Earlier, I mentioned the HR Manager I worked with for over a decade providing a great example of having the confidence to connect with others and build relationships through the process. Whether it was during his time managing the human resource department locally or after he accepted a role based o...
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...
I’ve benefited from great relationships more than I could have ever imagined. While I’m sure I don’t do it enough, I do make a point of periodically reaching out to several of the folks who have mentored me, thanking them for all that they’ve invested into my life. One that I’ve mentioned several ti...
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...
Shortly after accepting a spot on the behavior-based safety process steering committee, I had the chance to sit in on and help with a small portion of the training for new observers; the same course I had squirmed through less than a year prior. I can’t pretend that I actually offered anything of va...
Leadership isn’t just about making decisions or hitting targets—it’s about showing up with the confidence to inspire, influence, and navigate challenges. The truth is, not every leader feels confident all the time. That’s okay. What matters is recognizing where you can grow, taking action to build y...
Strategic thinking is a vital skill for managers and supervisors, enabling them to shape the future with purpose and clarity. It’s about thinking ahead, designing a plan, and setting goals today to control tomorrow. For leaders, this means driving success by building a team of strategic navigators—c...
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...
Early on in this process we looked at two separate profitability killers that nearly always feed off of each other and contribute to just about every metric a company tracks; the cost of high turnover and the cost of constant recruiting. In far too many cases, the responsibility for each of these la...
