Should we be expecting our leaders to “Walk The Talk?”
I wish I had a nickel for every time I have heard the phrase, “The leaders in this place don’t ‘walk the talk.’” I’d be wealthier than a lottery winner. I’ve heard this said about leaders in every walk of life – business, politics, and government. I understand the frustration when people see a lack […]
Laissez faire Leadership or Lazy Fare Abdication: It Takes Courage To Let Go
Not long ago I was hired by a CEO to help assess and develop the leadership capacity of one of his managers. I started by interviewing the manager and each member of his leadership team. There was a consistent theme in the interviews. “He’s practicing laissez faire leadership,” I was told, with frustration, by his […]
Organizational Culture: Choosing Service Over Self-Interest
To be engaged today, people need to feel a sense of passion, personal vision, and to express their unique talents. But this is only half of what full authentic expression – the heart of a culture – is about. This week, in a committee meeting of a local non-profit group, I was reminded that a […]
Is It Time To Change Your Change Management Plan?
he problem with most change management plans in organizations is that they are doing just that: they are managing the change, not leading people through the change. To illustrate the limitations of most change management plans, think about the last time you relocated with a new job. What was your change management plan? Your plan […]
Bridges Of Trust: Making Accountability Authentic
Everyone’s saying it: organizations needs to be accountable. Leaders need to be accountable. Employees need to be accountable. So why do most accountability programs fail? The concept and experience of accountability needs rejuvenation. You have to get to the deep meaning of accountability. You have to be clear about who you are accountable to, “for […]
The Secrets To Performance Management: Lessons From A Swan
Why is it that so many bosses dread performance management discussions with their employees? Why are performance conversations often so tough? Why doesn’t everybody get inspired about performance? The secret to turning those tough performance conversations into inspired action, into discussions that you genuinely look forward to, is one word: passion. If people aren’t passionate […]
12 Keys To Authentic Leadership: You Do Know When It’s Real
Below are 12 key messages that underlie my fundamental philosophy of leadership. Most of these messages aren’t mine. I’ve borrowed them from many of the great leaders I’ve had the privilege of working with over the years: Leadership is about inspiring and engaging people to work toward a compelling vision – by seeing the gifts […]
The Truth About Employee Accountability
Everyone’s saying it: organizations need to be accountable. Leaders need to be accountable. Employees need to be accountable. So why do most accountability programs fail? The concept and experience of employee accountability needs rejuvenation. You have to get to the deep meaning of accountability. You have to be clear about who you are accountable to, […]
How To Make Sense of Organizational Leadership
We’ve all seen cases of sending employees to a leadership training program with no understanding of what skills or attitudes they are accountable to come out with. There is no measurement for whether or not the program makes any difference. Indiscriminately bringing in leadership “trainers” or aimlessly sending your leaders to a course because it […]
Security, Identity, and Your Leadership Impact
Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.”- Helen Keller. The Calgary Stampeders lost the Grey Cup recently, and I woke […]
