Leaders Make “Smart Trust” As Easy As Possible

The Second Wave: Relationship Trust A few months ago, we defined “Smart Trust.” Now that we’ve been through all the trust-building behaviors, let’s talk about how to use what you’ve learned to build smart trust with others. Start with yourself: … Read More

Credibility Gaps: Leaders Know the Waves of Trust

Picture the ripple effect of throwing a stone into a calm pond. The waves get larger and cover more surface as they expand. Think of trust-building in this way. Stephen M. R. Covey says, “As trust is manifest in each … Read More

Leaders Know Positive is Different Than Soft

Some people push back when you ask them to take a positive approach in their leadership. They equate positivity with being nice, but being kind is deeper than empty hype like, “Good job” or “Nice work” or “Super!” You can’t … Read More

Leaders Never Let Up On Engagement

Engagement matters. Gallup quantified this issue by studying employee engagement for 40-plus years. Some of their recent findings include: 34% of employees report active engagement in their jobs. 50% of employees report a lack of engagement in their jobs. 16% … Read More

Leaders Talk About How We Do Things Around Here

Jim, the principal at my first teaching job, often said, “Most days, we have fun around here.” He said this to me at my job interview and followed it with “…and you can’t say that about most jobs.” I accepted … Read More

Leaders Know the World of Work is Changing (Part 2)

There is no shortage of information about how work is changing. Many sources support these two points: Employees have several options about where to work, and a lot aren’t happy where they are working now. Employers know these facts, and … Read More

The Gratitude Attitude

While it may be cliché to write a blog post about gratitude the week of Thanksgiving, it’s also a good reminder as we move into the holiday season. For many, November and December bring additional stress, frustration, and hardship. The … Read More

Leaders Know Unconscious Bias Is Not Political (Unconscious Bias Series Part 1)

Whenever the phrases “unconscious bias,” “implicit bias,” or “diversity and equity” come up, it seems people make immediate assumptions. They think the topic is about to be related to stuff in the news or marginalized populations. Then, they shut down. … Read More

1 2 3 4 12