Leadership is as Leadership Does—Leadership Lessons Learned from the Recent US-Government Shutdown
We shouldn’t assume people are effective leaders just because of their title.
When Silence is Not Golden: A Story of Unexpected Leadership
I admit it. I fear the unexpected. And I still remember the time when the unexpected hit me flat in the face. I was working for the Geek Squad at Best Buy at the time, and my supervisor asked if I’d like to be an instructor for the local Geek Squad Summer Academy event. This…
Speakeasy Leadership
The spirit of the Roaring Twenties was marked by a cultural rebellion against classic traditions, inspiring social revolutions around the world. Everything seemed to be possible through the modern technology of automobiles, motion pictures, and radio, which all promoted ‘modernity’ to the world. One of the most mysterious trends that came out of the Roaring…
Separating the electronic umbilical cord
Vacation, vacation, vacation…. I’m going on vacation. There’s nothing quite like sitting on a warm beach sipping a margarita…or so I’ve heard. Instead, I’ll be in my backyard digging up the ground to make way for a new patio in what will probably be 90+ degree heat. It sounded like a good idea a few…
Leadership Failure
Not too long ago I was put in charge of a couple sections of soldiers who were working on some military intelligence products for an upcoming mission. Since the teams were working on separate products, I assigned myself to one team and had a Lieutenant take charge of another team. The LT had been in…
3 Essential Pieces to the Puzzle of a Successful Team
Every high performing team is made up of a mix of people that fulfill specific needs. They are all pieces of a puzzle that could not be completed if one piece was lost or exchanged for another shape. It is crucial that when building this team everyone knows their role and sticks to their responsibilities…
The End of Innovation
“Innovation is dangerous!” says Yawn Fearman, Gatekeeper of Ideas at Acme Corporation—an international consulting firm that provides executives and managers the tools and skill sets needed to maintain power and balance within organizations. “Innovation is an unruly attitude that ignites revolutions and unwillingly forces change upon the slow and steady hand of the status quo.” Fearman…
Want to be productive? Stay home from work
Absenteeism (not showing up to work) is a well-documented and researched metric. However, the evil twin brother of absenteeism is presenteeism, and it’s now starting to get some more attention. Presenteeism is defined as showing up for work when one is ill, and it is literally a productivity killer. It is estimated that the costs…
The Look of Ethical Leadership
Call me idealistic, but I want more from Gen X and Gen Y when it comes to leadership. I want to see us go beyond the standard leadership stereotypes to something more global, accepting, and inclusive. To encourage non-typical leadership types to emerge and develop. Can you imagine what it might look like if high-potentials…
Know Yourself
“We know what we are, but know not what we may be.” —William Shakespeare When recently opening a package of Green Tea, the quote, “It’s not a privilege to know others. Know yourself. That’s a privilege,” was attached to the string. Perhaps the tea manufacture was having a caffeinated paraphrasing of a Lao Tzu philosophy to…