Frank Sinatra sang that even though he’d had regrets, they were too few to mention. I’ve had more than a few business regrets and hopefully I’ve learned from them. I share some of them here in hopes that you can learn from my regrets so they won’t become your regrets.
My long time pal Joe Calloway advises to say no more often so you can concentrate on what matters most. Personally, I’ve used his advice to great advantage. Saying no is a skill but so is saying yes. A good yes is never tentative. The best decisions are made with gusto and implemented enthusiastically. I’ve noticed a…
Here are 5 questions to get you moving: What have you been putting off doing for too long? Start it. What don’t you like about yourself? Change it. How are you working against yourself? Stop it. What is your favorite excuse? Remove it. What one thing if you did it consistently would make you more…
The first hours of the day have the power to shape the rest of the day. A frantic or frustrating start can diminish the hours that follow. Successful people tend to have morning rituals to create a solid base for a productive day. Here are four things I suggest you consider doing: Start by recounting the good…
A good leader wants to do those things that create results and make them effective in their role. At the same time a leader needs to be aware of the common problems and pitfalls that detract from their effectiveness. Here are 12 of them: 1. Winning at any cost. Winning matters. How you create the…
There are many good ways to invest your weekend beyond the obvious one of resting (which, ironically, is difficult for many leaders). Working is most certainly NOT on the list. Recent research shows that there are benefits from completely disengaging from our work. All work and no play makes Jack or Jill a dull leader…
“My kids are natural multi-taskers!” a friend exclaimed. She bragged that they could listen to music, watch TV and do their homework all at the same time. She might have been proud of their efforts, but she wasn’t accurate about their abilities. Research has concluded that it will take her kids longer to do their…
You can’t improve and progress without change. And change is, by nature, disruptive. In Part 1, I wrote about the need for disruptive leaders who understood the power of positive disruption and the ability to identify what needs to be disrupted. But remember, you don’t need a title to be a leader, nor do you…
Did you start the day hoping that before it was over you’d be disrupted? You won’t find many people who want to be disrupted. Disruption is unsettling at best and unpleasant at worst. It forces change and requires additional effort. But what about leadership? Is it good to be a disruptive leader? I believe it…
This post on leadership challenges was originally published in 2016 and has been updated for 2019. What’s different about leadership today? What are some of the challenges today’s leaders face? I address, advise, and teach leadership skills to hundreds of leaders each year. In public forums and private conversations, they share their experiences as leaders—their…