Leadership
How paperweight wisdom can kill critical thinking
We like paperweight wisdom because it reinforces our own values and worldview. It absolves us of having to think deeply. Don’t be one of the shallow thinkers.
Life
Five ways to beat the pressure when trying to repeat a success
Trying to repeat a success creates its own kind of pressure. Here are five tips on how to maintain your edge and creativity when your inner critic gets uppity.
The Gray Bear
Metrics, insights, and learnings from the Coach Showcase project
For 2023’s International Coaching Week, I interviewed 15 great coaches to get their thoughts, tips, and insights. In addition to hosting them on my website and YouTube channel, I posted each video to my LinkedIn profile. One a day during International Coaching Week, then one each week following on Thursday Read more…
Conflict
What do a 7-year-old, a slice of cake, and a self-destructive project manager have to do with being a better leader?
A 7 year old’s moral relativism, a clash of cultures, and a self-destructive project manager show how a shift in perspective can help us be better leaders.
Decisions
Your future self is a jerk. Don’t let them get away with it.
When you set goals, you create an aspirational future self. But that guy’s like a micromanaging boss who’s always judging and complaining. Don’t be that guy.
Career
Build your resilience with these three simple tips
Resilient people are able to persevere better through bad times and recover more quickly. Learn to build your resilience with these three simple techniques.
Decisions
Failure is the most likely outcome for your dream. So what’s stopping you?
Pay attention to the inspirational memes and posts that come through your social media this month. The stories that get told and retold are the ones about success. Often, unusual successes. Stories like these: Julia Child didn’t start her culinary career until she was in her 50s. Alan Rickman didn’t Read more…
Courage
Racing to mediocrity: how to rationalize minus-one hiring
When a manager rationalizes hiring the lesser candidate, that’s minus-one hiring. It leads to institutionalized reliable mediocrity.
Decisions
Controlling the answers by controlling the questions
Some leaders manufacture outcomes by manipulating data and controlling the questions that get asked. That can lead to spectacular failure, and often does.
Career
3 easy actions to clarify your career path
How can you plan a career path when you don’t know where you’re going? Here are three actions you can take to get going in the right direction.