When I first began leading a big change initiative in my organization, I made plenty of mistakes. The most significant mistake was in how I communicated our need to change. Looking back, my words and actions implied that the organization and its leaders had been doing everything wrong (though I don’t think I everContinue reading “Great Leaders Value Goodness, Not Just Rightness”
Tag Archives: leader
Great Leaders Put Character Ahead of Competency
It was the oddest phone call I think I’ve ever received, one of those moments that you remember exactly where you were sitting. It was my friend, Sean. He had recently been elected Lieutenant Governor of Alaska, running mate with Sarah Palin. “I’d like you to pray about something for me,” he said. “I’d likeContinue reading “Great Leaders Put Character Ahead of Competency”
Great Leaders Invest In Themselves
On our honeymoon in Hawaii in 1989, I did something pretty foolish. I thought I would take a sailing lesson in a laser from the recreation staff at the Air Force resort where we were staying. A laser is the smallest sailboat you could imagine, barely big enough for two people to sit on. TheContinue reading “Great Leaders Invest In Themselves”
Great Leaders Think Exponentially
A desire for personal growth and improvement is important for all leaders. Not just desire, but a plan to grow our leadership capital and capacity. When we improve, our organizations improve, and that’s important. But for great leaders personal improvement is not enough. Great leaders see their job as helping everyone in the organization getContinue reading “Great Leaders Think Exponentially”
Start Growing Your Leadership Capital
Dear Leader, Most leaders I talk to agree that the key to organizational effectiveness is having plenty of great leaders at all levels. Most wish they had more great leaders whom they can count on. But the process of training leaders and getting valuable results seams daunting. That’s why I joined Academy Leadership, LLC. AcademyContinue reading “Start Growing Your Leadership Capital”
Great Leaders are Trust Builders
A few years ago, I stepped into a leadership position where I was to lead a group of people who had lost trust. They had lost trust in their previous leader (who was no longer there), their board who governed their organization, and even had lost trust in each other. Leadership in the past hadContinue reading “Great Leaders are Trust Builders”
Are You a “Catapult Leader?”
Think with me for a minute about your favorite coach. Maybe they were your athletic coach. Maybe they were another kind of teacher or mentor. What made them your favorite? If you’re like most of us, they were your favorite because they stretched you to become more than you were before. Their influence in yourContinue reading “Are You a “Catapult Leader?””
Why Launching Great Leaders Matters
Launching great leaders doesn’t just happen automatically. If it did, there would be a lot more great leaders running around everywhere. And if you’ve watched or read the news lately, you know that’s not the case. Launching great leaders requires investment of all of your capitals- spiritual, relational, intellectual, physical and, yes, financial. And it’sContinue reading “Why Launching Great Leaders Matters”
Why “Catapult Leadership?”
The U.S.S. John C. Stennis is the flagship of the U.S. Navy’s John C. Stennis Strike Group. The aircraft carrier is over 1,000 feet long, has a footprint of 4.5 acres, and weights 97 thousand tons. At sea it carries 6,200 Sailors and Marines, usually for six months at a time. Its kitchens serve 18,600Continue reading “Why “Catapult Leadership?””
Great Leaders Show And Tell
In Alaska, rarely do we enjoy our outdoor activities alone. With harsh weather and remote areas where we like to play, getting hurt when you’re alone can be disastrous. Similarly, I’ve found that the best way to learn a new outdoor activity is by doing it for the first time with someone who is goodContinue reading “Great Leaders Show And Tell”
The Great Leaders Blog 