Why Leaders Can’t Lead: Complexity and Bureaupathology

Warren Bennis in his classic book, Why Leaders Can’t Lead: The Unconscious Conspiracy Continues, discussed the forces that impact leaders and diminished their ability to lead. Bennis knew that the environment in which a leader operates impacts his or her ability to lead. A great leader in one setting may be totally ineffective in a… Continue reading Why Leaders Can’t Lead: Complexity and Bureaupathology

Leadership Nugget # 23: When Polls And Majorities Define Leadership

Tony Robbins: What is leadership? What makes a great leader? Often the “leaders” we see on TV or in the media today are figureheads that do what’s popular, but not what’s right. http://www.forbes.com/sites/danschawbel/2016/04/07/tony-robbins-most-leaders-do-whats-popular-not-whats-right/#78de29d52060 A generation of spineless leaders is emerging. This is not because the leaders start off spineless but it occurs because our society… Continue reading Leadership Nugget # 23: When Polls And Majorities Define Leadership

Leadership Nugget #20: The Intersection Where Direction, Commitment, Excellence and Meaning Meet

Tried employee engagement and it did not work? Held company picnics, college sweatshirt and employee appreciation days and not getting a long-term impact to the bottom line? Then maybe you are doing employee engagement all wrong. Engagement is all the rage in businesses today. Consultants and thought leadership gurus are on the bandwagon about how… Continue reading Leadership Nugget #20: The Intersection Where Direction, Commitment, Excellence and Meaning Meet

Leadership Nugget #22: Is Competition An Effective Workplace Motivational Approach?

Competition is good! Competition is bad! At some point in every leader’s careers he or she will have to decide whether or not to use competition to motivate staff. Some people swear by competition and use it as often as possible. They see it as focusing staff and creating a game-like, fun environment in the… Continue reading Leadership Nugget #22: Is Competition An Effective Workplace Motivational Approach?

Leadership Nugget #19: Is Consistently Bad Leadership Better Than Sporadically Great Leadership?

Transparency is often defined as the responsibility of the leader to make information, data and even thinking available to employees. But there is another aspect of transparency that is important, possibly more important than sharing information. That additional factor deals with future transparency, the ability of employees to read the leader, also known as predictability.… Continue reading Leadership Nugget #19: Is Consistently Bad Leadership Better Than Sporadically Great Leadership?

Leadership Nugget #17 : A Fable About Teaching And Coaching

I once heard the story of a young preacher who was given his first assignment, a small country church. The young minister was simultaneously excited and terrified. All he had prepared for and wanted to do was now at his doorstep. As he prepared for his first sermon he was focused on making an impact… Continue reading Leadership Nugget #17 : A Fable About Teaching And Coaching

Why Leaders Can’t Lead: The Deification Of Leadership

Warren Bennis in his classic book, Why Leaders Can’t Lead: The Unconscious Conspiracy Continues, discussed the forces that impact leaders and diminished their ability to lead. Bennis knew that the environment in which a leader operates impacts his or her ability to lead. A great leader in one setting may be totally ineffective in a… Continue reading Why Leaders Can’t Lead: The Deification Of Leadership

Leadership Nugget #15: Leadership Is Not Rocket Science!

195 leaders in 15 countries over 30 global organizations were asked to choose the 15 most important leadership competencies from a list of 74. Their survey results were reported and charted in the Harvard Business Review (March 15, 2016). https://hbr.org/2016/03/the-most-important-leadership-competencies-according-to-leaders-around-the-world?referral=00563&cm_mmc=email-_-newsletter-_-daily_alert-_-alert_date&utm_source=newsletter_daily_alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=alert_date Today consultants and thought leaders race to find the holy grail of leadership. Research studies,… Continue reading Leadership Nugget #15: Leadership Is Not Rocket Science!

Leadership Nugget # 14: The Impact Of Visible Values on Organization Culture

Does it help to post scripture verses or virtuous quotes in a person’s cubicle or at the bottom of e-mails? Several studies, quoted below, explored that issue. The results of these studies have some food for thought in actions necessary to build healthy organizational cultures. “In a series of studies, subjects were told that they’d… Continue reading Leadership Nugget # 14: The Impact Of Visible Values on Organization Culture

Why Leaders Can’t Lead: The Damaging Impact Of Soccer Trophies On The Workplace

Warren Bennis in his classic book, Why Leaders Can’t Lead: The Unconscious Conspiracy Continues, discussed the forces that impact leaders and diminished their ability to lead. Bennis knew that the environment in which a leader operates impacts his or her ability to lead. A great leader in one setting may be totally ineffective in a… Continue reading Why Leaders Can’t Lead: The Damaging Impact Of Soccer Trophies On The Workplace