Leaders give feedback because they want people to grow. But even when the intention is good, that's not always what happens. Instead of thinking about how to improve, the person receiving the feedback may be wondering something else entirely: Did I disappoint them? Am I in trouble? What does this mean going forward? When the […]
Accountability is something every leader should strive for. But there are times when the way we pursue it doesn’t have the desired effect. Instead of encouraging ownership, it can leave people more focused on avoiding mistakes than on sharing ideas. Most leaders don't set out to create a culture of fear. They want people to […]
Inspiration can come from anywhere. Recently, one of my daughter’s friends posted a quote on Facebook that triggered some thinking. The quote stated, "Some people have expiration dates". In reading the comments on her site, she was not referring to death. Nor, did she have some shallow perspective about letting go of people who are […]
I am intrigued by the notion of fearlessness. This sense that as individuals, eliminating our fears is desirable and necessary. This idea that to be fearless means we must fight and battle; conquer and defeat. We run full steam ahead as if our fear never existed or as if we never saw it to begin with. […]
Last week, I was reminded of a story; an old Chinese proverb, which offers us valuable lessons in perspective. An old farmer lived in a small village with his teenage son. He worked hard in the fields and his meager possessions were limited. The most valuable of his belongings was a work horse, which he […]
