Tag Archives: personal development

Jurassic World: When Good Leadership Intentions Meet Uncontrollable Results

If you break it down to its prehistoric DNA, the plot of “Jurassic World” and its predecessors resembles anybody’s bad day at the office: You set out to do something with good intentions and high hopes. Something goes wrong, but no big deal—there are systems to deal with it. Systems fail. Plan B is launched. Unintended consequences ensue. Repeat with Plans C, D, and E until you conclude that maybe the entire concept is flawed.

Jurassic World: When Good Leadership Intentions Meet Uncontrollable Results

Even when no dinosaurs are involved, it’s a frustrating spiral. But short of casting an action figure to come in and save the day, what can you do when a plan you’ve worked to bring to reality goes horribly wrong?

Business Leaders: Think Twice, Post Once

In our interconnected era, it happens all the time. A snarky comment appended to an email from the boss, accidentally sent using “reply to all” instead of “forward.” A flirty text directed to the wrong person. Or, in the recent case of a BBC journalist, making headlines after an accidental tweet announcing the death of (still very much alive) Queen Elizabeth. Talk about a bad day!

Business Leaders: Think Twice, Post Once

Such mishaps make for funny stories—as long as they don’t happen to you. But even a minor incident can undermine how those around you perceive you and how much they trust your judgment. And especially in a professional setting, those perceptions and that trust are assets that are well worth protecting.

Extreme Leadership

The U.S. Army Ranger School has been in the news after enrolling its first-ever group of women. The trial enrollment has drawn sharp opinions on both sides, but it’s also highlighted the rigors of what’s been called one of the world’s toughest and best leadership programs.

Extreme Leadership

If you think your MBA school or corporate training was hard, imagine a program where only about half of those who enroll go on to graduate, and a third of those do so only after repeating all or part of the course.

Motivational Leadership: Seize and Enjoy the Moment

Time flies! You know how everyone’s always saying, “seize the moment!”? Of course there are others who say, “the moment seizes us.”

Motivational Leadership: Seize and Enjoy the Moment

Either way, our culture has embedded in us the fear of missing out, or #FOMO as it’s trending now. It drives leaders and employees into continual striving and life with an “every-day I’m hustlin’” mentality.

Leadership 101 from Grandma’s Kitchen

We often think of leadership as something that’s found in boardrooms and executive suites—but that’s a limiting perspective. In truth, examples of great leadership can turn up where you least expect to find them.

Leadership 101 from Grandma's Kitchen

Recently my thirteen year old son had taken his love of pecan pie to the next level by learning to make it for himself. As luck would have it, he has access to the best cook and baker in our part of the world—Grandma, who lives just a few miles down the road from us.

Back to School Lessons for Business Leaders

There’s something special about the first month of the school year. How can business leaders take advantage of the back-to-school spirit?

back-to-school-business-leaders

Here are six ideas to consider.

No. 1: Step back from the day-to-day and focus on change and growth.

Remember how there were always a few kids who came back after summer break and seemed like different people? Maybe they’d grown six inches, or their voice had changed, or their taste in clothes had completely shifted. None of those changes would have been nearly as noticeable if you’d been watching them gradually happen every day. You may not be able to take three months away, but try to look at the people and things around you with a fresh perspective. When you see that someone has excelled, be sure to encourage them.