What do you expect? I saw this quote recently: “Build high expectations into others.” It made me pause. Do I expect big things from those around me? Is developing high expectations a strategy for me? Great leaders master the art of high expectations: ·They believe that most of their charges don’t know how good they can be. They press their team to move into hard territories. Try new things. Set big goals. They see potential.

Are you reliable? Reliable people show up. On time. Ready to go. Reliable people know their job and do it. Reliable people value the truth. When they see something, they speak up. Reliable people are trusted. When a complex task comes up, reliable people get the opportunity and responsibility. Reliable people are respected. Bosses, spouses, children, neighbors, and teammates develop a deep appreciation for one who is reliable. Everyone has suffered the consequences of dealing

Be as powerful as you can be. “Power” can carry a bad reputation. Power can be abused. It can be a goal that is unhealthily sought. Power feeds ego. However, a mentor taught me years ago that I should want to be aware of my power and be ready to use it whenever I can to influence the circumstances I encounter for good. That’s the spirit of the daily questions we have been reviewing. Improve.

“There are two kinds of people: those who believe they make things happen and those who believe things happen to them.” – Travis Bradberry, Forbes Sound familiar? Bradberry cites a study by Dr. Tim Judge at the University of Florida stating that those who “happen to the world” sell more, serve customers better, adjust faster to change, and get paid more. Particularly distinctive is how “happening to the world” people respond to complex, challenging times. They

Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo said, “A player-coached team is better than a coach-coached team.” A powerful insight about great teams! The “players” have a huge role in leadership. The eyes of the team aren’t only for the coach. The players step up. They set standards. They model the fulfillment of the standards. They hold each other accountable to adhere to them. Looking at me now, you may not believe it, but basketball was

Leaders create environments bound and energized by loyalty, affection, and mutual support. One of the best ways to “happen to the world” is to be intentional about having an impact on your environment. Environments come in all shapes and sizes. We work in small groups. We all have families. If you lead, you’re always involved in the state of your environment. If you are the leader and don’t work on your environment, it will be

My music genre of choice is Country. Lyrics are frequently laugh-out-loud funny but sometimes they’re poignant. I heard performer and writer Billy Currington sing a song yesterday. The refrain went like this: Walk a little straighter, daddy You’re swaying side to side. Your footsteps make me dizzy And no matter how I try, I keep tripping and stumbling. If you’d look down here, you’d see. Walk a little straighter, daddy You’re leading me. We have

“Whenever we get tied down to anything – a name, a body, a lifestyle – that’s the road to ruination.” – Prince I’m not a Prince fan. I missed that bus somehow, but I was impressed with the outpouring of tributes at his death in 2016. I started jotting down some of his quotes and texting them to my kids. He had some profound thoughts. The one above seems like an “anything goes” mindset that

In a word, what is a veteran? Selfless – A soldier sacrifices his individuality to become one of the troops. He wears the uniform. He follows commands. He embraces the mission. A war is only won when the soldier values the cause and his comrades more than himself. Courageous – To join the troop is to step into courage. The risk is high. The mission is daunting. The soldier’s life, as well as all colleagues,