Almost every person leading a company would benefit if they would only join a peer advisory group. I've been running CEO Peer Groups for over a Decade now. In that time I've heard multiple excuses why people won't join a peer advisory group. Some of them...
Leading Irrational Humans This short 3-minute excerpt from my intentional leadership presentation explains the importance of understanding that humans are inherently irrational. That we must be aware that we are leading irrational humans. If you'd like to lead irrational humans. If you'd like to discuss your leadership challenges. If you'd like to develop techniques to be an intentional leader. Schedule a no-obligation, complimentary, online coaching session by scheduling a meeting here. The text of Leading Irrational Humans Humans use different parts of our brain depending on how much energy we have. how we feel. The brain is the most intensive energy exhaustive organ in our bodies. It uses an amazing amount of energy and because of that, we try to conserve energy with it. We don't use it to its full capacity all the time and a study that illustrates that took place in Israel with Israeli parole judges. in that study, it found that when an Israeli parole judge just starts working in the morning or comes back from their lunch break or even a bathroom break, if they've have more energy they approve 65% of the parole applications that are in front of them. Two hours later it goes to zero. They approve 35%...
On Leaders Giving Bad News Courage is a prerequisite for leadership and how leaders give bad news speaks volumes regarding their courage. Most of us don't like delivering bad news. Many fear giving bad news. Yet courage is not defined by the absence of fear. Courage is taking action in the face of and despite fear. A recently completed study by BYU linguistics professor Alan Manning and the University of South Alabama's Nicole Amare, indicates that people want their leaders to be direct when giving bad news. No hemming and hawing allowed. The study finds that beating around the bush with chatter like, "This is very difficult for me and I'm sure you know that we haven't been happy with your performance so we are going to have to let you go," are sub-optimal. As is the very direct Trumpian, "Your Fired!" The research found that people prefer a tiny buffer like, "We have to talk. I'm sorry, but we have to let you go." Short and sweet, proceeded with a quick buffer is the way to go. Folks, criticism without compassion is brutality. I know what you're saying right now, "Wait! What? Did Mr. Cranky just say criticism without compassion is cruelty?" Yes, he did and if you could just...
The Trolley Problem is an exercise in ethics, evolution, and neuroscience. In this presentation, I explain the trolley problem. You can find the script below. For email subscribers, the video can be found by linking here. The Script: Let's talk about rationality. If I offered you folks a $5.00 bill in return for a $1 bill, would any of you make that trade with me? Would you give me $1 for five? <Everyone in audience nods heads> Okay, good! That's math, it's good, it's a good utilitarian trade so we got that one knocked-off. Let's make that trade a little more difficult. Now, this is called the trolley problem. There's a trolley going down a track and if it continues uninterrupted there are five people tied to the track who will die if the trolley proceeds. Yet, there's a hero, a possible hero who can save those people. It's one of you. You are sitting at a switch and if you push that switch you can make the trolley move to a side track. Unfortunately for another individual, somebody you don't know you, don't know any of these people, you don't know if they're good, you don't know if they're bad you don't if they’re the next savior of the world,...
This week, I had the pleasure of meeting with Beth Berman, CEO/Founder, Compellications ™. She's a "why," lady. Why do I say that? In leadership, nothing is more important than being conscious of your personal and organizational intentions. Simon Sinek refers to this as your "why," and Daniel Pink calls it "higher purpose." Whatever name you put on it, declaring your "Why" is declaring your intentions. It announces to others whether you are friend or foe. A team of mere mortals aligned by intentions or what Beth Berman, calls their "why" are more likely to succeed than an all-star team of non-aligned superstars. So what's your why? What's your team's why? Don't know...
What is Intentional Leadership? It's understanding how people really make decisions and modeling the behavior that instills confidence in your followers. Intentional Leadership is developing a leadership checklist of values and being true to those values. The Intentional Leadership Video is a 40-minute video of the keynote I gave at the StarWest Leadership Summit, October 2017. If you can't see the video, you can link to it here. Intentional Leadership - The Neuroscience of Leadership Outline of the Presentation: Intro - What is the Difference between Management and Leadership and why is that important The Reptilian Brain - Humans Make Rational Decisions Irrational The Reptilian Brain's Influence on Choosing Leaders A Construct for Modeling Leadership Behaviors and Values Creating a Leadership Canvas/Check List Summary If you'd like to explore how you can become a better leader, schedule a complimentary, no-obligation, online coaching session by pressing that little button below. if (window.attachEvent) { window.attachEvent('onload', loadSoeJs); } else { if (window.onload){ if (typeof isSeoFunctionLoaded == 'undefined') {isSeoFunctionLoaded = false;}if(!isSeoFunctionLoaded){var curronload = window.onload; var newonload = function (evt) { curronload(evt); loadSoeJs(evt); }; window.onload = newonload; isSeoFunctionLoaded = true;}} else { window.onload = loadSoeJs; }}function loadSoeJs() { var head = document.getElementsByTagName('head').item(0); var js = document.createElement('script'); js.setAttribute('type', 'text/javascript'); js.setAttribute('src',...
The importance of business focus On September 25th, I discussed business focus during a fireside chat with Chris Haug of Startup Grind. For those of you who don't see the video, you can link to it here....
Everyday Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) All human children develop coping mechanisms to deal with uncomfortable events. We create strategies that as children help us manage stress. Many of us subconsciously utilize these coping mechanisms into adulthood where they don't serve us quite as well. For me, my mom was very controlling. Don't get me wrong, she was a great mom, yet I bristled against her control, and my strategy to rebel against her power was to act out...
Tien Wong is one of the most connected and accomplished business people in DC. I was honored when he asked me to sit down with him to be the first person interviewed on the inaugural episode of his Web Interview Show...
Applause to these courageous women. In the past few days while America's President, failed in his duty as "Healer and Chief" I look to three women who provide the grace, courage and moral leadership that is lacking in the oval office. These three courageous women step-in to provide what our nation needs. Courageous Women Example #1 Susan Bro, the mother of Charlottesville victim, Heather Heyer. What grace, what courage, and strength. Just an ordinary woman...