Influence without authority?

Influence without authority?

Articles, videos and books espouse the idea that leaders must be able to influence without authority. Maybe this is partially true; the days of “because I told you so” are long gone. However, I agree with Jeffrey Gitomer (despite his continual references...
Reacting to meanness

Reacting to meanness

I had just dropped my car off to be repaired early in the morning and was walking the half mile to work. A dramatic thunderstorm had passed through town, leaving impressive puddles in the road. As I started down the sidewalk, a car veered from the center lane to the...
Stop Whining

Stop Whining

“Complaining is not a strategy” (Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder). This quote hits the mark and is now being featured in Startup Vitamins’ posters and other products. I’ve been known to do a bit of complaining from time to time. What separates legitimate griping from...
What are you reading?

What are you reading?

We are often asked to recommend books that address a particular leadership challenge. While reading books certainly doesn’t guarantee behavior change, many people report that they are inspired and guided by what they learn in books. Here are several of our favorites,...
Why change?

Why change?

We’re confronted by the need to change on a daily basis. New organizational expectations require learning a new skill. External pressures mean that the team must shift their ways of working together. How do you help others quickly respond and make the necessary...