Service above self: What leaders can learn from “The Giving Tree”

One of my favorite books of all time is the children’s book, The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein.  In short, the book is about the relationship between a boy and a tree.  Throughout the boy’s life, the tree offers whatever it can to make the boy happy—to swing from its branches, to pick and eat,…

Trust, Caring and Connectedness: Who Was Your Best Boss—a creative exercise and reminder

As you look back over your work career, who is the supervisor, manager, or leader that you would identify as your best boss?  And more importantly, what was it about them that made them great in your eyes?  Take a minute now to identify that person.  We’ll use your experience to identify something that will…

Blanchard Webinar Series – Ken Blanchard on Leading with LUV

Ken Blanchard and Southwest Airlines president emeritus Colleen Barrett present an extraordinary, wide-ranging conversation on the leadership secrets that have propelled Southwest Airlines and other great companies to unprecedented business success. Drawing from their new book, Lead with LUV, these two legendary leaders will share what “leading with love” means, why it works, and how…

Free Ken Blanchard Webinar! Lead with LUV: A Different Way to Create Real Success

Join The Ken Blanchard Companies for a special complimentary webinar and online chat beginning today at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time (12:00 noon Eastern).  Best-selling author and consultant Ken Blanchard will be joined by Southwest Airlines president emeritus Colleen Barrett to present the key concepts from their new book Lead with LUV: A Different Way to…

Leadership and Love—Why they are a perfect match

“If you seek long continued success for your business organization, treat your People as family and LEAD WITH LOVE.”  That is the advice that Herb Kelleher, legendary founder of Southwest Airlines, offers readers in the foreword of a new book, Lead with LUV: A Different Way to Create Real Success that looks at the leadership…

Customers, Employees, and Shareholders—who comes first in your organization?

All organizations have three groups of people that they need to keep happy—customers, employees, and shareholders.  It can be a real juggling act at times trying to balance the needs and desires of all three groups—especially when important decisions need to be made.  How does your company rank order these three groups of stakeholders?  At…

Colleen Barrett of Southwest Airlines: Lead with LUV

Once, while sharing her thoughts on leadership, Colleen Barrett, president emeritus of Southwest Airlines (stock symbol LUV), was asked if she was worried that competitors would now be able to steal her management ideas—like writing thousands of thank you notes to employees.  She said “no” because the real magic wasn’t in knowing the concepts, it was…