No organization has this role…at least not any that I’m aware of. We focus on tech; and trends; and hot button issues; and external drama; and quite often a heck of a lot of internal drama too; we can be fearful to hold people accountable because we may bruise a few egos; but… …how much time is devoted to execute and improve the actual work? Have we become so ‘busy’ that we don’t have time to do the work? Often times we refer to “operations” as having this responsibility. Yet, isn’t operations focused on execution and delivery? That feels different than improving how work gets done. Ma ..read more

More than 13 years. Some years with many things to say…some years with very few. Self-doubt; Self-confidence; Vulnerability; …all constant companions. Professional growth. Career pivots. Personal growth. Dark valleys; No path forward; Fear; …and suddenly light. Bucket lists. A book. Forever taking risks through it all. And some of you have been along for the ride since day one. 1,000 blog posts in the rear view mirror. Many more to go before it’s done. Thanks for being here. Jay Pic   ..read more

When was the last time you changed your mind about something? It seems like we should be changing our minds all the time when we review data, understand complex issues more fully, and take the time to think something through. But we don’t. We often look for the data elements that will reinforce our already locked in point of view. Candidly, that’s a shame. It’s as if we would rather be unaware of reality instead of taking criticism for changing our point of view. Think about the number of new ideas that bubble up in organizations only to be shot down by more…seasoned…leaders who believe they a ..read more

Indomitable. What an impressive word. It speaks to inner strength, conviction, and a level of dedication unmatched by most. You are indomitable. Sounds good, right? But, how does one get to a place where this powerful word actually applies? Is it something we’re born with…something we learn…something else? We’ve seen leaders who appear to have it all together. They’re polished in front of a crowd. They are composed. They think quickly and rarely misstep. …and we think to ourselves…I want to be like that. But how? Mentors can play a vital part. But don’t wait for your employer to launch a mento ..read more

When do you know it’s time to give a member of your team a new opportunity? How can you tell if someone is ready for the next step in their career? What are the signals that indicate you should trust one of your people to lead an initiative, particularly when you may not agree completely with their path forward? Despite the dramatic shift in worker expectations, the world of remote work, and more pressure than ever for companies to perform, the challenge of leading people is still, in many ways, unchanged. Senior leaders still make the decisions that allow more junior leaders the chance to gro ..read more

What do other people get wrong about you? Do they make superficial assumptions because of your style, hobbies or other interests? This has been a struggle for me at various times when I find myself being too judgmental of others. Why is that such a persistent element of human nature?  I don’t like it…particularly when I’m the one doing the judging. We’re all complex people. For example, I’m passionate about effective, inclusive leadership and view that as the only legitimate way to shoulder the responsibility of leading others with any measure of credibility. I have a deep faith, attend a ..read more

Sometimes the combined pressure of work, personal relationships and societal expectations can be a bit too much. Many times that pressure isn’t negative, it can simply be…a lot. Layer on top the role leaders play and you can quickly find yourself on a collision course with reality.  Having it all together, all the time, for everyone, is a tall order even for the most effective person. So, what are we to do? Let the stress overwhelm us? Have a breakdown? Curl up in a ball all weekend trying to gather the energy to face it all again on Monday? Of course not. Life is not only about work…or ..read more

How do you view the junior members of your team? Do you cling to the concept that “they’re not quite ready?” If that’s where you’re at…and that’s okay…do you have a plan in place so you’ll know when they are ready? You can’t have it both ways. I’m not necessarily talking about succession planning, that is a far more complex and rarely executed well strategy. The opportunity for us all is to follow one of my core leadership tenets: risk. When we identify someone on our teams who has potential, we need to explore what they can do. And that can be messy in the beginning. Think about putting in a ..read more

We often think of leadership moments as charismatic performances that sway organizational direction toward success. Actually, they’re…  Not always in the middle of a crisis, Not always driving your vision forward, Not always hammering through your competition. Sometimes…the most impactful leadership moments are the littlest ones… A smile, A handshake, A check-in, A text, A look, A coffee, A thank you. What little moments do you embrace as a leader? Thanks for being here. Jay pic ..read more

There’s always one person on the team who gets so fired up they just can’t…well...they just can’t stop talking about how exciting things are. You know them well. Seemingly amped up all the time…and that’s a good thing…most of the time. At other times you’d like them to take a breath! C’mon man…let someone else in here. Am I right? Fortunately I have such a profound level of self-awareness that I’m absolutely 100% totally confident that on our team I am certainly not…or…I am mostly 90% sure that…um…I’m reasonably sure that my colleagues understand why I… …oh crap, it’s me. I’m that guy. Sorry ..read more