With a cumulative 100 years or so of assessment, coaching, and consulting under our belts, we have discovered that nearly every executive-level leader carries with them a “guilty secret.” Sounds juicy, doesn’t it? In the news over the past few years, some have been found to have purchased millions of dollars of art through their … Read More
Leadership Development: Necessary AND Sufficient Components that Catalyze Leaders’ Performance
Employees, stakeholders and executives alike have high expectations of their leaders. Unfortunately few leaders are born perfect; most have to work hard at getting there. And along the way they may discover some significant gaps. He/She is Great…but…. As consultants we are often asked to advise on how to improve a leader’s performance. The conversation … Read More
Transactional vs. Relational Leadership – Which is Best?
Fans of the multiple Emmy award-winning television series The West Wing enjoy a deep and accurate insight into the dynamics and impact of different leadership styles. At one moment the fictitious President Bartlett will be building common ground and consensus with foreign or domestic leaders — the next moment he and his staff will be … Read More
The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Leadership
Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont — three of the most famous horse races in the world constitute theTtriple Crown of horse racing. Over the last 150 years, only 13 horses have taken the crown. These thoroughbreds represent the outstanding performers in horse racing. They are meticulously bred, trained, and conditioned to race under variable conditions. … Read More
Keeping Your Leadership Superpower from a Distance
Remote Working has Changed How Leaders and Followers Interact The daily exchanges between a leader and follower were as crucial as any factor in effectively leading employees. These minor interactions were the focus of much study in the 1980s but the findings are so well understood by most leaders that not much has been written … Read More
Restructuring a Toxic Organization: What to Expect
We mentioned in a previous article that toxic individuals are infectious. Such employees focus on means rather than ends, promote drama over performance, and create significant drag on an organization. Moreover, they recruit others and shift the cultural norm. When this happens, restructuring is essential — but it will be resisted. Predictable Resistance to Restructuring … Read More
Leadership: The Ten Worst Behaviors
It is often said that an employee who leaves a company is leaving their leader, not the company. Because leaders and their employees are in a power relationship, any corrective feedback often remains unspoken until the exit interview, or perhaps is never spoken at all. And in truth, most leaders do not intend to be … Read More
Why Being a Trait-based Leader Doesn’t Work
Books on leadership proliferate. As does research and speculation on the characteristics or traits one requires to be a great leader The Range of Traits The problem is, which set of traits predicts leadership success? One book advises humility and compassion; another strength and decisiveness; another courage and directiveness; another empowerment. The list of traits … Read More
Revealing Deeper Truths
The Case for Discovering “Deeper Truths” It almost goes without saying that hiring the right person for the right job makes a huge difference to the success of an organization. Removing people from roles for which they are not suited has an equal if not greater value. But it is not always easy at first … Read More