Steps To An Effective Apology: How Leaders Restore Trust Without Losing Authority
Losing your temper at work can damage your credibility overnight, especially if you’re a leader.
In this video, I share a real story from my years on a high-pressure trading floor and the leadership lesson that followed.
An effective apology doesn’t weaken your authority, it strengthens trust and culture.
If you want to know how to apologize well (and why it matters more than perfection), this video is for you.
Why High-Achieving Leaders Struggle to Feel Satisfied…and What It’s Costing
If you’re running a company and nothing ever quite feels finished, this may resonate.
Twenty-five years ago, I was successful on paper but chronically dissatisfied.
There was always something missing. Something incomplete. Something not quite good enough.
Over time, it showed up physically: abdominal pain and chest tightness.
The issue wasn’t my standards.
It was that I had never defined “enough.”
How to Become a More Interesting Leader: 5 Curiosity Skills That Work
Discover 5 practical ways leaders can become more curious, approachable and engaging. Learn how curiosity strengthens communication, trust and influence.
Why Your People Leave and How to Fix It: Part 2: Management Style
We can all agree: employee retention is a big deal, especially when it comes to keeping your all-stars.
The costs of losing great people are steep…financially, operationally and relationally. A great goal would be to pick one “fix” from my suggestions and apply it in your workplace this week.
The Best Way To Connect With Your People
Your natural instinct is to lead with your best self…the wins, the highlights, the “look what I’ve accomplished” hoping to be impressive. Someone once called this “building an altar to me.” It feels good in the moment, but it actually creates distance. People admire your strengths but that is not enough. What can you do this week to better connect with your top stakeholders?
The Power of a Handwritten Note in a Digital World: Inspire Teams and Build Trust
In our fast-paced world of emails, texts and instant messaging, sending something by “snail mail” feels almost antiquated. But when it comes to showing appreciation or offering encouragement, a handwritten note stands out. Imagine seeing your name on a hand-addressed envelope sitting in a pile of bills and junk mail—you’re going to open that one first.
Don’t Let Grudges Cost You Influence: The Invisible Leadership Skill Most Professionals Ignore
Do you hold grudges? Name the top five people you spend the most time with at work and at home. Do you have anything against any one of them? Have you been offended recently by something they said, did or didn’t do? If so, did you address it? If not, how long do you plan to hold onto it? Offenses, resentments and grudges are interesting. They are used for emotional leverage…we want to make the other person pay. But do they? Or are we the ones actually paying?
Seven Ways To Respond To Criticism
What is your response when criticized? While it may be easier to take if it came from a well-known, likeable, kind person who was given permission, ultimately it should not matter if you want to grow. Any critique is an opportunity for you as a leader, employee, family member or friend to hear some input that could be very valuable for you relationally and possibly financially.
Conquer Conflict Avoidance: 10 Practical Steps to Tackle Tough Conversations at Work and in Life
Roughly half of the clients I coach struggle with conflict avoidance. They spend significant emotional energy beating around the bush and tolerating unhealthy or unproductive behavior. As the saying goes, “You get what you are willing to put up with.” Over time, this avoidance becomes a silent source of stress, anxiety and even resentment.
How To Disagree At Work Without Damaging Relationships
Can you disagree with someone at work and still maintain a strong working relationship? Absolutely—and you should. Disagreement is not a sign of dysfunction. In fact, it’s often a sign that people care about their work, the company’s direction and doing things well. As your organization grows, so will the range of opinions on strategy, process, management and more.
5 Steps To Build Trust In Your Communication
Does your communication build trust? This is always an area worth reviewing for opportunities to grow. Who wouldn’t want to be trusted more? Here are five suggestions to be more trustworthy in what you say.
How To Have A Difficult Conversation: The Art Of Tough Love
Have you ever had to deliver a hard message…to be painfully honest about how someone is coming across? Effective leaders need to be able to do this with confidence. They need to be willing to step into the mess “for such a time as this” with tough love.
The Secret To Career Advancement: Become Easier To Work With
Have you ever considered what it might be like to work with you? Your first thought was probably something like, “But I am wonderful to be around. I always get along with me.” Take a minute and give this some serious thought. Ask yourself, “What is it like to receive a call from me, sit in a meeting next to me, manage me, work for me?”
The Stay Interview: Why Your Best People Keep Coming to Work for You
A tool that many companies are beginning to use is the Stay Interview. This is a meeting with employees who consistently exceed goals and get along well with their coworkers. Why wait until someone is leaving to discover valuable information about the company when you can find out the reasons the best employees decide daily to keep coming to work?
Dealing with Nonstop Talkers: Killing the Me-Monster
We have all had varying degrees where we run into the Me-Monster. This is that person who wants to do all the talking when it comes to casual conversation and is lurking at parties, beside you on planes and next to you in the stands while you try to watch your kid play in a ballgame. At work the Me-Monster prowls the halls, loiters in the kitchen and peers over the top of your cubicle.
Walk with Purpose
A young mother drops by a store to pick up just one item. With her three kids in tow, she navigates the aisles to find her item is out…
My Take-Aways: The Advantage by Patrick Lencioni
This classic by Lencioni is about a practical approach to improving organizations. The qualitative field research is just as reliable as…
Five Great Questions
One of the key character qualities I look for in others is the ability to ask questions. Some people prefer to talk and rarely ask any…
Powerful Question Collection
Great questions open up conversations and get below the surface. Below is my collection of the top questions I like use professionally…