Category Archives: Leadership Articles

True confessions. I’m guessing very few of you ever got a “bad grade” in any of your college studies. But I know someone who did … me. It was my sophomore year poetry class. Now a low mark isn’t something … Continue reading →

In 1997, Kenny G set a Guinness World Record by holding a single E-flat on his saxophone for 45 minutes. This was possible because he had practiced circular breathing – a way of actually breathing out through his mouth at … Continue reading →

When we consider strengths, Charles Darwin famously advanced the evolutionary idea of, “Survival of the fittest.” We get that part, but to a lesser extent, we understand, “Those that survive are the most adaptable to change.” That means a lot … Continue reading →

Here are some ideas on “selling” yourself and your leadership agenda to others. (Sorry to use the “S” word … but in truth, to lead well you’ll need to persuade your team to get on board with you and the … Continue reading →

In sitting with a group of senior government leaders, SES and GS-15s, we discussed how they could sustain their leadership agendas and make a real difference in their agencies – five rather simple, and yet essential strategies emerged: Don’t aim … Continue reading →

Any sports fan knows the uneasy feeling when their team’s lead begins to slip away … when things start going wrong, mistakes are made, momentum is lost, and doubts about the outcome arise. In the 2013 America’s Cup (where 9 … Continue reading →

On a visit to Coit Tower, one of San Francisco’s iconic landmarks, I found an excellent story of leadership. It’s remarkable partly because of its simplicity, but more so because it bridges a generational gap – something I believe many … Continue reading →

It isn’t unusual to leave work exhausted. The demands on leaders – pressure for performance, budget constraints, meeting after meeting, workforce issues and conflicts, ever-expanding expectations, burdensome reporting requirements, and tiresome organizational dysfunctions mixed with constant change – all take … Continue reading →

Without a doubt, good questions lead to personal improvements. That’s because they bring to the surface important understandings and neglected insights. They push our buttons to pause, and consider. For leaders, a good question helps us reevaluate ourselves and our … Continue reading →

One of the best aspects of a new year is that we often see it as an opportunity for a fresh start; a chance to recommit ourselves to those things we deem important – resolutions representing a whole host of … Continue reading →