Search results for: vision
Unscripted Leadership
The night before delivering his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, Martin Luther King, Jr. assembled his team at the Willard Hotel to finalize his script for the next day. As usual, his speechwriters and advisors debated, one last time, exactly what should be said and how it should be communicated. Based on the conversation,…
Read MoreDreaming in the Daily Grind
We use the expression, “the daily grind,” to describe the mundane unpleasantness of our work routine. Interestingly, the word “grind” has multiple meanings: 1) To wear down, reduce, or crush into powder by pounding or abrading 2) To smooth, sharpen, or polish by friction or abrasion Though we cannot escape the daily grind, we can…
Read MoreConceptual Leadership
The first day on the job can be dizzying for an incoming employee as she tries to learn how she fits into the new organization. However, the pace at which business is conducted today, with change constantly occurring, can disorient even longtime veterans. Peter Senge, author of The Fifth Discipline says that, “one of the…
Read MoreThe Laws of Growth
At what age did you stop growing taller? The average age when the human body reaches its full height varies, but it’s generally between the ages of 15 and 21. I often wonder at what age most leaders quit growing. Unfortunately, judging from my observations, most people stop by the end of their 20s. Rarely…
Read MoreEFFECTIVE WAYS OF GROWING PEOPLE IN ORGANIZATIONS
“One of the most significant contributions to business failure is the inability to get things done through people.”~ David Krajenowski Leaders accomplish their visions through personal growth and personnel growth. Focusing on individual development is fine, but doing something truly significant also involves empowering others to grow to their potential. One is too small of…
Read MorePASSING ON A POSITIVE LEGACY
“There is a choice you make in everything you do. So keep in mind that in the end, the choice you make, makes you.” ~ John Wooden A legacy isn’t something over which we have no control, like the shadow that follows us down the sidewalk. Rather, we can choose the way in which our…
Read MoreNELSON MANDELA: LESSONS ON A LEADER’S LEGACY
Nelson Mandela won South Africa’s presidential election in 1994 after more than four decades of opposing racial segregation in his homeland. Mandela had spent 27 of those years in jail on account of his activism. After becoming President, Mandela had a prime opportunity to exact revenge on the political party that had formerly imprisoned him.…
Read MoreINSECURITY: THE LEADERSHIP FLAW OF AMERICA’S WORST PRESIDENT
Every few years, historians rank America’s past Presidents from best to worst. While scholars disagree on the place of certain Presidents, they’re united in their opinion that Warren G. Harding was one of the lousiest leaders ever to have occupied the White House. Despite holding office for less than three years, Harding left a legacy…
Read MoreThe value of bottom-line thinking
How do you figure out the bottom line for your organization, business, department, team, or group? In many businesses, the bottom line is literally the bottom line. Profit determines whether you are succeeding. But dollars should not always be the primary measure of success. Would you measure the ultimate success of your family by how…
Read MoreLEADERSHIP JUDGMENT
The outcome of a sporting event sometimes is heavily influenced by the judgment of an official or umpire. For instance, with game two of the playoff series between the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat tied 103-103, Celtics guard Rajon Rondo drove toward the hoop for a layup. Dwyane Wade of the Heat appeared to whack…
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