Leadership is Not One-Size-Fits-All
We live in an age when trends in leadership and business fly by nearly every five minutes. It can make us believe we aren’t cutting edge unless we take in every new book or course that the gurus throw our way. It isn’t true. I want to help you fight back and stand on your own. I certainly understand the temptation. New plans, new approaches, new visions sizzle the business magazine headlines. New styles of leadership call to us from the blogs and articles of leadership experts. We are made to feel we have to add all of it to[read more]
Leadership is Defined by Seasons
I was recently asked what my biggest mistake in leadership has been. I knew the answer immediately. I overstayed my welcome in two jobs. I don’t want you to make the same mistake. Let’s talk. One of the arts of good leaders is that they are discerning about the seasons of their work and leadership. Most everything in life is defined by seasons. Your body is defined by seasons. Leadership is defined by seasons. Even your relationship with your spouse, your children, and your friends is defined by seasons. Over time, all these important parts of your life vary in[read more]
Seven Maxims of Leadership
There are seven maxims that have guided me throughout my life of leadership. Let me share these with you. I urge you to take them and make them your own. Work smarter, not harder. I grew up in a military and sports world. I lived with the idea that if there is no pain there is no gain. I’m glad I did. These words made me work hard in my early days. Yet in leadership, working harder isn’t usually the best way. Now, I have sensors that go off if I’m working too hard. I start to ask if I’m[read more]
Bonsai Leadership
My mother grew up in Japan and so in my childhood I learned a great deal from her about Japanese culture. Among the many Japanese arts she extolled was that of “bonsai.” This is the art of growing things small. It is a beautiful art form requiring great skill and patience. Now, as much as I admire bonsai as an art, I do not admire it as a factor in leadership. Let me explain. Perhaps the chief purpose of a leader is to grow things. He or she is meant to grow people, grow groups of people (firms), grow production,[read more]
Rest Well, Lead Well
I want to add my voice in this Leading Thoughts to many other voices you have heard on an all-important subject. That subject is rest. You know how it goes in leadership. You hack away with your axe. You chop and you chop. People admire your productivity. It makes you chop longer and harder. You love hearing about how folks admire you for hacking away so fiercely. Yet you know what is happening. Your axe is growing dull. Your muscles are tiring. Your mind is fraying. If you refuse to rest and sharpen the axe, you’re going to lose a[read more]
Public Speaking-Developing Your Voice
I’m sure you remember when I quoted Warren Buffett on the value of learning to speak well. He said that most people can double their value simply by learning to give speeches with skill. I agree, so I want to return to this topic here, as I will from time to time to keep this need constantly in your mind. Let me also remind you of some things I said in those earlier Leading Thoughts. I said everyone can become a better speaker. I said that if your career depends upon speaking well, then get some coaching. I also said[read more]
Leadership Development Tactics
More than a few Leading Thoughts’ readers have asked me about the tactics that most shape me as a leader. Here are the top ten: I ask a lot of questions. I do this particularly when something negative has happened. My interest isn’t morbid. I’m just eager to learn what principles I can draw from the experience of others to apply to my own leadership. I read books about great leaders. Usually these books aren’t about leadership but I draw leadership lessons from them. This is possible because history teaches principle by example, so you have to know[read more]
“Killer” Approach to Leadership
I stay away from politics in these Leading Thoughts. I don’t mind, though, talking about leadership themes in politics to illustrate principles that will help you lead. That’s what I want to do now. We have all watched Donald Trump enough to know the kind of culture he builds around him. He likes “killers.” He likes competition. He’s the classic “survival of the fittest” capitalist who likes conflict and thinks it forces champions to the fore, no matter the damage done along the way. As I wrote in my book on the 2016 election, “Donald Trump is a fighter. There[read more]
Leave Some on the Table
My theme for you in this Leading Thoughts is as much a principle of economics as it is a principle of leadership, yet I want to emphasize it strongly since it touches on an important matter at the heart in business leadership. As you may know, I’ve had the privilege of writing and speaking about the Guinness family and how they used their firm to have a massive impact on the poor in their home country of Ireland. One of the maxims that they held dear and which led to their success was this: “If you want to make money[read more]
The Gap Between Vision & Advice
One of the great arts of leadership is knowing how to close the gap between vision and advice. More than a few disasters have resulted from a failure at this art and so I want to take some time to think this through with you. When leaders get a vision, it is a beautiful and powerful thing. It is personal. It is intensely internal. It feels something like I assume a pregnancy does for a woman. There is life inside me. It is something I created. I must protect it and care for it until the time for birth. Now[read more]