Articles/Blog

Begin With the End in Mind

“Begin with the end in mind.” It’s a phrase that has been stated and restated for decades. I first came across this concept while reading The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. I was highly intrigued by the way the author framed this particular practice. The best way to describe his approach…

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It’s Natural Leadership

We spend so much time on the Internet. We are constantly connected to a complex artificial environment, surfing the web, streaming media content, and accessing the cloud. It’s no secret that this technological addiction is affecting our productivity, leadership and well-being. What about the real waves and streams, the real webs spun in the wilderness…

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Trust

Trust is one of the most important indicators of organizational success. It is also one of the least-developed faculties in the business world. Distrust abounds in many organizations. An executive lacks faith in their manager’s ability to take on a bigger responsibility; workers on the shop floor don’t believe in the strategy the higher-ups are…

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How (and Why) to Delegate Effectively

Delegation is an essential skill, both in leadership and everyday life.  We all need to reach out periodically and ask for help. But it’s not always easy to do, for both social and psychological reasons. Let’s discuss the benefits of effective delegation, and try to remove some of the mental roadblocks that prevent us from…

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Polarity Management

Polarity management theory is a model for managing two forces that are opposite, yet interdependent.  When faced with two antipodal options, we often focus on the opposition, and may fail entirely to notice that the forces depend on each other. Think, for example, of breathing. Breathing is a complex biological process, but it can be…

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Stop Sending Surveys

I was recently informed of a safety recall on my car. Four weeks have passed without a fix or further instructions. But after each fruitless visit to the dealership, I’ve received an auto-generated email asking me to fill out a feedback survey to let them know how they’re doing. Now, I’m always eager to provide…

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Reset Yourself

During a meeting with local health leaders, I noticed an interesting phenomenon: compassion fatigue. Burnout is common in healthcare, and the pandemic added untold stress to health workers around the world. But in addition to facing long hours and near-daily traumas, doctors and nurses are also expected to show empathy and compassion to millions of…

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The Most Important Question

“What is the most important question a leader can ask?” I get this question often from my clients, and I always tell them that they basically just asked it! Put more generally, the best question a leader can ask is also the simplest: “What do you think?” This question is basically an invitation to contribute….

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Work-Life Integration

I have been studying energy and time management for more years than I care to admit. For most of that period I was focused on finding work/life balance. It’s a logical goal to strive for: just enough work, and just enough life. If you get the proportions right, it’s smooth sailing. But a few years…

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Balancing Confidence and Humility

In the realm of professional leadership, there exists an essential but delicate art: the balancing of confidence and humility. These crucial qualities are present in everyone, but each leader exhibits them in different proportions. Picture a leader who exudes unwavering self-assurance while maintaining an open mind, receptive to the insights of others. This leader has…

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