As my kids progress through their teens, dinnertime conversations will often center on stories of classmates “throwing shade” at one another. That’s teen speak for talking trash about someone. We’ve had important conversations at the dinner table about the effects that this type of “shade” has on people. My husband I and reinforce with our…
When (and If) Employees Return to the Post-Pandemic Office – What Leaders Need to Know
As the COVID-19 pandemic moves towards the second quarter of 2021, and society continues to open, leadership teams are considering when (and if) employees will return to the post-pandemic office. Although an estimated 1 in 4 Americans will continue to work from home (“WFH”) in 2021, many more employees will be called back to their…
The Go Big or Go Home Myth of Leadership Risk-Taking
There’s a narrative in the business world that says leaders must take bold risks (BHAG, anyone?) to garner business success. And while audacious goals do indeed require boldness, there’s an underbelly to this mindset. Left to grow unchecked, that swashbuckling style often morphs into something toxic in the workplace culture and business results suffer. The…
Small Daily Actions Add Up to Big Wins in Leadership
I’ve said it before. Leadership is a tough gig. And it doesn’t help when you are bombarded with messages telling you that the path to big wins in leadership come from big, bold risk-taking. Sure, leaders achieve when they think big. But those huge achievements are few and far between. The truth is, leadership is…
Develop Leaders by Loaning Your Belief
“Me? A leader? No way. Not interested.” If you’ve ever entered into this kind of conversation with someone you believe has leadership potential, you’re not alone. According Harvard Business Review, many employees resist enrollment in formal leadership development programs. One of the key take-aways from the research cited is that employees view “leadership” in a…