I was scrolling through LinkedIn recently and came across this image. The image stuck with me—it says so much about what it takes to be a successful leader. Successful people go the extra yard. They finish the job. And they don’t cut corners. Leaving the cart in the parking lot is lazy, rude, and disrespectful. A person who leaves the cart in the middle of the parking lot doesn’t care about the impact on others. They put themselves first and ignore the consequences. They make decisions based on their current situation without regard for the future. These are not the … Read More
Beware of the Bad Apples You Keep
Why don’t you just fire her? That’s the first question any leader hears when they complain about the bad apple on his/her team. It’s so simple, really. If someone’s behavior is disruptive and is distracting the team, they should be released so they can find a better mutual fit. But, in the real world, it’s often much more complicated than that. There are hundreds of reasons why leaders choose to keep a bad apple. At worst, some managers keep bad apples because they lack the courage to confront the behavior. There’s no excuse for this scenario. Period. Managers who overlook … Read More
The Beauty of Being Replaceable
At each job interview, performance review, and salary negotiation, we strive to prove the unique value we bring to an organization. We work hard to get a place on the team, and then we work tirelessly to keep our place in the organization (or improve it). No one wants to appear replaceable. It is often overlooked, but there are great reasons to be replaceable.
Information Overload: A Challenge for Leaders
With the family loaded in the car, you’re headed to your child’s friend’s house. While you’ve never been to this house before, you know the general area and have the address on hand. As you get closer to the destination, what do you do? Do you continue chatting away with the family about your plans or do you turn down the radio and ask everyone in the car to be quiet? Like most people, you probably asked for silence as you crawled through the neighborhood looking for your destination. But why? The sound of the radio may not visually impair … Read More
Leadership Lessons from March Madness
It’s Sweet Sixteen time in the NCAA Men’s basketball tournament. By now, some favorites have already been sent home, and some underdogs are preparing for the fight of their lives. At this stage in the tournament, the competition is stiff and teams are more evenly matched by their win/loss records. The pressure felt by players and coaches is immeasurable, but out of the stress, 8 elite leaders will rise. Here are a few leadership lessons from March Madness:
Take the Leadership Bracket Challenge
If there is any competitive aspect of leadership, it is usually a competition of one. We are measured by our performance against a goal, not in comparison to other leaders in the organization. If anything, each leader tries to beat their personal best track record or experience. The goal is always to be a better leader today than you were yesterday. And yet, if your plan is to continue moving up the leadership ladder, you are absolutely in direct competition with your peers. And the competition is stiff. There are only so many titles with a C or SVP in … Read More