Change: When “New and Improved” Becomes “Not Again”
Lately, I’ve been thinking about what it’s like to successfully lead a change initiative.
The Magic of Routines
Lately, I’ve been thinking about the connection between boring routines and goal achievement.
A young aspiring author recently asked for advice on writing his first book. “I have a great idea for a novel,” he told me, “but I can’t seem to finish the first chapter. I just get stuck. What’s wrong with me?”
Burnout is a Leadership Problem
According to Gallup, we’re losing $500 billion annually to workplace stress. For every $10,000 of salary, companies are losing $3,400 due to burnout. This isn’t just a problem. It’s a massive economic black hole…
Why Leadership is Never-Ending
I once had a boss who would tell old stories so often that team members would eventually roll their eyes. His stories were relevant to him but more than a little stale to everyone else…
That memory has me thinking about how the stories we tell reflect our credibility.
Are You Transparent Enough to Lead Well?
Keeping employees in the dark doesn’t protect your company—it undermines it.
A fascinating study from MIT found that companies with high information transparency saw a 38% increase in employee engagement compared to those with restrictive policies. Yet in countless boardrooms, the mantra “Just tell them what they need to know” lives on like a corporate zombie—mindless, but surprisingly hard to kill.
Why Forcing Change Backfires—And What to Do Instead
“If you have to force change, you’ve already failed.”
This became painfully clear when I learned why the majority of organizational transformations collapse…
The Real Reason Your Middle Managers Are Failing (Hint: It’s Not Their Fault)
I recently came across a LinkedIn post that began with the sentence: ‘Middle managers have gotten soft.’ The author argued that middle managers, as a group, are no longer driving team performance to a sufficient level and are therefore to blame for many companies’ struggles. Upon reflection, I don’t think the author was looking at the problem deeply enough.
Metacognition for Leaders
I recently decided to train for a half marathon happening this fall. My mind told me it would be easy since I’ve run before. I was wrong.
My first training run told me that, in reality, training for a half marathon would be the opposite of easy. I think my huffing and puffing could be heard several counties away. Why had my mind tricked me?
When Truth Gets Lost in Translation
I was in a CEO’s office recently when she told me something startling. Tina confidently informed me that she had checked in with her direct reports and they had assured her that company morale was high.
Her message surprised me because I had spoken to several people on the front lines of the company who told me the exact opposite. They were frustrated about a perceived lack of communication and clarity.
The Art of Recognition
The CEO of a tech company was under pressure to make the presentation of his life.
Despite the company’s success, it was at a pivotal moment in its history. Company leaders felt they had created a transformative new product, but they had to get the rest of the world to agree. The CEO was about to deliver a keynote address to reveal the product to shareholders and customers, and he knew he had to nail his pitch.
Then, he did something unexpected.
Recent Posts
-
Change: When “New and Improved” Becomes “
March 17, 2025 -
The Magic of Routines
March 1, 2025 -
Burnout is a Leadership Problem
February 24, 2025
