You just got the promotion — or landed a new leadership role. Congratulations! Now comes the hard part: earning the trust and respect of the team you’re leading. Whether they’re brand-new faces or people who’ve known you for years, your first 90 days set the tone for everything that follows. Here’s how to do it […]
There’s an old saying in business: The bottleneck is always at the top of the bottle. It’s a blunt reminder that usually, the biggest constraint to an organization’s growth, efficiency or culture is leadership. That’s not an insult, it’s an opportunity. WHAT IT MEANS In manufacturing, a bottleneck is the stage in the process that […]
Micromanagement gets a bad rap, and often for good reason. Nobody wants a boss breathing down their neck, questioning every decision they make, or rewriting their emails (I’ve been there). That kind of behavior creates resentment, stifles creativity and drives good people away. But lately, I’ve noticed a different problem: Leaders are so afraid of […]
As leaders, we often get it backwards. We spend our days trying to “fix” our weakest links – coaching the underperformers, correcting mistakes and pouring energy into getting them up to speed. Meanwhile, our best employees — the reliable, high-output and drama-free ones — quietly crush it without much attention from us. They don’t complain. […]
If you’re looking to level up your leadership skills, one of the fastest ways to improve is to find a mentor — and to be a mentor. Whether you’re looking for guidance or to share your knowledge, mentorship offers opportunities to learn, build relationships and achieve goals. Here are some of our favorite tips for […]
Let’s be honest — too many business owners and managers are stuck in “firefighting” mode. I know because I’ve been there … and I bet you have too. You know the feeling: Your day starts with an emergency, and before you finish solving it, another one arises. You’re answering questions, fixing mistakes and filling gaps, […]
We all have that inner voice. Sometimes it’s encouraging, and sometimes it’s doubtful. Other times, it quietly installs limits on what we think is possible. These invisible barriers, often built from misconceptions, old fears or even innocent misunderstandings, can hold us back far more than reality ever could. ONE OF MY FAVORITE STORIES I once […]
Imagine waking up tomorrow with a billion dollars in your bank account. How would you spend it? Travel the world? Invest in your future? Give to charity? The options are endless. Now, think about this… Instead of a billion dollars, imagine you have a billion seconds. That’s approximately 31.7 years. The question remains the same: […]
As leaders, the desire to be liked can manifest in ways that undermine our effectiveness and personal well-being: Saying “yes” to everything: It’s tempting to accommodate every request, but overcommitment leads to burnout. More importantly, it sets a precedent that others can prioritize their needs over your boundaries or the company’s goals. Avoiding hard conversations: […]
As AI technology grows, the types of skills that employers value are changing, too. In the past technical skills often were the key to getting hired and advancing in a career. But as AI handles more of our data and routine tasks, the value of people skills — like communication, empathy and leadership — is […]
