When Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner wrote their now-classic book “The Leadership Challenge”, a foundational piece of their research focused on leaders as role models. In the authors’ article Model the Way, they write, “Exemplary leaders know that it’s their behavior that earns them respect. The real test is whether they do what they say;…
You Aren’t a Perfect Leader. But Your People Still Expect It.
I If you’ve ever held a leadership position, you’ve probably already figured this out: you are held to a higher standard. You are expected to be more. More authentic, more compassionate and most importantly, more ethical than the average working Joe or Jane in your office. Your daily actions are intensely scrutinized. Author S. Chris…
How To Gain Buy-In From Your Team
When my daughter was in elementary school I chaperoned a group of second-graders on a field trip to the ArtPrize exhibition in downtown Grand Rapids. Picture this: ten 8-year-olds, excitedly dashing around parks and gardens, in and out of exhibition buildings. They were so excited to experience the art displayed throughout our city. Naturally, their…
Want Great Ideas from a Team? Flip the Script
When you lead a team, great ideas are the lifeblood of innovation and productivity. Let’s say you have an idea that you’d like to toss out to your team. How can you get the folks to speak up and help you discern the idea’s viability? Nobody wants to waste time on a stinker of an…
Effective Meeting Leaders Set the Right Expectations
People hate meetings. This is not earth-shattering news. Many of the complaints are legit: meetings are unfocused, too long, or unnecessary. Some of the complaints are humorous (but still true.) One of the lesser-mentioned reasons that merits consideration is meeting purpose. People get frustrated with meetings because they are unclear about expectations surrounding the reason…