The Power of Mercy as a Leadership Practice

As husbands often do, I screwed up.  I didn’t lose thousands of dollars, have an affair or forget to pay our mortgage.  My transgression was far more mundane but it was a breach of trust with my wife and she was hurt.  It happened on a Sunday morning at church no...

Expedition Behavior: Servant Leadership in Action

I was first inspired to the term “expedition behavior” in Adam Grant’s book, “Give and Take” to describe the approach of George Myers, not so famous writer and producer of “The Simpsons.” It is a term coined by the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) which has...

How to Lose Your Team in 10 Days or less

A friend recently shared the experience of a new leader being hired to replace a recently promoted manager. Even though the team liked the former manager, his shortcomings were still the topic of discussion.  There were hopes that this new leader would change...

You Can’t Lead Someone You Don’t Know

I’m often asked where a leader should begin in their growth as a leader and in their quest to have a greater influence on their team.  I’m always intrigued by the question and will ask them where they think they should start.  The answers include… Better communication...