The most effective organizations deliver with incredible pace and precision, with almost effortless coordination. They make it look easy. All the pieces work in unison towards a common goal. Every component has its purpose, which it knows with clarity. Each purpose supports the next. It’s almost as if high performing organizations are living beings. As […]
Tag Archives: Leadership
The Authenticity Behind The Voice
I had a LinkedIn post recommended to me that talked about the pilot who took the time to show their face and introduce themselves to the passengers. The result was a feeling of trust and safety for this passenger. But I think the author of the post assigns too much value to the “face” and not enough to what was behind the pilot’s approach. It was the authenticity of the approach that created meaning.
#BlackoutTuesday – Time to Listen
Today our social media is filled with black circles, black squares, and mentions of Black Lives Matter and #blackouttuesday. Some brands such as Apple (Apple Music) have made the day about celebrating some of the influential black voices in our society. But too many are still debating the protests in the United States and around the world and applying their own life lens to the stories that are playing out.
I Don’t Know… But Let’s Figure It Out!
If there ever was a time for leaders to realize the power of “I Don’t Know” it would have to be during a global pandemic! So often leaders believe they have to be the ones with the answers, but the reality is actually very different. Your team isn’t looking for you to have all the […]
Leadership in a time of Crisis
I had a family vacation planned for March break 2020 to Florida. It was a Christmas gift to my children from their grandparents and they were excited. A day at Disney World, a day at the Kennedy Space Center, and maybe even some fishing in the Gulf! And then the world changed… and we adapted. […]
Cultural Diversity and Leadership
There is virtually no industry today that hasn’t experienced a massive global shift over the past 15-20 years. Our teams are global, even if they aren’t located in different locations around the world. Our leadership style also has to change to support this cultural diversity.
Oh Sh#*! (Or Managing The Unknown Unknowns)
If you’ve ever worked on something even remotely disruptive or innovative, you know about unknown unknowns. They are the unexpected things that happen that it is impossible to predict. Customer feedback that doesn’t align with your assumptions. Unexpected alternative uses of your idea for other purposes. The competition reaction to your new offering. None of […]
Leadership Is A Team Sport
When people think about leaders, they usually think about the individuals who are leading. If asked for examples of great leaders we hear suggestions like Jack Welch, Bill Gates, and Winston Churchill. While it is true that these were the “leaders”, they would never have become the famous examples they are without people to lead. […]
Be The Dumb Guy In The Room
I recently spent an evening with a group of MBA students who were practicing their networking skills. Most of them expressed interest in learning about my career journey. When I walked them through my varied history, I got follow-up questions, most of which centred around the advice I would provide as they entered the workforce. […]
Leadership and Life Lessons from Gord Downie
Last night Canada lost one of our favourite sons. With a letter from the Downie family, The Tragically Hip confirmed the passing of Gord Downie after a surprisingly long struggle with glioblastoma, a cancerous brain tumour. As a nation, we celebrated Gord and the band last summer with their final tour culminating in the national […]