Reflections on Leadership When Your Values Cost You Something Leadership Drift This Week When Your Values Cost You Something Most leaders can tell you what they believe. They can point to their values on a wall, in an employee handbook, or in a speech to the organization. But if you don’t responsibly stand up for those values when things get difficult, do you really have them? Good values and ethics are table stakes. It’s easy to have principles when they are convenient. It is considerably...

Reflections on Leadership The Question Is Good. The Rule Is Not. Leadership Drift This Week The Question Is Good. The Rule Is Not. CEOs of a certain size seem compelled to share their elegantly simple methods for leading and making decisions about people. You have probably heard some version of this one: list every employee; ask, “Would you hire this person again?” (yes or no); then rate everyone A+, A, B, or C. The Cs must leave. You will help them, of course, but they gotta go. Simple....

Reflections on Leadership Don’t Bring Me Problems Without Solutions The phrase I wish leaders would stop saying. Leadership Drift This Week Don’t Bring Me Problems Without Solutions I've heard some version of “Don't bring me problems, bring me solutions” for most of my working life. I'm sure I've said it myself more times than I'd like to admit. And I understand the impulse. Leaders don't want to become the organizational dumping ground for every complaint, inconvenience, disagreement, or...