Challenge program, a participant shared appreciation for the vast amount of content and materials we offer at Emergent. He then suggested that a subject area which we may not be covering enough is leadership integrity. His intent wasn’t to expose a…
Every Generation Works Toward Progress
Every generation works toward progress that following generations eventually view as normal – just look at the telephone. My grandparents had party lines. My parents had cordless phones. And we now use phones that fit in our back pockets. That cell phone technology began a century ago, if not more. Progress builds on the past,…
Be a Goldfish
My family is eagerly anticipating the 3rd season of “Ted Lasso,” the Apple TV+ original series about an American football coach hired by an English football (soccer) team. The owner of the team is bitter due to her recent divorce and her strategy is to ruin the one thing her ex-husband loved … the team….
Wasted Energy
My wife and I refurbished a historical 1894 Victorian home 15 years ago. It was a dream home … although it was not when we bought it. In fact, it was barely livable. Our families were divided between “you are both so brave and cool for doing this” and “you are both nuts and are…
Mindful Leadership
In many ways, it’s been a disappointing winter and painful winter so far. Between the covid variant and the Northeast’s usual seasonal viruses, I often hear people say – or find myself thinking – “life is hard.” Or “life’s not fair.” Or any number of other disempowering statements that seem to be spreading like –…
Driving Performance
To ensure that organizations are sustaining the performance needed to remain competitive and relevant, every leader must have a keen focus on that performance. By attracting and retaining the best talent and fostering a culture of engagement, leaders enjoy teams that outperform the norms. Creating the conditions for individuals and teams to achieve their greatest…