I don’t think most leaders realize how quickly obligation distorts presence. It took a $70 networking ticket for me to see it happen in real time—in myself. A colleague invited me to an event. At the time, I didn’t realize he had personally paid the guest fee. Before...
If you’re leading significant change and facing resistance, this may be the most important question you ask yourself this year: Are you tightening strategy—or tightening control? The difference determines whether trust expands or erodes. An executive I work with...
Not long ago, I was standing in an office building with two people who are deeply connected to a leadership initiative I co-lead—L3, a free monthly lunch where local leaders gather to learn from and support each other. As we stood there chatting about which businesses...
A few days ago, I set out walking toward a part of town where I knew there were businesses. It was a Sunday afternoon, so most places were closed. That’s why, when I noticed one garage door open at a pool company, I perked up. My first thought: the only person...
Last year, I swam in open water and got stung by jellyfish — dozens of times. Even though I wore a protective suit, the stings still found the unprotected parts of my body: face, hands, feet. The pain lingered, and so did the memory. For eight weeks, I stayed out of...
Mirroring in Leadership: Why Belonging Is a Performance Multiplier Most leaders believe belonging is about culture initiatives. What they often miss is that belonging is about identity. Many high-performing adults walk into organizations still negotiating their worth....
