Leadership is characterized by the complex and diverse nature of human values, which can be fluid, contradictory, and at times, difficult to define. This is why human elements such as common sense, continuous learning, adapting on the fly, understanding cause and effect, the ability to reason effectively, and moral decision-making are critical elements of leadership that will never be replaced by AI. However, try as they might, some believe that AI can replace, or enhance the part of leadership that will always and must be human. Human interaction is, and always will be, at the core of true l ..read more

As the labor market cools, companies are increasing their efforts to bring workers back to the office, though not necessarily requiring them to come in five days a week. The trend towards remote work is still ongoing, with some employers enforcing a return to office policy, but not necessarily on a full-time basis. There is an increasing agreement that while working in-person has benefits, there are also advantages to remote work, at least some of the time. However, the precise contours of the new hybrid status quo are still a work in progress. From a leadership standpoint, it is a potential ..read more

As job coaches, Maikel and I have seen a disturbing trend in the practice of HR ghosting candidates after multiple interviews.  This is starting to become an expected trend for several of our job seekers that we work with. Ghosting candidates after an interview is not a professional or respectful practice. It also speaks volumes about your personal leadership ability as well as the culture present in the organization you represent.  It is important for HR to communicate with candidates, whether they are being moved forward in the hiring process or not. Providing timely closure to ca ..read more

We live in a society where instant gratification has become the norm. For some reason, leadership has become something that is now a fast-track exercise. Global surveys on leadership, as well as employee feedback, show that the fast track isn't working. Quite frankly, it never has. Too often, leaders are attempting to fast-track their careers without taking the necessary time to develop their skills and gain valuable experience. This can lead to problems down the line, as they may not have the necessary understanding and expertise to effectively lead a team or organization. Leaders need to be ..read more

How many times have you felt as a leader that people just aren't listening to what you have to say? You start to feel as if nothing you say has any importance at all to the people you are talking to, regardless of who they are in the organization. You conclude that people just don't care what you have to say, or are out to get you. Most of the reasons people may not listen to you are because of you – so be a person that they want to listen to. Be a person who listens to themselves, who speaks well and tells interesting stories well, who talks with the right people, and who is trustworthy and ..read more

In part 2 of this series, we go even further down the rabbit hole of narcissistic behavior in leadership. These are the folks who could give a toxic culture an even worse name. These are the relationship manipulators, rumor starters, dirt gatherers, and smile in your face while twisting the proverbial knife types. All in the name of making themselves look that much better in a twisted attempt to climb the ladder on the backs of those they betray. The Grinch wouldn't be caught in the same room with these folks! Rich and Maikel go a shade darker to enlighten those leaders who need to turn it do ..read more

Dorian Gray from all outside appearances was the ideal vision of youth.  He lived a life of hedonism and excess, constantly seeking pleasure and indulging in his every whim. He remained young and beautiful and from all outside appearances, it looked as though he had everything going for him. However, on the inside was a different story and the portrait that held his true image showed the monster he had become.  Dorian Gray's story serves as a cautionary tale for those who are chasing their career goals at any and all cost.  In part 1 of a 2 part series, Rich and Maikel uncover ..read more

Global surveys show that the vast majority of leaders are struggling. Some surveys are as low as 75%, while others show that 91% of all leaders are failing. One reason they cannot escape their challenges is they have a gap; they are lacking in one area or derailing in another. Think about a sports team that is having trouble winning. A good coach can often pinpoint the problem and steer the team back on the road to success by assessing the team's gaps and refocusing their efforts on the fundamentals of the game.  Like sports and virtually every other discipline in the world, leadership h ..read more

In a previous episode, we asked the question, "Would You Hire Yourself as a Leader?  How many of you who listened to that episode, took the challenge, and inventoried your skills and talents as a leader? Would you hire yourself to lead your organization to success, regardless of the title or presumed perks that senior leadership comes with? We are back with a similar question on whether or not you would recommend yourself to your organization to be a leader.  So many would consider their educational pedigree as enough qualification. Would you be disappointed if we told you that is n ..read more

There are a lot of Executive Coaches out there.  Some say that the market is saturated, but they're wrong. The simple fact of the matter is, that there are not enough extraordinary coaches in practice today.  To be an effective business coach, you must have real-world experience. They don’t teach the day-to-day of the workplace in school. You have to have been there and done that to have the insights and relatable examples.  In terms of coaches, an executive coach should have prior experience working at a high level in a corporation or as a successful entrepreneur for a signifi ..read more