Employees generally agree that leaders with a passion for excellence, quality and accomplishment benefit their organizations. These qualities place leaders at the top of their fields. No one faults managers who give their all and make sacrifices, but too much of a good thing can also pose problems. Perfectionistic leaders may be as damaging as…
Are you a humble leader? Humble leaders regard the needs of others ahead of one’s own. They think of self less, not less of self. They are fulfilled by helping others achieve fulfillment. A leader with a humble approach lifts people’s spirits, self-esteem and confidence. I’ve been writing about this in recent posts. If you…
Many leaders still believe workplace humility is a detriment, not an advantage. Authority, power and even intimidation are best to run organizations and achieve results. Perhaps this is based on a misunderstanding of true humility: a desire to serve and dedication to bettering others. If you wonder about your own leadership, start by assessing your…
Before determining how best to reflect humility, it’s important to grasp what it is and what it looks like. Perhaps pastor, speaker and author Rick Warren expresses it best: Humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less. While strong leaders are stereotypically portrayed as egocentric, forceful, bold and self-serving, humility is…
Employee mindsets have shifted from previous generations, according to current data. They want much more than a paycheck and seek interpersonal connections with their leaders. They desire purpose, significance and the fulfillment associated with making a difference in the workplace. Employees want to contribute value and enjoy meaningful work. They need assurances that they’ll be…
Today’s leaders face innumerable challenges that previous generations never confronted: employee disengagement, cloud-based speed of commerce, political correctness, cultural diversity, social sensitivities and a hyper-focus on efficiency, among others. Humility, however, is an often-overlooked character trait that flies in the face of culturally accepted leadership norms. It may, in fact, be the most powerful attribute…
Learning how to consciously leverage my strengths helps me navigate volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA world).
How well do the leaders in your organization share their disappointment? Leaders who provide constructive responses to disappointment reflect an honorable character worthy of following, describes Robin Camarote in Inc.com. This involves learning the skills of self-awareness and emotional intelligence. An experienced executive coach is a great resource to help you in this area. When…
Have you had an unfortunate response to disappointment? I wouldn’t be surprised. We’re hard-wired to respond to stimuli with feelings first and analysis second. When we act on our emotions, before we allow time to think, we respond unfavorably to disappointment. Unfortunately, emotionally driven types of responses are common for some leaders, according to leadership…
How are you dealing with disappointment? Leading in today’s competitive business market requires thinking and reaching beyond the norm. It requires leaders that give and gather the best: intellect, passion and commitment. Leaders know that they can’t achieve desired results without the engagement of others. We require vendors to fulfill contracts as agreed. We need…
With the impact of the Coronavirus and so many people “sheltering in place” for weeks, maybe months to come, balancing work and home in new ways is paramount for leaders forging a new normal for the time being. So many of us – yours truly included – grapple with striking a balance between work and all the other joys life has to offer. Here’s the common thread from the leaders I’ve talked with: our balance gets thrown off because we have this notion that we can’t be fully human at work. Personable, yes – but showing our messy edges? Nope. Here are three things you can do now to find work-life balance in times of crisis – and continue raising your leadership bar.