As we looked at why many folks in leadership roles avoid feedback, I shared examples of how some leaders aren’t necessarily avoiding feedback; they just aren’t getting honest input from the folks closest to them on where they have opportunities for growth. In most cases, these leaders are in little ...
To have any hope of taking advantage of the untapped power of honest feedback, we absolutely must develop the skill set of accepting that feedback without justifying our existing performance or allowing the feedback to eat away at our confidence. I mentioned earlier how much it stung, especially ear...
In the first lesson of our Emerging Leader Development course, Cindy and I stress the importance of developing the self-discipline to address issues as soon as they arise, before emotion takes over and we lose control of a situation. All too often, I’ve seen folks in leadership roles opt not to addr...
Not long ago, I had the opportunity to interview Mark Cole (CEO of Maxwell Leadership) for our Leading At The Next Level podcast and to promote him as the wrap up keynote speaker at our 2025 LeadershipLegacy Experience. Cindy and I have received some amazing mentorship from Mark over the last decade...
Here’s where I found myself: riding high and feeling mean, one of just four people selected to lead the implementation of an exciting new process throughout a nearly one million square foot facility with close to a thousand employees. What an incredible opportunity for a kid who barely graduated hig...
A lack of strategic growth and self-awareness can manifest as overconfidence in one's abilities and decision-making. A leader who is overly confident may underestimate risks, ignore warning signs, and fail to seek input from others, potentially leading to poor decision-making.
How does strategicall...
Growing yourself is the best investment you can make in yourself as a leader. Whether you are leading a group, a team, your family, or an organization, John Maxwell reminds us that your capacity to grow will determine your capacity to lead. Growth matters!
If we are trying to lead based on what w...
There is an art of learning that extends beyond what we learn. One of the best explanations of this I found in Josh Waitzkin’s book, The Art of Learning.
At 9 years old, Josh became a World Class Champion Chess Player, then as a young man he became the 2004 World Champion in Tai Chi Chuan martial ...
The first fundamental lesson in Josh Waitzkin’s book, The Art of Learning, is to Value the Process. If you’ve been following here you may have read my (Cindy) last blog, Outside Growth, Inside Growth and remember that in his book Josh offers some foundational principles we can apply to The Art of L...
Growth can be a vulnerable area, especially when we are working hard to grow on the inside. In a way, it reminds me of a hermit crab. The hermit crab is well protected by its shell, until it outgrows it. As the shell starts becoming uncomfortable, the crab knows it’s time to look for another shel...
