In more than thirty-five years of consulting, I have found that, at the upper echelons of large organizations, natural intelligence differentiates the successful leader from the “also ran.” While you’ll hear debates about the roles of emotional intelligence, vision, and the ability to motivate others, brainpower trumps all. Three main components define what I call […]
How Critical is Critical Thinking? Read More »
In the past six months, I have visited four high-end hotels where the waiter informed me that they were out of English Breakfast Tea, the beverage that provides the perfect cup of ambition to start my day. Instead, the waiters advised I should try Earl Grey Tea. Earl Grey Tea takes its name from the
And the Survey Says… Read More »
I have often said that a smart sociopath is a leader’s worst nightmare. These snakes in business casual generate more havoc in a shorter period of time than anyone else—and they often make doing so look good, at least in the short run. But we don’t give enough attention to the second biggest problem: the
Your Second Worst Nightmare: The Idiot with Initiative Read More »
Known for his “You might be a redneck” one-liners, for almost thirty years stand-up comedian Jeff Foxworthy has helped audiences understand unique behaviors and credentials of rednecks. Taking a lesson from this comedic icon and adding Bill Engvall’s observation that people give us “signs,” I offer the following seven signs that your leadership might need
Seven Signs You Might be a Weak Leader Read More »
Last month a CEO client contacted me to evaluate Dean, an executive who had come to him through a referral from a trusted source. The man who referred him knows both my client and the candidate and assured the CEO that the two should meet to explore how Dean could work for him. Hold on.
On October 22, 2013 America lost a hero, General Robinson Risner, Word War II combatant, Korean War ace and Vietnam prisoner of war senior leader. The history books will note Risner’s two Air Force Crosses, his courage under torture, his outstanding aviation in three wars, and his long commitment to the military. I will remember
The Legacy of Heroic Leaders Read More »
Back in the days of yore when I started my consulting career, diversity issues dominated the agendas of military social action groups and the burgeoning human resource movement. People wanted inclusion, equitable pay, and fairness in hiring and promotion. New terms like “affirmative action” and “quotas” started to creep into the vernacular, and people reacted
What if We Got it All Wrong? Read More »
When it comes to accepting direction, star performers, especially those in the major leagues of their industries, show caution and restraint. They offer raw talent, expertise, discipline, and excellence, so they want to see the same qualities in those who lead and teach them. Members of the St. Louis Cardinals see these traits in their
Coaching in the Majors: Advice from Cardinal’s Hitting Coach Read More »
We’d like to think that if we met someone who didn’t have a conscience, we would size up the situation quickly and accurately. If we were to encounter the corporate equivalent to the fictitious Hannibal Lecter, the evil psychiatrist Anthony Hopkins made famous in Silence of the Lambs, we believe that, like FBI agent Clarice
The Snake Marking Guide: The Perils of Leadership Read More »
In my work, I frequently engage in a broad-based leadership development program to prepare top talent for advancement. That was the case when I recently worked with a large construction company to groom Mike, one of the presidents, and Joe, the lead risk officer, for advancement. During the 360 peer interviews I asked Mike how
The Risky Business of Not Taking Risks Read More »
