Today's blog is a tribute to a great American soldier and statesman, Army General and Secretary of State Colin Powell. My social media feeds are blowing up with personal tributes to him, a testament to his character, example and impact. He'll be forever remembered as the epitome of an officer and a gentleman. He may be gone but his rich legacy of national service and leadership will live on. Part of that legacy is his "Thirteen Rules of Leadership." Here is a link. #1 is the one which stuck with me since my earliest days as an Army officer. "It ain't as bad as you think. It will look better in the morning." There is so much truth and practical wisdom packed into that statement. I returned to it often in leadership and even in family crisis. It offers a few critically important leadership lessons to emulate.
Read MoreAnother way to ask this question is, what is your logic style? Your logic style indicates the approach you take (and prefer others take) to make decisions - classic left brain, right brain stuff. Here is one way which will tell you which camp you may be in. Which of these two statements is the one you would prefer to hear?
"I feel good about course of action 2. My gut tells me it is the one we should pick."
"Data and historical precedent tells us that course of action 2 is the one we should pick."
Has this ever happened to you? The boss assigns you or your team a task or project and your deadline is Friday at 3pm, then he asks about it on Wednesday and Thursday. I experienced this in the Army. We would be given a specific task and deadline from our higher headquarters then an individual staff member would inquire about it. We would usually respond by repeating the deadline which was given in the order.
Read MoreCan we pump the brakes on time or down shift at least? It seems to be flying by. November is fast approaching and that means the holidays are here. Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa (take some time to understand the holidays of your diverse organization - who celebrates what) and New Years represent (or ought to) a time of peace, reflection, family, rest and recuperation. These holidays along with the other federal and religious holidays throughout the year are also an opportunity for leaders and their people to take a needed break.
Read MoreToday Chatty Cathy is a name given to a person who can talk the leg off of a chair. Do you lead one? I'm talking about the type of person who, for whatever reason, can go on and on and on sharing an idea, making a point, or responding to a question. Sometimes it is quite impressive but mostly it is annoying and challenging to manage. It poses a leadership dilemma. To be a good leader, you must be a good listener but you also have to be loyal to other people's (and your) time and efficiency. What then can be done about Chatty Cathy? Here are my thoughts.
Read MoreI write this blog with all due respect to the chief financial officer (CFO). I know many and they have taught me a great deal in my encore life following military service. We need them as we manage cash flow and tight budgets in our businesses but I offer this in the name of growing leaders -- Tell the CFO to, "zip it!"
Nothing deflates a great idea more than the guy or gal who utters, "we cannot afford that." As leaders we want our people to think big and imagine without boundaries. We also want financial discipline and oversight in all that we do. The two lie in conflict. Here are my thoughts.
Read MoreThis is an age-old dilemma; the pace at which organizations travel and the enormity of the tasks leaders must accomplish against the requirements of leadership. Sarah is overdue for her appraisal but you have a Friday deadline to meet. Which one is the priority? Sadly, too often, it is the former and not the latter. Friday's deadline is the heavier glass ball which cannot be dropped. Investing in Sarah can wait. It is no wonder why we have nearly 70% of employees disengaged from their company (Gallup Poll). Sarah won't leave her job, she will leave her boss because he always defaults to the demands of the organization and leaves her behind.
Read MoreTrust lies at the core of every relationship, personal and professional. When broken, it is difficult, even impossible in some cases to repair. Trust between the leader and the led and amongst peers is central to every healthy, high-performing organization. The breaking of trust in the form of a lie is one of the many challenges leaders will surely face in their leadership journey. Unfortunately there is no manual, which outlines the steps a leader ought to take. There is however, advice from this old soldier. Here it is.
Read MoreThere is nothing like doing something you are totally confident doing or watching a team perform with full confidence. It is what we all strive for. Confidence in your job brings order and comfort. The hardships experienced while training for proficiency and confidence are mostly gone. However, with confidence comes complacency. In combat we watched this closely. Lives were on the line and any complacency which creeped in could result in disaster.
Read MoreUnder what appears to be a never-ending pandemic, we find ourselves and our companies in unprecedented times rich with challenges. People are leaving organizations for other opportunities. Families are relocating closer to parents and to more desired destinations under the work from home surge. Employees are nearly impossible to find and restrictions on social gatherings and the 'vax or no vax' debate and its implications are in full swing. Some products and services are unavailable, more expensive or under longer wait times. This drastic change and its associated challenges are testing leadership. Will we return to some former state or are we under a new normal?
Read MoreDiversity, Equity and Inclusion or DEI is the new acronym for today's workplace, the goal being to build teams and create environments which exemplify DEI. I'm a fan. The best teams I was a part of were good (not perfect) examples of DEI. Perfection in DEI is impossible. When you unpack the diversity part of the equation, you'll notice the first flaws. There are simply too many diversity categories and it is impossible to meet them all. This obstacle notwithstanding, leaders ought to strive for DEI. Today's workforce demands and deserves it.
Read MoreAttracting, hiring and retaining talent is a massive challenge these days. I'm not entirely sure of the reason and causes but I do know several companies are struggling greatly to find people. Some have been forced to shrink or adjust their offerings as a result. Healthcare, the trade professions and transportation (among others) have been hit hard. Some are taking extreme measures offering salaries they can barely afford and or bonuses to attract new talent. Some have become desperate, hiring anyone who comes through the door. But while the hiring landscape has changed, company approaches to hiring have not.
Read MoreCheese cloth is a gauze-like material which allows unneeded moisture to escape leaving solid cheese behind. Ok that sounds gross doesn't it? Here's the analogy. Most emails, in their original form contain useless words, phrases, sentences and emotions which should be discarded.
Read MoreLast week following a speech I gave, a older man approached me with his wife. He wanted to thank me and offer his compliments. In the speech I shared a story from Afghanistan. He told me he had served in Vietnam. I placed my hand on his shoulder, looked him in the eye and thanked him. He began to cry. I'm not sure he was ever thanked before. Vietnam veterans were not thanked for what they did and I have always considered that a national shame. I wanted to do my part and right the wrong. I told him that what he did mattered. He mattered and his nation was grateful. It was a moving moment for both of us amidst the aftermath of Afghanistan.
Read MoreA former boss and mentor of mine used this line often. He was referring to the bravado a leader would display which only served him or herself. For instance, an Army leader might be able to maintain a 6-minute pace on a 3 mile run without breaking a sweat. While impressive, it doesn't mean the soldiers they commanded could do the same. A leader would lose a lot of people in humiliation leading a run at that pace. Furthermore, this approach would never achieve the true goal of helping an individual increase their running pace. That took gradual training. This was poor leadership.
Read MoreI continue to watch — with bewilderment, anger, and sadness — the aftermath of our 20-year war in Afghanistan. Long after my own time on the ground in Afghanistan and years since retiring from the Army, I’m still immersed — heart and mind — in this war. In recent weeks, I’ve found that I’m reading more and watching more about the war, the country, and the world’s reaction. Doing so is a complicated emotional venture. Consuming all the news stories and social media content have helped me to process my thoughts and validate (or challenge) my perspectives ... but I’m not sure if it’s really helping.
Read MoreA former boss of mine presented this concept of weak words to me and, to this day I cannot shake it. They are words like think, try, and may. When I use these words my inner voice tries to correct me. Weak words are too cautions and not direct enough. They do not project confidence. Here are some examples.
Read MoreHard to believe it has been 20 years since the terrorist attacks on America on September 11th, 2001. This year 9/11 will occur on a Saturday but I wanted to share my thoughts and offer ways to address this historical event in the workplace. While today's younger generation were babies, or not even born when 9/11 occurred, it is still important to pause, reflect and remember this significant day. Recent events in Afghanistan and the press coverage this year's anniversary is getting will be constant reminders for them but what can a leader do in the workplace?
Read MoreDoubt in one's decisions is a natural thing in leadership. So too should be growth and adaptation to ever-changing environments. What worked yesterday may be irrelevant today. Leaders of character take note of changing conditions and personal growth and know when and how to change their minds. They also have the humility to admit they were wrong and change course. Subordinates mostly align with their boss, supporting his or her decisions and beliefs but when things are going wrong, this obedience can be destructive.
Read MoreThis subject line is one of my soundbites for the current fiasco underway in Afghanistan. Again, I'll avoid the political banter which is unhealthy, especially as we morn the fallen and return to leadership. I've used this phrase before as a way to tell my organization that I still believed in it and its people. I used it on individuals to reinforce my trust in them.Failure is always tough and when it happens, especially on a grand scale and it really tests leadership. Those who become irate and emotional can really destroy morale, even cause permanent damage. People may be reluctant to try new, innovative ideas or do anything risky. They may even avoid delivering bad news. Focusing on blame and holding a grudge is only a move backward. We must help our people and organizations move forward in growth.
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