Performance
Position Yourself for Success
We all fulfill several positions in our lives. I am a business owner, a professor, a father, a husband, a dog owner, an author, a speaker. You may be an accountant, a sister, and a choir director. Throughout the year, we can take on a new position without fully understanding performance expectations or examining the…
Read MoreHow to Deliver Bad News
Did you see the video of Better CEO Vishal Garg firing 900 people over Zoom? The video and associated commentary are all over the news and social media. Here’s how CNN described it: “Better CEO Vishal Garg announced the mortgage company is laying off about 9% of its workforce on a Zoom webinar Wednesday, abruptly…
Read MoreDam Good Leadership
I once read an article about beavers. Yes, the little furry animals. The article discussed a study in which beavers would build a dam simply when they heard the noise of running water. The researcher put a beaver in a room with nothing but sticks and a speaker. They played a recording of running water, and…
Read MoreBe a Raving Fan
This past weekend, my wife, Jamie, and I went to a concert at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN. If you are familiar with the Ryman, you know it is a special place. Unlike a large stadium filled with tens of thousands of people, the Ryman is an intimate setting. It also has a long…
Read MoreThe Power of Routine
When I arrive in a hotel room on a business trip, I set a five-minute timer. The timer indicates how long I have to unpack my bag, change my clothes (if needed), and get out the door. I created this routine years ago to avoid the trap of turning on the TV and getting sucked into flipping…
Read MoreHeads-up Leadership
I once rode a bike into a parked car. It’s true. Distracted by a problem with my pedals, I rode directly into the back of a parked car. I flew over the handlebars and crashed into the back window. I then rolled off of the trunk and landed in the grass adjacent to the vehicle.…
Read MoreThe Tragedy of Leadership
I once worked closely with Chris McChesney. Chris is the author of the #1 Wall Street Journal bestseller, The 4 Disciplines of Execution: Achieving Your Wildly Important Goals. Chris and I have remained connected over the years, and I have learned a great deal from him. He’s been a guest on my podcast and endorsed…
Read MoreWhere is Your Plimsoll Line?
Business Insider recently reported that “nearly half a million shipping containers are stuck off the coast of Southern California as the ports operate below capacity.” Although many in the industry have seen problems mounting over the years, the COVID-19 global pandemic has increased product demand and caused “shortages of workers, equipment, and a lack of…
Read MoreEmbrace the White Space
In my role at Vanderbilt University, I often talk to students about their career aspirations. Most of those discussions involve a brief exchange about my experience and the decisions I’ve made throughout my career. I typically share two things about my work life. The first focuses on the information that is on my resume –…
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