Blog Posts To Lead And Enlighten
A Good Set of Ground Rules for Your Meetings and Retreats
When I facilitate retreats for organizations and teams, I usually start out by having the group come up with their own ground rules by which to operate with each other throughout the time together. I remind them that effective, mutually-agreed-upon ground rules often...
Why Boldness is Essential in Your Leadership
Life throws you curve balls and many days you may feel off-kilter. And that may affect your self-confidence or make you tempted to hedge your bets and play it safe. Too much of that fear then casts a shadow on the rest of your team and can negatively spread like a...
How to Make Your Team Happier
Happy employees make for happy customers—and that leads to higher profits. As a leader, you can use your position to create a motivating environment and keep your team pumped up. Unfortunately, many leaders are “too busy” putting out fires to notice the great things...
Set Some “The Rest of Your Life” Goals
On my 37th birthday, I came up with a list of things I want to be characterized by, for the 2nd half of my life; in part, what I want to be known for at my memorial service someday. I turn 50 next week and want to refresh my list on a personal retreat. They are less...
How to Get Out of a Rut
Golf courses try to keep their grounds looking as pristine as possible. But golf CARTS can be an enemy to this goal because of how they wear out the grass. Many courses post a sign that says Scatter several yards past the tee where the paved cart path ends and the...
Would You Call Yourself Open-Minded?
Paradigms are ways of thinking on an issue. Most of our paradigms are in cement due to: the family system we grew up in, our other life experiences, the people we hang around, and the literature/media we take in. And we sort of like it that way. We get to stay in a...
Checklist of Actions to Take Every Day
We feel successful when we develop daily habits that positively shape who we are and what we stand for. Here's a list I've compiled of habits you might consider carving out time every day to practice--and then watch what it does for your self-empowerment!...
Do You Need to Get Out More?
While I am a big proponent of alone-time, in order to make space for self-evaluation and creative breakthroughs, I believe the other side of the coin must also be given ample attention: relationship time. Left to ourselves for too long gets us disproportionately in...
What I Learned from a Failed Business Venture
A few years ago, I attempted to take a second plunge into entrepreneurship by starting a second business. It was a need in the community in a specific niche related to the justice system. It had the potential to change people’s lives/futures, and my wife and I could...