Getting Comfortable with Discomfort
You know those moments when you get smacked in the face with a “DUH!”? I recently had one of those. Last week, I was honored to speak at the Community Summit in Washington State, a conference that serves those with disabilities. The basic mission is to mainstream...
This Is Not A Pipe.
A few months ago, I spoke at a conference where the average age of my audience was 72. One of the issues they asked me to address was how, exactly, to connect with younger generations. As I was considering what to say, I was reminded of the surrealist painter Rene...
Turn Around!
We’ve all faced it: the illusive goal, desire, objective…whatever we want to achieve. But, no matter what we do, whatever “habit” we add to our day, whatever plan or process we implement, whatever mindset we attempt to master...the results simply elude us. So what do...
Checking My Privilege
How does it feel to be a minority? I’m not sure I really know. Last week I spoke to a women's leadership summit. I was one of only 3 males in the entire event of more than 270 women. "Was I nervous?” A friend asked as she helped me prepare my thoughts. “Yes. Very!” I...
That’s NOT Leadership
It’s opposition. Perhaps I should back up. When a leader, or a person in a position of perceived leadership, simply stonewalls, railroads, opposes without engagement, or impedes and creates division, that’s not leadership. If a leader only considers the views, needs...
On Women In Leadership
Arthur Schopenhauer said: “Ours is not to see what no one has yet seen, but to think what no one has yet thought about that which everyone sees.” So here’s a thought beyond the obvious: I think women are naturally better leaders than men. The reason is simple: women...
Where Were The Leaders?
Leadership is easy as an academic study; it’s when our opportunity to lead shows up in real life that it all gets difficult. We saw just how difficult on Sunday, aboard a United Express flight. The revelation of United Express flight 3411 isn’t: Surprise! airlines...
How To Be A Rainmaker
You know the term ‘rainmaker,’ right? These are the people who bring in the money. They’re the lawyers who attract big clients, the high-grossing salesman, the partners who have a knack for finding new streams of revenue. Wanna be one? Then look a little deeper into...
The Pebble, the Pond, & Leadership: How to Connect in a Black & White World
When you drop a pebble into a pond, it creates a splash of concentric ripples that work their way to the outer most edges. If, as a leader, you see yourself as the pebble -- just trying to make a splash -- then you are missing the whole point of leadership. Your job...
Fearless vs. Fear Less
What does fearless leadership mean? To lead without fear? Is that possible? Is it even desirable? If you’re going to engage with people and bring out the best of who they are, you’re going to take risks. Not everyone’s going to like where they think you're going. How...
