Think of how you might feel if you arrived at work one day and your work-station had been moved. You didn’t know it was going to happen, and you don’t know why it happened. Then you learn that your senior manager had decided they wanted to ‘rearrange’ the seating so it would be easier for them to remember your names, or your faces, and where you sat! This is exactly what happened with a Continue →
Management
Good News, Bad News (and Great Outcomes)
Years ago, I rolled out some good news to our leadership team. My voice and verbal pace quickened (as much as possible, for a Texas boy) as I shared my exciting news with them, “We’ve just purchased eight acres, including some existing facilities that we’ll transform into our new offices!” After some positive feedback and some clarifying Q&A, they soon began to think about the associated Continue →
Are You Tired of Trying to Know It All?
Do you feel like you’re drowning is a sea of change that surrounds your business? The grocery and apparel (usually known as “fast fashion”) sectors are experiencing this warp-speed change, and much of it is driven by how consumers are buying online. I have found that my own buying habits have changed significantly, just over the last couple of years. Continue →
Every CEO Wants Three Things
There are three things every CEO wants. They wake up thinking about these three things, they go to sleep thinking about them, and pretty much every moment in between is consumed with the same three things. Continue →
The 360-degree Evaluation That Changed My Leadership
He impacted my life and leadership more than any other person. I can still remember the first day that I met him. He exuded confidence, and when our eyes locked I could see a twinkle in his eye. It was if he knew about a hidden gift, and was delighted with the thought of revealing it to those ready to receive it. Continue →
The Secret to Employee Motivation
Sometimes a simple story can reveal a powerful truth. Such is the case with a story told by my good friend and mentor, Jim Lundy… Continue →
Lone Ranger Decision-Making
For years I was “Mr. Idea Man” in our company. But that was my job, wasn’t it? As the leader of the company, I thought it was my duty to generate the ideas and map out how to implement them. Eventually, I learned that there was a better way to lead my team. I discovered a method for increasing innovation and managing change at the same time. Continue →
Two Problems That Can Sink Any Leader
I remember my days as a young leader. Some days, it seemed like I was on top of the world. Other days, I wanted to beat my head against the wall in my office! More often than not, my problems stemmed from people. But what I learned one day in 1989 would rock my leadership world and save my head from being used as a hammer! Continue →
Lead with Purpose and Vision – A Summary
Do you want transformation to occur in your organization or just change? Transformation occurs only when your people actually live and behave differently than they had before. Otherwise, change only occurs temporarily, and then your people revert back to how they were doing it before. Continue →
How to Project Your Purpose
I have written quite a bit about our purpose (Why you exist?) and our vision (Where do you want to be?). As leaders, once we understand why our purpose and our vision are so important, the next logical step is to spread the word. Continue →