While weak leaders blame their followers for a lack of alignment, strong leaders know that it is their responsibility to create it. Alignment doesn’t just happen. It is created. Here are three ways to make it happen with your team.

While weak leaders blame their followers for a lack of alignment, strong leaders know that it is their responsibility to create it. Alignment doesn’t just happen. It is created. Here are three ways to make it happen with your team.

I’ve had more than 20 bosses in my career. I worked well with nearly all of them. Most of them were surprisingly average—even forgettable. One was brilliant and became a role model. But he was the exception.

No one likes conflict. It’s hard, uncomfortable, and stirs negative emotions. Most of us try to avoid it at all costs. You’ve probably even asked yourself at one point or another, Do I really need to have this conversation, or is there another way? But there’s no escaping it. Conflict is part of life. It […]

Most leaders have a vision for the future. Perhaps it’s been intentionally and thoughtfully crafted. Maybe it’s also clear, practical, and you’re optimistic it will have its intended impact. But the problem is, the people around you aren’t buying in. When you cast the vision, people are neutral and unmoved at best. You may even receive […]

You have a vision for your business, your team, and your day-to-day workflow. But the more people who are added to the mix, the more likely misunderstandings will happen. No matter how hard you try, things still get lost in translation. It costs time, money, and momentum. Maybe we’re not as good at communicating as […]

While fighting in the Korean War, my dad’s tank was hit by a missile. Shrapnel knocked him out, and he lay in a coma for months. When he finally stood up from his hospital bed, he learned he would limp for the rest of his life. As a young boy, I didn’t know about his […]

Science proves it: decision fatigue is a real thing. By the end of your workday, your emotional and intellectual horsepower is depleted. When leaders invest precious energy in low-impact decisions, everyone pays a price. Hoarding decisions undervalues employees. It also keeps you from making bigger decisions that really matter. You can’t escape decision-making, but you […]

I once had a boss who rarely shared information and never in a timely way. My office happened to be in a different building than his, so getting to our weekly one-on-one meeting took a little effort. But not only did he cancel most of our meetings, he did so without notice. When we did […]

Years ago, I had an idea for one of my coaching clients. It was a fundamental change to her business model that I knew would grow her business exponentially and provide her with more personal margin. But, almost immediately, she started retreating from the idea. Why? Because she couldn’t see how it could be possible.  […]

Most leaders are good at pushing their organization forward. They’re able to hit their goals, and they might even be decent at profit. But, unfortunately, many leaders don’t prioritize their people. If a leader doesn’t know what to do with their people, morale will be low, people will leave, and the business will suffer. The […]

When you own a business, it is inevitable that at some point you will experience crisis and disruption. The question to ask yourself is, should I pull back or lean in? Being afraid in uncertain times is normal, but fear doesn’t have to define your response. When seasons of crisis come, you can strategically pivot […]

Working on a team is complicated. Senior and departmental leaders often struggle with a multitude of demands on their time. These demands then trickle down to the individual contributors who make up a team. As if the day-to-day operations aren’t enough, try adding strategic objectives on top of that. It gets complex, even confusing. This […]

Many leaders struggle with getting clarity on their vision. With the chaos and clamor of everyday life and business, the bar is often set at just trying to stay afloat. Casting a vision for what you actually want can seem like a far-off luxury. But it comes at a cost. From wasted resources to burnout […]

Many high achievers believe journaling is valuable for personal reflection and growth, but few actually open a journal on a daily basis. Perhaps you’ve thought about journaling, but then promptly gotten lost in the flurry of other tasks. Or perhaps you’ve attempted to start doing it more regularly, but then lost momentum. I’ve been there. […]

There are few things worse than walking out of a meeting, looking down at your phone, and seeing emails numbering in the double digits awaiting your response. If you travel or take vacation, the number grows even larger. It can take hours to comb through all of those messages. You probably don’t have the time […]

Have you ever felt like, no matter how many things you check off your to-do list, you just can’t keep up? Maybe you’re proficient in some specific areas of your business but aren’t the greatest in others, so they take up more time. The challenge is, even the areas you aren’t proficient in still have […]

We all have dreams and goals for our business. Sadly, leadership isn’t a gently sloping road. In between us and our goals, there can be countless mountains to climb. The only reliable way to the top is to start with a vision. It’s what enables you to make a way when none previously existed. But […]

Passion is a key component of a leader. Leaders generally don’t get to where they are without it. The same is true of drive, good ideas, and execution. Even confidence. But none of that is enough to replace vision. Passion and all the rest can fuel the mission, but vision is the North Star to […]

Whether you’re a business owner or work for a company, attracting top talent can be a real challenge. But once you find the right people, how do you proactively equip them to do their best work? And how do you retain them as time passes? This can be an even greater challenge. The best thing […]

Leaders are generally great solo achievers, but they often get one-on-one check-ins wrong. Either they give too little attention to their direct reports or smother them with communications and requests for updates. It’s challenging to find the appropriate level and cadence of interaction. People need an individual place to connect with their direct supervisor, so […]

Many leaders are good at the business side of things. They’re able to hit their goals, and they might even be decent at profit. But, unfortunately, many leaders don’t prioritize their people. And when this is the case, morale tends to be low, turnover is high, and the business suffers. The cost is too great. […]

Working remotely can be convenient and productive, but it can also be frustrating, particularly when it comes to meetings. We have all experienced terrible Zoom meetings. The team member whose connection is spotty. The dog that keeps barking in the background. The moment when everyone tries talking at the same time. There are other challenges, […]

Have you ever sat in a meeting and wondered what was happening or where the conversation was going? Maybe the point of everything seemed lost. It’s frustrating when no one in the meeting knows what’s going on. You’ve probably attended several meetings like this, and maybe now you’re in a position of scheduling meetings yourself. […]