Erwin McManus is a preacher in California.  He ministers to the rough and tumble on the streets of Los Angeles.  Here’s a charge he gives to those he teaches: “Love like a poet.  Live like a warrior.  Learn like an apprentice.  Lead like a servant.”  The best leaders are versatile.  Loving like a poet sounds tender and compassionate.  Living like a warrior sounds bold and courageous.  Learning like an apprentice is searching and curious.  Leading

I heard Cynt Marshall, the president of the NBA Dallas Mavericks, describe her leadership style in three words: Listen, Learn and Love. Leaders often feel compelled to talk. They have the floor; they expect to fill up the air with words. Marshall’s formula reminds the leader to hold back. An effective leader understands that there is untapped knowledge, insight, ideas, and solutions amongst the team. A leader who “listens” allows that information to come forth.

“Patience is choosing to control your emotions rather than letting your emotions control you.” – Mark Merrill Are you a person who desires to be more patient? If so, how are you attacking it? This quote from writer Mark Merrill suggests emotions are at the center of patience. Here’s my experience with patient people: They can wait. They resist the impulse to react to situations and act only when they come up with a plan.

I’ve been listening to a podcast called Flying Coach, which features LA Rams head football coach and NFL journalist Peter Schrager interviewing other NFL coaches.  All the interviews are of younger coaches. Candidly, it’s full of football jargon and could be hard to follow, but these are young people who have reached the top of their game.  Their insights are interesting. A standard question asked of every guest is: “What advice do you have to

“Trust is the stacking of small moments over time, something that cannot be summoned with a command – there are either marbles in the jar or there are not.”  –  Brené Brown, Dare to Lead Trusted – I’ve come to learn that being trusted is among the most sought-after character traits. The leadership books tell me that as CEO, our company won’t thrive if I don’t earn your trust.  Hopefully, you have confidence in my

Here’s a “happening to the world” statement: “Construct your determination with a sustained effort, controlled attention, and concentrated energy.  Opportunities never come to those who wait .. they are captured by those who dare to attack.” – Paul J. Meyer “Construct your determination” is a power statement.  Would someone describe you as determined?  To me, that would mean you have a record of deciding you want to do something and getting it done. There’s a

“People want to be around those who share their time, knowledge, and support.” –  Annie McKee  Want to make your team better? Share your support.  The methods for being supportive are as different as each situation permits.   I had a professor who said that a great leadership attribute was to be “otherworldly.”  He described it as cultivating an awareness, even alertness, of what’s going on with the people and the environment around you.  He advocated getting

“Leadership is not about a title or a designation.  It’s about impact, influence, and inspiration.  Impact involves getting results, influence is about spreading the passion you have for your work, and you have to inspire teammates.”  Many words have been used to describe leadership and leaders.  Manu Ginobili had a long career as a basketball player with the San Antonio Spurs.  He was a key player on several championship teams.  One of his teammates tweeted

Something that gives me joy is when a colleague tells me they are using what they are learning at work to be more effective in their private lives. Our people, being a better partner, parent, community leader, coach or volunteer, is one of the tangible benefits we provide the communities we serve.  Our efforts to identify leaders despite role or title, and to give that leadership an opportunity to flourish, is a gift that will

 Sometimes we get stuck and don’t know what to do. There could be a lot of choices and we are paralyzed because there are pros and cons each way. There could be no apparent choices and we are paralyzed because we think any action will be fruitless. When we get stuck, the best way out is to do something. Make a deliberate choice.  Implement it.  See what happens. You learn by acting.  You become informed at a higher