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It started with a book bag we found at Barnes & Noble that read, “Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.” – Joseph Addison. We followed it with a bookmark we distributed to our LeadFORWARD clients that read, “Leaders are Readers.” We were obviously on a clear path of emphasizing the…

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…

Coming off the big upset at the Kentucky Derby last month, gets me thinking about races and coming from behind. Who does not love to see the underdog win? Maybe you would not be happy if you bet based on the odds that you have researched the horses or which horse has won the most…

“The goal of leadership seems simple: to get people to do what they need to do to support the mission and the team” – Jock Willink in Leadership Strategy and Tactics The ability to DETACH is described as the power of being able to distance yourself from the chaos and mayhem going on around you,…

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 –…

I am a BIG planner – and those who know me well would suggest that’s an understatement. I place a high value on being prepared and having a plan. Yet I also recognize that while plans are good, it can be extremely dangerous to be too rigid about your plan. We should have a plan…

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…

Have you ever found yourself out of step with your work/life balance? The problem starts with looking at your life and your work as separate, instead of looking at your work as an expression of your life. The problem is then compounded by technology, working from home, and the general sense of urgency accompanied by…

As leaders, we may have the opportunity to build a new team from the ground up, to grow a team that already exists, or to fully transform a team that is no longer as effective as it needs to be. A leader’s ability to build a trusting environment – where conflict is encouraged and where…

Today’s leaders are facing increasing rates of complexity, change and interdependence, and these factors will continue to accelerate. Leading today requires the ability to be focused, fast, flexible, and agile. Having both the characteristics of speed and coordination, as well as the ability to react and respond quickly and appropriately to change, is the leadership…

“Stick to your knitting” is a phrase from the popular 1980s business bestseller, “In Search of Excellence“ by Tom Peters and Bob Waterman. It’s been popping into my head quite a bit lately. It most often comes up when my clients are desperately trying to juggle and prioritize the mounting number of items on their…

Many of you know me well enough to know I spend very little time on social media. No Facebook, Twitter, Instagram for me, let alone the more recent distractions like TikTok or Snapchat. While I still sometimes suffer from the FOMO (fear of missing out), making the conscious choice to not engage in what others…

When we create a shared understanding between two or more people leading to improved performance and connection, we have communicated clearly. When we convey the message in a way that others understand, we not only inform – we motivate and transform. That is an essential role of every leader, including the emerging leader. Communicating clearly…

Leadership presence ensures that we are aligned and leading authentically. It is the foundation for how leaders influence and inspire purposeful action in ourselves, on teams, in organizations, and in life. It is knowing who we aspire to be as a leader, and using what we value most to drive leadership effectiveness, behavior, and performance.…

Recently while reading, “Peak Mind,” a book focused on strengthening attention, the author shared a number of options she uses while teaching the benefits of responding versus reacting. The technique that really grabbed my attention was referred to as stop, drop, and roll. Coincidentally, this is a simple fire safety technique taught to children, emergency…

The concept of mindfulness is not nearly as complicated as many of us make it out to be. I like to say that it simply means paying attention to what is in front of you in a concentrated, focused, and nonjudgmental way. Vietnamese Buddhist zen master and author Thich Nhat Hanh says that the opposite of…

“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will…

I’m a bit of a student and fan when it comes to cosmology, sacred geometry and intelligent or natural design. While the vast majority of the content in these fields is over my head, I love the theories, the rich concepts and the elements of design associated with mathematics. Again, I admit I was never…

On the twelfth day of leadership, my coach gave to me – Twelve Deep Breaths For the twelfth day of leadership, we offer you breath. One of the most effective ways to reset and center yourself is by taking a deep breath. Short, shallow breathing causes cortisol to move through the body, adding to stress.…

On the eleventh day of leadership, my coach gave to me – Eleven Additional Minutes of Sleep On the eleventh day of leadership, we give you ZZZZ. When we consider the physical leadership quotient (PLQ), we understand the importance of healthy diet, adequate hydration, and plenty of exercise. However, we sometimes forego quality sleep for…

On the tenth day of leadership, my coach gave to me – Ten Traits of an Emergent Leader “Everyone is a leader; the question is how well are we leading.” An Emergent Leader is focused on performance – individually, in teams, and organizationally. Following are the ten traits of an Emergent Leader. Purposefully / mission-driven…

On the ninth day of leadership, my coach gave to me – Nine Tips for Added Creativity Creativity fuels innovation and gives us new ways of thinking and problem-solving. On this ninth day of leadership, try these 9 tips to help fuel your creativity. Put a small pad of paper and a pen on the…