Being Confident Doesn’t Mean You’re Accurate

Being Confident Doesn’t Mean You’re Accurate And don’t squeeze those lemons. Thirty years ago this past January, McArthur Wheeler and Clifton Earl Johnson robbed two banks in Pittsburgh.They didn’t conceal their faces.Instead, they soaked them in lemon juice, convinced it would make them invisible to the security cameras.  (You might remember using lemon juice as “invisible ink” as a child – writing a secret message that appeared only when heated.)Obviously…

Marriage & Leadership

Marriage & Leadership Or, why can’t I just be me? When I got married, I really had no clue what I was doing. My “education” on marriage had been quite limited. I hadn’t taken any course or program on it. Sure, I’d read some articles about how to have a successful one, but safe to say I was more informed about algebra than I was about marriage. So, any strengths…

It’s More than Just Reading

It’s More than Just Reading So don’t waste your time. I hope your 2025 is off to a great start.With a new year, come New Year’s resolutions.  And sometimes that includes reading a good leadership book or two.But remember, leadership books continue to sell because they don’t work.No one wrote the Bible II, the Quran II, or the Talmud II.The first versions were more than sufficient, and they changed people’s…

So, How Well Did You Do in 2024?

So, How Well Did You Do in 2024? It’s pretty easy to know. The end of a year is a natural time for reflection:How was the year? How did I do? Did I accomplish what I set out to do? Here’s a quick and easy way to assess how well you did as leader in 2024:Who did you develop in 2024? Who’s better off because of you? That’s it.No qualifiers,…

What Will Be Your Legacy?

What Will Be Your Legacy? …and don’t forget the credenza. Popular leaders are often asked what they would like their legacy to be, as if it’s something akin to a piece of furniture they get to bequeath to their heirs. “Well, thank you, Leah; that’s a very interesting question. In addition to the walnut credenza in my corner office, I’d like to leave behind a legacy of… (etc., etc., etc.).”…

Don’t Be Like the Tile Guy

Don’t Be Like the Tile Guy You want me to do what? I needed some tile work done in my home; so I called a few tile experts.After a detailed conversation with one, he said he’d call me back next week. Then he added, “If I don’t call you back, call me.” I did an aural double-take. Excuse me? What? If you forget to call me back, I’m supposed to…

When Will You Do Your Family 360?

When Will You Do Your Family 360? If it’s good enough for work, isn’t it good enough for home? The 360-feedback process is a staple of corporate life. In case you’re not familiar with it, it’s a feedback process in which a person solicits and receives feedback from everyone around them, i.e. their manager, peers, direct reports/colleagues, and others. The process is often done online, the results are shared with…

What’s Your Leadership Process?

What’s Your Leadership Process? If you don’t have some, you need to get some. I’ve been involved in leadership development for over 25 years.  So with time, comes some perspective.When I first started out, I was a fan of what you might call the cult of leadership personality.  I thought that effective leadership essentially flowed from one’s personality, and some people just happened to be better at leadership than others. …

How’s Your Leadership Practice?

How’s Your Leadership Practice? Today’s actions are tomorrow’s reality. I once took a piano lesson, and I know one day I’ll be a virtuoso.I once took a lesson in painting, and I know one day I’ll be a master.I once took a tennis lesson, and I know one day I’ll play at Wimbledon.I once read a book on leadership, and I know one day I’ll….You get my point.Remember, leadership books…

How Many Chapters In Your Career?

How Many Chapters In Your Career? And don’t forget the footnotes… If you’ve had a modicum of success in your career, looking back on it, you can likely make sense of it.“First I did this, which led me to that, which created an opportunity for such-and-such, (and so on and so on) …and that’s how I ended up where I am today.”In retrospect, it all seems to make sense. It’s…
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