Leadership

Things happen gradually and then very suddenly.  When the suddenly (failure to act and therefore failure to win) happens TO a team, it’s almost always about a leader’s failure to inspire and drive a sustained sense of urgency. If a competitor is beating your team, you can bet their sense of team urgency was more powerful than yours.  It is that simple. If you want to keep the dream (and winning) ...

“Do you get butterflies before you give speeches?”  My daughter, Kate (11), asked me after I returned from a recent engagement. “Every time,” I replied. “I get butterflies before every speech and throughout every business day!” When we lose our butterflies as leaders, it’s often the first sign of decline… that perhaps we’re losing our edge or just “phoning it in.”  Note:  If you lose your butterflies as a leader, ...

How leaders (political, private, or otherwise) conduct themselves matters.  What they say about each other and how they go about winning a promotion (or an election) matters.  What they allow their handlers and promoters to say on their behalf matters. Graduating from the adolescent days of the 7th grade matters. Trash talking requires very little thinking.

On May 6, 1954, Roger Bannister did something that was previously thought to be beyond human capacity.  He ran a mile in less than four minutes (3:59.40). It was the stuff of legend and the biggest sports story in history at the time. Redefining “Possible” Today, as a result of Mr. Bannister’s vision, leadership, and talents, nearly every world-class runner who competes in the classic fifteen hundred meter event has the ...

This morning I read a story about another foolish guy arrested for driving under the influence. In this case, it was a prominent businessman. It’s the craziest thing Despite endless stories of lives destroyed, excellent law enforcement campaigns, and increased penalties, people still do it (DUI) regularly.  To make matters worse, most offenders appear to have very well functioning brains, fully capable of making good decisions. Leadership and zero tolerance After a ...

Great leaders understand how to provide visible and involved leadership, while at the same time providing top talent with room to succeed (a lot of room!). How does a leader know if they’re in the way? Your team isn’t winning—Lack of success can stem from a lot of things, including and perhaps most importantly, leadership that is in the way.  Behind many struggling teams or enterprises you will find a leader ...

On Sunday evenings my wife and I can be found catching up on our guilty pleasure—Bravo’s reality TV series “Housewives of NY, NJ, and the OC.” We especially love Bethenny Frankel from the original cast of the Housewives of New York.  She is crazy-driven (in a very good way!).  Bethenny is the kind of person I LOVE to hire and work with.  When Bethenny sinks her teeth into an idea, ...

We see it everywhere and every day.  Cautionary tales of failed leadership are as common as flour in a baker’s shop.  Think about your experiences with failed businesses within your hometown, or failed leaders within your place of work, or just read the newspapers. Tales of failed leadership often do not come in the form of one poor decision or abject incompetence.   The tales usually come by way of a ...

When laughter echoes throughout your team or enterprise on a daily basis, you know that you have a winning and healthy team or enterprise culture. It makes no difference how “serious” an enterprise or undertaking is perceived – laughter is a test of a healthy culture. It starts with the leader. Does a leader have to be funny?  No.  However, creating an environment where opportunities for laughter are everywhere is up ...

Go! The Most Powerful Two-Letter Word! As leaders we make decisions.  The words we use and the conviction with which we approve and make decisions matters.  It matters a lot! Go! There is something very different and powerful about the word “go” versus “fine,” “yes,” “approved,” “move forward,” or whatever. Top leaders build cultures where the team believes that they are GOING in the right direction, someplace great, and that the team ...