Recently, a client said to me, “It’s lonely at the top.” This person was feeling the weight of making major decisions that affect their company, their customers, employees, and shareholders. These are decisions that often must be made without clear or complete information; stakeholders might criticize them; and the impact may not be understood for months or years to come. (more…)
Earlier this year I signed up to complete my third half-marathon which is scheduled in October. I consider myself more of a finisher than a runner, but here I am again. I keep doing it because it represents a goal that stretches my physical and mental abilities, and because I’m simultaneously raising money with a group called Love Runs to fight human trafficking. (Our goal is $150,000 and your donation of any size at this link would be greatly appreciated.) Another motivator is that each time, I learn from the process of training and running in ways that add value to other areas of my life. (more…)
One of the most important roles leaders find themselves in is setting or changing direction for their team. Whatever happened in the past, there is a need to clarify a future that is different or distinct. The operating environment or fundamentals may have shifted. New threats or opportunities may have changed the pathways for progress. And the metrics for success may require modifications. (more…)
I live in the metro Detroit area, and for anyone who has a heartbeat here, we know that the Detroit Pistons are in the National Basketball Association playoffs. After last year’s poor 14-68 season, they’ve rebounded to 44-38 with a new coach and a physical style of play reminiscent of the 1989 and 1990 “Bad Boys” era when they won back-to-back championships.
A critical role in their success is the new coach J.B. Bickerstaff, who joined the team in June last year with a mandate from team owner Tom Gores to “immediately instill a culture of growth, development and inspiration.”1 He’s responsible for getting the team to work together to win. And like any other team in sports or business they want to win, especially after so many losses. (more…)
Imagine that you’re the captain of a container ship, moving valuable cargo all over the world. You’re also part of a worldwide network of maritime container shipping vessels that work together across consolidated routes to provide services. Businesses and people all over the world are depending on you to deliver your goods on time. This is your livelihood and traveling in the open water is your passion.
You’re used to navigating familiar oceanic courses and know how to handle calm or stormy waters. You communicate regularly with your seafaring colleagues to share information on the weather and other details to maximize the safe and efficient operation of your ship. (more…)
These are the words of singer Tina Turner’s biggest selling single.1 And since I typically write about leadership, you may be wondering right now, what’s love got to do with leadership?
The Greek language defines different types of love that we might demonstrate in interactions with others. It highlights agape love as “universal love, such as the love for strangers, nature, or God…encompass(ing) the modern concept of altruism, as defined as unselfish concern for the welfare of others.”2 (more…)
The news media frequently reports on new leadership appointments across various organizations. Regardless of how these leaders are chosen, stakeholders can anticipate changes. The new leader will bring fresh perspectives, priorities, processes, and their own authority to implement change.
This change is often driven by the leader’s vision for a different future. Their motivation plays a crucial role. Are they pushing change merely to differentiate from their predecessor for personal advantage, or to benefit the organization and its stakeholders? Ideally the latter since the fundamental responsibility of leadership is to promote the health and welfare of the organization. (more…)
Helicopters are known for their unique ability to hover, take off and land vertically, and move in ways that traditional fixed-wing aircraft cannot operate. They are the air vehicle of choice for emergencies and crises. They transport people and things to locations where airplanes can’t land. They aid up-close sightseeing, aerial videography and photography, and agricultural work. They can maneuver into hard-to-reach locations, hover close to, or land on the ground. This makes it easier to off-and-on-load resources, observe the terrain, or support land operations. (more…)
Almost daily, the business media reports on organizations announcing searches for, or the appointment of, new C-suite leaders. Sometimes this is prompted by the prior leader’s long-expected retirement or movement to another role. But often the vacancy reflects the emerging need to improve financial results and to bolster trust in their brand and the products and services they provide.
Whether public or private, government or non-profit, each organization survives and thrives based on the level of trust that stakeholders have in their leadership team. And the board, owners, or others with oversight, are ultimately responsible for ensuring they’ve identified the right talent to place into those roles. Their selected candidate must quickly build trust, which is the foundation of every leadership appointment. (more…)
These days, leaders are increasingly facing expectations to respond to circumstances and situations occurring outside the work environment about which their employees and society have strong and differing opinions. No matter how or if they respond, many will be criticized, either for not doing enough or for doing too much.
These leaders recognize their teams represent a broad range and complexity of values and beliefs. At the same time, they understand the importance of their role in engaging the group to collaborate, support one another, and deliver results for their organizations.
So how can leaders create and support a positive work environment in the midst of such differences? By modeling the following behaviors: (more…)