I believe strongly that the primary role of leaders is to create successful cultures. If we keep in mind that “culture” in this context means “what is encouraged to grow,” then it is pretty easy to envision the task of a leader: make sure the right things are growing. Almost [read more]
President Harry Truman taught us all a great principle of leadership when he famously put a sign on his desk that read, “The Buck Stops Here.” He was answering the tendency of some leaders in his day to “pass the buck,” to refuse to take responsibility and to instead pass [read more]
Leading Thoughts is devoted to leadership so I imagine you will be surprised to hear me say this: not everyone is made to be a leader. This runs counter to the prevailing beliefs in recent years. Lately, it is as though our society has discovered the subject of leadership. Universities [read more]
If you’ve been with us here at Leading Thoughts for very long, then you know that I believe in the idea that leadership is primarily about creating a culture. Culture, of course, is a product of whatever is encouraged to grow. It is a leader’s job to make sure the [read more]
The ancient word for “hero” did not mean what we mean by the term now. Today, we think of a hero as someone who is famous, talented, or rich. In the ancient world, hero meant someone who broke through barriers so others could arise to their best. It meant someone [read more]
There is a disease—it’s an attitude, really—that destroys great leadership and can damage organizations. I want to identify this toxic attitude for you and help you root it out of your life and all that you lead. I call it “The Priesthood of Knowledge.” Now, let me say quickly that [read more]
One of the common dysfunctions of organizations is what I call “blaming those who leave.” Let me explain. Some people will leave the organizations we lead. Usually, this is for good reasons. They move on. They grow. They spread their wings. It’s what we want. It’s actually a sign of [read more]
When people live or work together for a while, they usually start communicating in a private short-hand. Just a few words can invoke an experience they shared or a story they heard, even a joke that always prompts a knowing laugh. All the meaning of the original moments is captured [read more]
In all the work with leaders I have done over the years, I have learned that there is a single concept that tends to divide the successful from those who constantly fall short. If a leader understands this concept, the likelihood that he will be successful is quite high. If [read more]