Pivoting in business is a difficult decision for leaders. Pivoting at the wrong time or in the wrong way can be, in a word, disastrous. On the other hand, pivoting at the right time in the right way can inject tremendous energy into a business, propelling the company upward with terrific thrust. One of our… Continue reading 4 Keys to Achieving a Successful Pivot in Business
In our last blog, we discussed how leaders can wreck trust on their teams. Now, no leader sets out purposefully to damage trust. But it can happen, nonetheless. If you find yourself in the unenviable position of having been responsible for dismantling team trust, you have an important job ahead of you: rebuilding trust on… Continue reading A Blueprint for Rebuilding Team Trust
Years ago, I (Rip) was at a conference where Jack Welch, the CEO of General Electric, was asked what he wished he had done differently in his career. He said, essentially, “I always moved too slowly on the tough people problems. People problems are not like fine wine. They don’t get better with age.” I… Continue reading If There Are No Consequences, There Will Be No Change
At first glance, building trust does not seem like it would require leadership courage. Yet, it does. Here is why: trust, at its core, is a combination of competence, integrity, and empathy. Competence is necessary because to be a trustworthy leader your followers need to know that you know what you are doing. Integrity is… Continue reading Leadership Courage Part 6: Building Trust
Feedback is perhaps the single most powerful tool a leader has at his or her disposal to bring about significant improvement in employee engagement and performance. Ken Blanchard wisely noted, “Feedback is the breakfast of champions.” That being said, most leaders avoid giving redirecting feedback – feedback that seeks to change negative behavior or performance… Continue reading Leadership Courage Part 5: Giving (Tough) Redirecting Feedback
Businesses around the world are indebted to James Collins and Jerry Porras for giving us the concept of the “BHAG” – a “big, hairy, audacious goal.” BHAGs have been instrumental in challenging and changing businesses for the better for years. BHAGs are stretch goals: specific in nature, long-term in timeframe, and transformative in outcome. It… Continue reading Leadership Courage Part 4: Setting a Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal
