Category Archive: Mistakes

The Most Neglected and Misunderstood Tool of Leadership

Your most powerful tool of influence isn’t a strategy or technique. It’s a person. Your most powerful tool of influence is you. Brene’ Brown, author of, Daring Greatly, writes, “We must dare to show… Continue reading →

How to Respond Skillfully to the Three Types of Failure

The most instructive moment in organizational life is failure. Success teaches you to repeat things, but responsible failure turns on the lights. 4 things NOT to do when someone fails: Don’t cover your… Continue reading →

7 Things my Imperfect Boss Did Right and You Can Too

You can do many things wrong if you do a few important things right. The boss you don’t want to be: The paranoid boss that fears what others are saying about her. She… Continue reading →

High Stress to High Value: Handling Hot Potatoes

Others handle day-to-day challenges. But the hot potato lands in your hands. Passing the buck in a high stress situation means you’ve reached your peak. But an aspiration to advance requires resolve to… Continue reading →

The Power of Dumb – I Shot Myself in the Head

I’ve done things that make Tweedledee and Tweedledum look like Einstein and Edison. Like the day I shot myself in the head. It all happened while teaching our boys to safely shoot a… Continue reading →

How to End the Frustration of Recurring Problems

Frustrated leaders complain about having the same conversation. “We’ve talked about this problem over and over.” Repetition creates the path of least resistance like rivers eventually wear channels in stone. Pattern reflection: Tell… Continue reading →