Great leaders can see sunshine while standing in the rain. Don’t get me wrong, they readily acknowledge the rainstorm. In fact, they are the ones holding umbrellas over their people. These leaders do not dismiss the concerns of their team, but they also never let them...
Mike’s #BeIntentional — 61
“I want to evaluate you based on the quality of your decisions, not how effectively you carry out my decisions.” A frustrated executive recently told me that no one on his team was willing to make a decision. Instead, everyone came to him for guidance before acting on...
Mike’s #BeIntentional — 54
“Enough about me. Let’s talk about me.” All too often, leaders focus the majority of attention on themselves instead of the people around them. While this characteristic usually takes the form of dominating conversations, it can also result from concluding that one’s...
Mike’s #BeIntentional — 50
A residential painter once told me that the difference between a good painter and a great one was not how well they painted but how effectively they cleaned up their mistakes. This logic applies equally well to leadership. Leaders are going to make mistakes, but it's...
Mike’s #BeIntentional — 43
Being proud of who you are and what you have accomplished is one thing…making sure everyone else knows just how important you are is quite another. In describing a corporate executive recently, a colleague of mine said, “I learned everything I needed to know about him...
Mike’s #BeIntentional — 36
I am not always proud of the person I see in the mirror, but I am proud of the person I am trying to become. All too often, I falter in my role as a leader and it is never a heartwarming moment. The easy way out would be to say, "Hey, I am the CEO, this is the way I...
Mike’s #BeIntentional — 31
“What I do matters.” While traveling in Portugal this week, I encountered a young waiter who displayed great pride in his restaurant, care for his customers, and who epitomized the very concept of servant leadership. Not only did he take the time to learn about each...
Mike’s #BeIntentional — 24
I stink at receiving constructive feedback from people I value most in my organization. It is my Achilles heel. To become a better leader, I know I must overcome this flaw, so I continue to try new methods and techniques. People see me trying to get better, so I get...
Mike’s #BeIntentional — 23
The “Art of Leadership” requires a continuous balancing of head, heart, and gut. Each situation a person encounters calls for a combination of analysis, empathy, and instinct to be used in different proportions. Effective leaders learn to trust each component. They...
Mike’s #BeIntentional — 12
“I made a mistake. I understand how it impacted you. I apologize. This is what I commit to do differently going forward. Please hold me accountable to honor my commitment.” As leaders, we sometimes tend to dismiss our errors, or trivialize their impact, or blame them...