Leading Lite

Over the years I have written about the importance of strong leadership in business and the essential qualities a leader must have. These qualities are timeless, and they are especially important

Ever notice how great leaders ask the best questions?

I loved a recent blog from Seth Godin, in which he explored the demands our ego places on polishing the average instead of seeking out the exceptional. Successful businesses are based on having the best product at the best price. Of course, the same thing can be said for top sports teams. If you have the best players in your team, then you are more than likely to win the game.  It all sounds so obvious, eh?  So why is it that when we seek out exceptional talent for our business, we then set rules, processes & structures in place that constrain them from showing off their talents?

The emotional intelligence model can be looked at in terms of what it means to be intelligent about emotions, which is being self-aware, knowing your own feelings, and why you feel that way. It’

The terms leadership and management are often used interchangeably, but there is a huge difference between a leader and a manager.

Exceptional leaders differentiate themselves by doing a few things better. Here are six things you can learn from them.

Why is it so hard for organizations to understand what Tony did with customer service at Zappo's? Instead of measuring the call center on calls answered per minute, he insisted that the operators be trained and rewarded to take their...

One day, as I was enjoying a cup of coffee before a flight, I had the privilege to watch a group of soldiers at the boarding gate. They must have been on a United Nations peace-building mission. Th...

Even though people think vulnerability is weakness, in reality, it's the courage to show up and be seen.

http://www.ted.com Simon Sinek presents a simple but powerful model for how leaders inspire action, starting with a golden circle and the question "Why?" His...

It is most difficult to see beyond our current circumstances when so many walls and ceilings block our view... And yet, just raising the roof is not enough...sometimes we need a breakthrough if we ...

Don't think of thought leadership as rocket science — think of it as rocket fuel. Continue reading →

Perfect doesn't mean flawless. Perfect means it does exactly what I need it to do. A vacation can be perfect even if the nuts on the plane weren't warmed before serving. Any project that's held up in revisions and meetings...

There is a lot of talk about leadership. Leadership is important. https://twitter.com/KayFSheldon/status/339763933026074627 Leadership can and should be inspirational. Twitter is inspirational. Har...

Are you an idea monkey? According to G.Michael Maddock, author of “Free the Idea Monkey…to Focus on What Matters Most,” an idea monkey is someone who can produce lots of new thoughts, concepts or ideas on demand and is …Read »...

There’s a pesky pronoun out there that leaders need to be contstantly aware of. It’s a slippery one because it’s so short and sweet. One letter. It’s pesky because of the messages it sends to those who hear it.

Would you recognize an esox lucius if you saw one? Commonly called the Northern Pike, it is a 25-40 pound freshwater game fish. If you observe it in an aquarium, you realize quickly that this anima...