Dear Leader: You can’t make it on your own. That’s not a putdown—it’s a reality. The bigger your goals, the more help you’re going to need in reaching them. John Maxwell says, “The definition of a nightmare is a big dream and a bad team.” That’s why I believe the most important member of any…

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If you ignore a rattle or hum in your vehicle’s engine for too long, your car may stop running. One defective part can cause the automobile to break down completely. Similarly, the smooth functioning of a team is impacted by its weakest link. When one person routinely underperforms, the whole team suffers. People who consistently…

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At Leadercast a few years ago, I fielded a very timely question. During lunch, a young man asked, “How does a good leader handle layoffs? Especially when they need to lay off a good and valued employee?” Here’s what I believe: First, I don’t think a leader should ask others to make sacrifices until he’s…

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If you’ve ever led people, you’ve come across followers who would rather act the part than do their part. Those people are pretenders, and while they can sometimes masquerade as players, there are ways to tell the two apart. It’s important to find all the pretenders within an organization, because otherwise, they will steal momentum…

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Image courtesy of photobucket Every person makes mistakes at some time in the workplace. Everyone needs someone to come alongside them to help them improve.  If you’re a leader, it is your responsibility and your privilege to be the person who helps them get better. That often begins with a candid conversation. But before you…

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At the Maximum Impact Simulcast on May 8, I fielded a very timely question. During lunch, a young man asked, “How does a good leader handle layoffs? Especially when they need to lay off a good and valued employee?” Here’s what I believe: First, I don’t think a leader should ask others to make sacrifices…

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