Perspective
Leading Through Trauma
I teach a class at Vanderbilt University called Leading Business Through Times of Crisis. This week we read a 2002 Harvard Business Review (HBR) article titled Leading Through Trauma. In the article, the authors argue that: “Although the human capacity to show compassion is universal, some organizations suppress it while others create an environment in which compassion is…
Read MoreWhat are you grateful for?
On Friday of last week, my book, The Five-Week Leadership Challenge: 35 Actions Steps to Become the Leader You Were Meant to Be, made the Wall Street Journal bestseller list. I am thrilled about the book’s performance and the impact it is having. I’m also extremely grateful to: My partners at HarperCollins Leadership for publishing the book…
Read MoreLessons From Launching a Book
Today’s newsletter is going to be a little different. For the past few days, I have been traveling from event to event, promoting my new book, The Five-Week Leadership Challenge. From the first day I proposed the book to Harper Collins, to writing my first draft, to now, I have learned a lot. I’d like…
Read MoreTurning the Tables
On the Leadership Lab podcast, I’m usually the one asking the questions. This week I decided to turn the tables. On the latest Leadership Lab podcast, I brought on leadership coach and bestselling author, Eddie Turner, to interview me about my new book, The Five-Week Leadership Challenge. Now, I loved this interview for a lot…
Read MoreGrace Under Pressure
Over the last year, you and the team you lead have shown grace under pressure. How do I know that? Because you’re still standing today. You’re still performing. You’re still working to move the organization forward. The only way that could happen is for you to deliver results during some tremendously difficult times. Times of…
Read MoreHelp Your People to See that They Are Valued
Thirty years ago, Jaime and I were married. Like many soon-to-be-wed couples, we registered for linens, dinnerware, and a range of household items that we felt would help us as we started our lives together. One gift that we received wasn’t on our registration. Nonetheless, it became one of our most treasured items. It was…
Read MoreThe Kind of FIT that Truly Matters to Your Culture
I enjoy a challenging puzzle. I also like a great analogy. That probably tells you a lot about me. That said, I don’t particularly enjoy the analogy that compares puzzles to teams and people to pieces. Perhaps you’ve heard this analogy. It can show up in ways like these: A person interviews for a job…
Read MoreGetting Angry
This morning I read the news and found myself getting angry. I was angry about COVID, violence, and other injustices. Frankly, I felt that the world was bit terrifying, dangerous, and out of control. Guess what? It is – and it has always been that way. Every generation has faced its own terrifying, dangerous, and…
Read MoreGreat Leaders Create a Culture of Quitters
You are likely familiar with the concept that employees don’t quit companies, they quit bad leaders. It is with this in mind that many organizations invest time, energy, and resources developing leaders who foster employee engagement. Yes, employees might quit an organization because of a bad leader; however, these same employees may quit their own bad behaviors…
Read More