I saw this acronym on a poster at my son’s doctor’s office the other day. Sounds like an easy way of making the workplace, or any place, a better place to be.  If we could all pay heed and think before we speak, or post, think of how much less friction there would be.  Instead … Continue reading Think

Leaders should be guiding others to be better today than they were yesterday.  This ensures a team of people who are fully equipped to accomplish the mission.  The secret to this isn’t terribly complicated but it isn't necessarily a natural practice for many. More common is for leaders to command while followers listen and try … Continue reading Are You Empowering Or Commanding?

Some people step into leadership roles out of a sense of mission and service to others, yet some seek leadership to feel power and superiority over others. The latter are interested in bettering themselves, enlarging their income or social status, or improving their standard of living while the former are first and foremost servants of … Continue reading We Need “Real” Leaders

How often do your employees interact with customers throughout the day?  Each interaction is an opportunity to provide a memorable moment and to reinforce customer loyalty. Of course, getting all employees on board to deliver excellent interactions isn’t easy. It requires having great leaders in place, great recruiting that looks for the right behaviors and … Continue reading Focus

I think most would agree that if you want loyal, happy customers, you have to have to create loyal, happy employees.  However, it seems this truth is mostly lip-service to many businesses.  The first thing I hear from executives when I mention this is, “This means paying people more and we can't afford to do … Continue reading It’s All About the Experience

I went shopping recently at the grocery store where my son works as a bagger.  He’s 17 and it’s been a good way for him to learn a bit about the “real” world. Anyway, as I was leaving, I noticed a metal track attached to the edge of the sidewalk around the store.  It is … Continue reading Uniqueness is Paying Attention to Detail

One of the most difficult things a leader must do is to influence their team to sacrifice for the good of the group. The more self-oriented the team members, the more difficult to get them to sacrifice their interests for the overall good of the team. To shift people from “me” to “we,” the first … Continue reading Sacrifice

What can I do to become a better leader?  Here are six questions to ask yourself. Do I give clear direction and guidance and take responsibility for the results? Do I share information through open conversations with my team? Do I exercise my influence by encouraging and developing others? Do I lead an honest life … Continue reading Six Questions for Leaders

Compassion, it’s something we all need if we want the world to evolve rather than devolve.  Without compassion, we turn into a society of selfish individual units out for only what benefits us.  Unfortunately, what I just described is too familiar these days, but why is compassion so necessary, after all, when it all comes … Continue reading Noticing…is it the secret to compassion?