In my ongoing effort to read the entire oeuvre of Tom Peters, I recently read his 1997 book, The Circle of Innovation: You Can't Shrink Your Way to Greatness. I was initially drawn in by its provocative design that breaks from standard management literature by creating a cool, arty, magazine-like vibe using bold graphics and … Continue reading BOOK REVIEW: The Circle of Innovation by Tom Peters

“Courtesies of a small and trivial character are the ones which strike deepest in the grateful and appreciating heart.” -Henry Clay The dictionary says courtesy is the showing of politeness in one's attitude and behavior towards others; a considerate act. Tom Peters, that maverick preacher of the gospel of human excellence, often tells the story … Continue reading The Impact of Courtesy Over Credentials

Based on my experience and study of compassion and service, I have identified a spectrum of behavior levels related to kindness, which can be summarized as follows: Apathy - demonstrated as indifference, i.e., “I don’t care.” Sympathy - demonstrated as concern, i.e., “I’m sorry.” Empathy - demonstrated as connection, i.e., “I know how you feel.” … Continue reading Embracing Service Over Apathy: The Kindness Spectrum and a Thriving Workplace

One of the easiest things you can do to provide great service is to show customers that their problem is as important to you as it is to them. How do you do it? First, you have to do what you do at a railroad crossing: stop, look, and listen. Stop what you are doing. … Continue reading Great service makes people matter. Four simple things can do that.

Do we humans have a superpower? Well, I don’t think science has necessarily defined one, but I’m going to put in a vote for our natural compulsion to help each other—a.k.a. service—to be at the top of the list.  Why? Because it’s possibly the biggest contributor to our survival. We’re not the biggest, fastest, or … Continue reading You have a superpower, and you don’t need a cape to use it. 

I recently read a story about a woman who felt unsafe at work. She was being mistreated by a coworker who seemed to do it for no other reason than their enjoyment of seeing others squirm. It started with verbal jabs and elevated to subtle—and sometimes not so subtle—threats to have her fired. When she … Continue reading It. Is. All. About. People.

Let’s cut to the chase. Managing and leading are not the same thing. Leaders move people to move a mission, while managers control what can be controlled to get predictable results. Managers believe in being productive, while leaders believe in being effective.  The difficulty comes when managers try to control people because people can’t be … Continue reading In the age-old battle between management and leadership, the difference is service. 

I’ve said it a million times: the purpose of business is to help people, and that should be its priority. Unfortunately, too many have been misguided to think profit is the purpose. This is similar to the way many people see education. They make school about grades instead of learning. Grades, like profit, are outcomes, … Continue reading Is your business focused on grades or learning?

Compassion. We typically hear that word in terms that make it sound soft or weak. However, not only is compassion not weak, it is a powerful force for good and a crucial skill for success. We are constantly being told to be tough, to hustle, and to grind, so compassion gets pushed aside, yet compassion … Continue reading The Most Underrated Skill of Our Time

It’s not about you. It’s just not. In fact, in our long human history, it has rarely been about singular personalities. Rather, it has almost always been about groups, families, tribes, or organizations. But what is “it”? “It” refers to what ultimately matters being focused on an individual, as in “what is most important here … Continue reading Success is a healthy ecosystem.