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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….
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…
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…
The Pitfalls of the Peter Principle
Recently, I found myself engaged in a conversation with a small group of friends on a perennial topic: incompetent bosses. When one of my friends wondered aloud how unqualified people end up in high-level positions, another replied, “That’s the Peter Principle for you!” The Peter Principle was first identified by Dr. Laurence J. Peter, a…
The 3 M’s – Melt, Mold, and Move
About 15 years ago, Jay Morgan, my good friend and personal trainer, told me about the 3 Ms: melt, mold, and move. He learned this concept from one of his mentors, Gary Gray of the Gray Institute. Jay is a wizard when it comes to designing workout routines, but his true genius is in the…
Vulnerable Leadership
Are you tired of feeling like you need to have all the answers as a business manager or leader? Do you struggle to connect with your team and create a culture of empathy and trust? Are personal challenges making it more difficult to lead effectively? If so, it’s time to consider embracing your woundedness and…
Too Much Brain
I recently heard a stand-up comedian claim that his brain is a jerk. He said his brain has all it needs to make him feel good—the happy hormones and electric neurons, the synapses and lobes and cortices—but it doesn’t function as advertised. It makes him think dark thoughts and worry about everything. It makes him…
Enlightenment
Enlightenment is not a destination; it is accessible at each and every moment. Put simply, enlightenment is the ability to be authentically ourselves. Liberation allows us to shine our light in all circumstances. When we’re at our best, we do this without thinking. But in order to access this joyous surrender, we must discard the…
Self-Awareness
I recently encountered a significant and potentially expensive technology problem that required a phone call with tech support. The specialist at the other end of the line was incredibly helpful and remarkably kind. At the close of our call, she asked me if I would be willing to stay on the line to complete a…
Even Leaders Have Off Days
To be clear, I’m not talking about a hard day, I’m talking about an off day. The kind of day when you feel guilty about feeling bad because nothing particularly bad has happened. It seemed that everything I did and everything I said was missing the mark. I wasn’t falling on my face, but I…