Last week we were on vacation, and our F150 broke down - again. I was upset and felt myself becoming emotionally hijacked. I was blaming Ford for building this lemon (it’s not the first time it has been towed). No amount of upset, blame or stress was going to resolve...

A leader once told me he wanted people to do what they were told. The leader didn't feel he had time to hear others ideas. I told him if he didn't have time to hear their ideas, then he also did not have time to succeed. Everyone has ideas. One of the jobs of a leader...

What do you dream about? Everyone has dreams, and it is in our dreams we can find a better version of ourselves. What are you doing to make room for your dreams? What are you doing to make room for the dreams of those you lead? Do you even know what others are...

I once had the opportunity to co-lead with one of my mentors. I was nervous and sitting quietly for much of the experience. I didn't think I was good enough to co-lead with her. I was telling myself a story with no basis in reality. Despite the lack of reality, my...

Everyone, myself included, is talking about authentic leadership these days. We might use different words, but the message is similar -- to be a better leader, get to know yourself better. How hard can knowing yourself be? A little self-reflection, sprinkle on a few...

Imagine your dentist drilling into a tooth uncertain with the work. What would be the impact of the uncertainty be to the patient? Does she have everything needed to finish the job? Will your tooth be done in an hour, a day or a week? When people start work with...

A team I coached had gone through a lot of change. Just like clockwork, the team returned to what the Tuckman model calls forming. Shortly after, I observed the team clearly in storming. I was excited, as it meant they were learning to work together. Now I had to...

I once coached a leader whose team was seen as the worst. It's easy to live down to expectations when you are seen as the worst. Living down to expectations is not that hard, as words and actions will pave the way. Or, you can choose to show them how great your team...

David Marquette is a former US Nuclear Submarine Captain. Marquette turned his ship from being the worst to the best in the US Navy. One of David's stories is of sailors loading torpedoes. Long story short, they dropped a torpedo. It was in this moment of danger,...

I once worked with a team who was struggling with low morale. In fact, their morale was in a downward spiral. When management asked for my help, it didn't take long to find some problems. The easier things to fix were installing a drinking water filter, ensuring they...