With the limits of a title fresh in mind, let’s look at why it’s crucial that we EARN trust - and thereby, influence - so we have a legitimate shot at achieving all we need to as leaders. Spoiler alert: the humility we looked at previously is key! Before we do, though, it’s important that we each re...
Twice to this point, I’ve alluded to the significant difference in the results we can achieve by earning genuine influence rather than relying solely on the authority of our position or title. If a mentor has been effective in helping us close our leadership gaps, that’s been through the influence t...
With that stark difference fresh in your mind, the difference in how a handful of managers in a completely foreign industry refused input from anyone and how I’ve seen Mark Cole actively solicit thoughts from someone as removed from his company’s bottom line as me, let’s consider the significant rol...
The 33rd president of the United States, Harry S. Truman once said, “It is amazing what you can accomplish when you don’t care who gets the credit.” Putting that statement into practice is a key difference between the humble confidence and all out arrogance I referenced before. Let’s face it, we can...
For any relationship to deliver a measurable return on investment, strategic investment will always be required. To take full advantage of the value we can recognize through strong mentorship relationships, it’s crucial that we practice a high degree of emotional intelligence as we make those invest...
Since we looked at the role of trust in candid conversations earlier and we just worked through how trust is crucial for solidifying any relationship we care about, let’s tie the two together to ensure each candid conversation we’re engaged in has a shot at fueling growth in the relationship as well...
In detailing the role of trust in candid conversations, I shared a quote from an article called “Good Leadership? It all starts with trust” saying, “Trust is one of the most vital forms of capital a leader has today.” Trust is crucial for our candid conversations, but it’s even more important in the...
For more than twenty-five years, I’ve experienced increasingly amazing opportunities by taking advantage of the often untapped power of honest feedback. As I learned to receive that feedback without losing any of the confidence I was working so hard to build, personal and professional growth followe...
More than twenty years ago, I learned what’s proven to be one of the most impactful lessons I’ve ever heard around communication from a friend who was a practicing veterinarian. He explained that he could kill my dog and as long as he told me the right way, I’d bring every other dog I ever owned bac...
An article from Harvard Business Impact called “Good Leadership? It all starts with trust.” opens by saying, “Trust is one of the most vital forms of capital a leader has today.” The author then defines trust as “a belief in the abilities, integrity, and character of another person.” A Forbes articl...
Earlier, I mentioned the HR Manager I worked with for over a decade providing a great example of having the confidence to connect with others and build relationships through the process. Whether it was during his time managing the human resource department locally or after he accepted a role based o...
As we looked at why many folks in leadership roles avoid feedback, I shared examples of how some leaders aren’t necessarily avoiding feedback; they just aren’t getting honest input from the folks closest to them on where they have opportunities for growth. In most cases, these leaders are in little ...
