The #1 Reason Leadership Books Continue to Sell

The #1 Reason Leadership Books Continue to Sell It’s not what you think. What’s the #1 reason leadership books continue to sell?Guesses anyone?? Hmmm???Leadership books continue to sell because they don’t work.And that’s not a typo. Let’s face it; if just reading leadership books made us all better leaders, we’d have stopped reading them a long time ago.I finish reading the perfect leadership book, and whammo! I’m done. Dave becomes…

Now More than Ever, Offer One Hand to Shake and One Throat to Squeeze.

Now More than Ever, Offer One Hand to Shake and One Throat to Squeeze Make it easy, and take full responsibility. Today more than ever, companies are looking for leaders at all levels. They’re looking for employees, whether or not they have people under their direction, to step up and demonstrate a greater ability to contribute. They’re looking for people to lead in terms of what they bring to the…

Is Your Company Heading for Talent Bankruptcy?

Is Your Company Heading for Talent Bankruptcy? And who even knows? “If businesses managed their money as carelessly as they managed their people, most would be bankrupt.” That’s how Bill Conaty and Ram Charan start their recent book Talent Masters: Why Smart Leaders Put People Before Numbers. And it’s hard to argue with them. Depending upon where you work, it will be true to varying degrees. But there certainly aren’t…

Are You Still Running On Your Hamster Wheel?

Are You Still Running On Your Hamster Wheel? And are you happier for it? In his 2005 Stanford commencement address, then CEO of Apple, Steve Jobs, recalled a childhood memory:“When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: ‘If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you’ll most certainly be right.’ It made an impression on me… “Remembering that I’ll be dead soon…

Four Easy Ways to Empower Your People

Four Easy Ways to Empower Your People And it’s better than making sausage. “Empowers” is one of those words consultants just love. You can drive a bus through the breadth of its all-encompassing definition: “Mary/Bob Leader, as your trusted consultant, I can unequivocally state that you need to empower your people more.” The consultant beams, and reflects silently, “Most impressive. Can I take the afternoon off now?” It’s like making…

If Your Company Needs First Aid, Don’t Cry for Help.

If Your Company Needs First Aid, Don’t Cry for Help. If everyone’s responsibe, then no one is responsible. Companies are struggling to find and hire employees. For every two job openings, there’s only one person looking. So what should you do about? Yes, you. Who’s leading the charge? The first thing to do is look around your firm and ask yourself, “Who’s leading the charge for people?” And don’t say…

Leadership, Pornography, and A Visit to Justice Stewart

Leadership, Pornography, and a Visit to Justice Stewart Do we really know it when we see it? Recently I was thinking about all the different definitions and descriptions people have for “leadership”. I think the same thing could probably be said for “leader”. If you ask 100 people todefine either term, you’re likely to get 100 idiosyncratic definitions, often with very differing perspectives. And I find that reality a bit…

Real Leadership Development:You Know It’s Not Easy; It’s a Struggle.

Real Leadership Development:You Know It’s Not Easy; It’s a Struggle. Self-help books continue to sell because they don’t work. As many readers know, I don’t have a whole lot of respect for “how-to” books on leadership and management.  I think they often convey a false sense of hope, in that by reading this book and following the author’s process, tips, advice, best practices, etc., you too will become the leader…

What’s Your Story? Why Should Anyone Care?

What’s Your Story? Why Should Anyone Care? If you don’t know it, you’re at great risk. For many of us, this year and/or next year will involve a change in leadership at work. We either did get, or we will get, a new boss. And with any change in leadership, there’s an attendant change in security. To varying degrees, the new boss is an unknown entity. Sure, we may know…

Who’s More Lost: You or Your Luggage?

Who’s More Lost: You or Your Luggage? You may be temted to bivouac, but don’t. Take things into your own hands instead. The man beside me at the counter was irate.  He didn’t yell, but you could see by the expression on his face and by his body language that he was incredulous. by HelloDavidPradoPerucha We had been promised by the gate agent in Newark that our carry-on bags, which…
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