Unlocking Leadership Potential
Lift People Up with Constructive Feedback
Have you ever noticed someone doing something ineffective, unauthorized, inconsiderate, dangerous, or even illegal? Maybe you felt the urge to confront them. Maybe you were so surprised and upset that you reacted emotionally, expressing your dismay with a harsh...
How to Learn from Experience
People who eventually become managers typically don’t come to the workplace with leadership skills such as effective communication and character strength. They have to learn from experience. Their challenge is to replace old habits with more effective ones. Books like...
Honesty: So People Will Believe What You Tell Them
A friend once shared stories with me about her time as a young commercial banker in New Orleans during the 1980s. Many of the stories were about honesty. Oil prices had fallen drastically, so her client portfolio consisted mostly of “work-out projects”—finding ways to...
Generosity: Give People What They Need
Once a controversial heavyweight boxing champion, Muhammad Ali nicknamed himself “The Greatest.” And maybe he was. After retiring from boxing, he became famous for his generosity. He devoted himself to humanitarian projects around the world, lending his name and...
Say Nothing – A Power Skill
Both my sons are in their 50s, still pursuing highly successful careers in information technology. I check in with them often, and when I do, I make an effort to communicate effectively. I try to be aware of moments when a particular skill will work best for me—as I...
The Power of Courage
In 1980, I researched Army training practices to write a manual for junior leaders on how to train soldiers. I traveled to various units to observe best practices. One of these was Special Forces training at the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center at Fort Bragg,...
Appreciation: The Benefit of Valuing People Who Aren’t Like You
My important lesson in appreciation: A friend said to me, “I got an email from a gardening blog buddy who lives only a few miles from me. He invited me to see his garden on Thursday evening. Would you like to come along?” My first thought was heavens no. I don’t want...
GROWING STRONG CHARACTER FOR LEADERSHIP
We admire and rely on people who we believe have strong character. These are individuals who are willing to tackle tough problems and rather than acting in self-interest, they contribute to the greater good. We know what kind of people they are because of what they...
10 TIPS FOR YOUR BEST LISTENING
When interacting with people, there will be plenty of opportunities to share thoughts and experiences. It’s important, though, to recognize when you need to use listening skills instead—to understand what someone is trying to tell you. Here are some tips: Be alert for...