The Golden Rule
What’s your Golden Rule? Do you operate according to a personal and professional standard of conduct that applies equally to all situations? How about the company you keep, or the company for which you work? Are they aligned? My latest experience with a national service provider brought this question to the forefront. After following a […]
Father Time
Your decisions and actions of today will influence the life of another person, in ways sometimes small and occasionally large. But it’s the accumulation of those things that creates the legacy of a life. Fathers have a unique opportunity to be a positive influence yet, in the pressing demands of life, Father Time can be […]
Leading: Details, Always
The third crucial leadership skill is paying attention to the details, always. Once you’ve assembled the right team (People First) and galvanized them into a cohesive group focused on your shared vision (Purpose Second), the key to achieving success is embedded in paying attention to the daily details that add up to make a huge […]
Leading: People First
I learned a few things about business as an undergraduate in college, plus a few more in grad school. The combined curriculum of finance, accounting, economics, marketing, management, statistics, organization theory, business law, communications and other courses all provided me with a useful foundation for effective business analysis and decision-making. It wasn’t until I dove […]
Consistent Inconsistency
Leading a branch-based service business is different than working in a single location company. You discover that there’s something unique about each market and the team who serves it. While the company’s service offering may be consistent, there is lots of inconsistency in how it’s served up from place to place. To have a strong […]
DWYSYGTD
Building Trust over time is just as simple as that. Do What You Say You’re Going To Do. That simple, yet powerful, statement separates exceptional people from average ones (or worse). The same holds true for teams. The failure rate in business is far too high. Commitments should not become hollow promises. It doesn’t take […]
The High Road
Very often there are two routes to reach your destination: by traveling The Low Road, or by taking The High Road. The path you choose will affect the experiences of your travel companions, including people you encounter along the way. You might be contemplating a physical road trip and have multiple choices. We’ve become accustomed […]
Respect.
It requires a lifetime to earn, yet only takes a moment to lose. It is the most fragile human quality. Yet Respect is the essential ingredient upon which Confidence, Trust and Leadership are built. Whether you’re operating in a small work group, a branch, a region, a company, or as an integral part of another […]
Be Real
When it comes to building lasting relationships with others, the only sustainable approach is to “be real”. In order to be real – genuine – actions must consistently align with stated values. These qualities are important in every role, but they are essential in a leader. To be real is not to be perfect. We […]
Inconvenient Truth
It’s not always easy to say what needs to be said. But it’s always the best approach in the long run. Life isn’t black or white, true or false. But some situations and scenarios are that crystal clear. If you’re in a position of responsibility, or an interdependent relationship, you owe those you work and […]