Early in our marriage, Margie and I realized how enjoyable it was to have people come to our home for dinner. Sometimes we would invite just a few close friends we hadn’t seen for a while; sometimes we would host family members from out of town; and other times it was great fun introducing neighbors ..read more

Leading in today’s world can be a risky business. No matter how long someone has been at their organization or how secure they feel in their role, complacency can bring disaster. Leaders who aren’t continuously pursuing new learning will find their effectiveness in the workplace—and their personal satisfaction—diminishing. Why? Because, now more than ever, leaders who aren’t learning aren’t growing. My favorite quote on this topic comes from the late, great Norman Vincent Peale: “Once you stop learning, you might as well lie down and let them throw dirt on you, because you’re already dead.” M ..read more

One of the joys of being in the leadership training business is belonging to a wonderful community of people and organizations dedicated to helping others achieve their full potential by improving their knowledge, skills, and abilities at work. A great place to network with this community is at the annual conference of the Association for Talent Development (ATD). If you are interested in learning more about ATD, think about joining a local chapter, and be sure to attend the conference in 2025. We’ll see you there! When I first began attending the conference it was a much smaller affair, with ..read more

As leaders, we’ve all seen it happen: Your direct report starts a new project or task, filled with excitement about what they can achieve. While they may not have all the skills they need, they’re enthusiastic about learning what to do, taking action, and achieving their goal. A few weeks go by. The next time you check in with your direct report, you discover that their progress on the project has stalled. As the two of you talk, it becomes clear that your direct report is finding the work more difficult than they thought it would be. They are no longer engaged and they’re having a hard time ..read more

Trust is essential for any healthy relationship. Warren Buffet once likened trust to the air we breathe. “When it is present,” he said, “nobody really notices. But when it’s absent, everybody notices.” In a working relationship, it’s up to you as a leader to make the first move to extend trust. This often comes as a surprise to many leaders, who assume they are automatically trusted by others because of their position or title. In fact, the opposite may be true. Because you have more position power, people may be wary of you. That’s why it’s so important that leaders extend trust first. What ..read more

Catching people doing things right and praising them is a timeless principle I learned and began practicing and teaching years ago. It is a powerful tool for bringing out the best in others. So instead of making a personal New Year’s resolution this year, I want to make one to share with leaders everywhere: Make 2024 “The Year of Catching People Doing Something Right.” I don’t want this resolution to pertain solely to our direct reports, though. Let’s also catch our peers doing something right. Let’s catch our bosses doing something right. Let’s catch our partners, kids, relatives, and friend ..read more

Most of us can remember a time when we had every intention of accomplishing a specific goal, but didn’t follow through. Perhaps we were beginning to get serious about joining a group, learning a skill, or improving ourselves in some way—but when it came time to act on the idea, for some reason we lost interest. My good friend Art Turock taught me that this behavior usually is the result of not knowing the difference between interest and commitment. We were very interested in the idea, but not committed enough to put it into action. We didn’t keep our commitment to our commitment. Through the ..read more

Hard to believe, but it’s already November. Where has the year gone? Every year in November I write about the importance of having an attitude of gratitude. But I certainly understand how wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, mass shootings in the US, and other tragedies dominating the news can make it a lot more difficult for folks to focus on feeling grateful. What can we do to keep our thoughts from sinking downward? I’m going to offer up a few ideas in the hope they will help motivate you to move toward feelings of gratitude for the simple things you have to be thankful for. Margie once c ..read more

Nobody wants to stay in a dead-end job. To retain and attract top talent, organizations must provide growth opportunities. My wife, Margie, is passionate about this subject. To promote professional growth in our own company, Margie offers a three-day, two-hour course called Career Discovery that invites people to explore their career development. It Doesn’t Have To Be Awkward Many leaders feel awkward about discussing career development with their people. They worry that they will lose the person just when they’ve gotten them trained. Because she knows that leaders might feel uncomfortable ab ..read more

Self-awareness is among the top leadership skills required from future leaders, according to Blanchard’s 2023 Trends Report. Yet the lack of it is one of the biggest challenges leaders face as they step into increasingly higher management roles. Not only is self-awareness a prerequisite for effective leadership, it’s also essential for effective human interaction of any kind. The best leaders have a high degree of self-awareness. These leaders understand themselves and their needs, strengths, weaknesses, and temperament. They are aware of their thoughts, feelings, and personal motivators. The ..read more