Author Archive

Dealing with know-it-alls

One day over coffee … Some time back, a high-potential leader asked if I saw anything in him that might hold him back. I said, “Yes,” and pointed out a problem area. Without… Continue reading

Top talent can be frustrating

The leadership team of the not-for-profit I lead is meeting with our highly committed top talent. These meetings have made me realize how top talent might be frustrating to some leaders. Surprisingly, talented… Continue reading

Not all weakness are the same

Waffles are uniquely tasty because of what they don’t have.  It’s the empty spaces that make them delightful. The empty spaces catch and hold sweet stuff like: butter, syrup, jam, or peanut butter.… Continue reading

An inconvenient truth: Respect me

I recently read these insightful comments from John Spence: More and more high potentials are telling me that they want to be “treated with respect” by their leader. Now, when I entered the… Continue reading

The Right Way to be Wrong

  The great coach John Wooden said, “I’m positive that a doer makes mistakes.” Challenge Too many mistakes and you lose credibility. Too few mistakes and you’re dead in the water, you can’t… Continue reading

An Accidental User

Are you abusing high performers through neglect? People get buried or worse yet, burned by highly focused leaders. Passionate vision may transform you into a person that thinks of people as tools. You… Continue reading