I saw this parenting advice today: “The healthiest kids come from environments that do two things: encourage them with warmth and give them high expectations.” While it certainly applies to parenting, the advice is universally sound. Substitute the word kids with words like relationships, teams, enterprises, schools. You get it. They all work better and grow stronger if we encourage and create high expectations. Years ago, I worked in a plant that suffered from poor

“Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and you help them become what they are capable of being.”- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe I’ve heard a variation of this theme three times this week. I regard it as a “sign” that I should share. Goethe’s idea is that people tend to rise to how you expect them to perform. My first reminder of this theme came from educator Vanessa Siddle Walker. She

We ask you to “lead” where you stand. To do that effectively, you have to be scanning your environment for leadership opportunities. You don’t need a title to lead. You just need the desire to lead. What opportunities do you have to lead? We almost always have new people in our midst. Take notice of the “noob.” Acknowledge good effort. Encourage the progress you see. Learn their names and find their stories. Give pointers to

I admire an author named Ryan Holiday. He posted a list on Twitter of how to be more productive. I introduce this as a checklist to consider if you are trying to figure out how to “juice” things up as you move toward a new year. 1. Read, Read, Read  Chances are you’re not a reader. Statistics show that many of us put down reading as soon as we leave formal education. That being said,

Do you identify as a leader? What I mean is, do you believe there will be times in your life when you being the leader is required? When many of us think about leadership, we make it a simple either/or thing: “I’m either a leader or I’m not.” We think some of us are meant to lead, and some of us are meant to follow. We decide which of those we are and go from

“You attract who you are. Not who you want.” A team takes on the personality of the leader. I’ve just read a book about Nick Saban, the University of Alabama football coach. He turned 70 yesterday and has amassed an unmatched record in coaching success. Those who have played and coached with him say he has changed through the times, but some things have stayed the same. In other words, he employs tactics to face

“Focus on building a track record of success, and people will keep betting on you.” I was reading an article by Adam Bryant, a columnist from the New York Times.  For 10 years, he’s written a weekly column where he interviews a CEO and describes what he learns.  He is wrapping up this series and is moving on to something else.  He wrote his last column yesterday. Since it was his closing address, he offered some summary thoughts

I’m reading a book by Pete Carroll. He says one of the great strategies for good leaders is to “learn your learner.” Here’s the concept.  Everyone is different so everyone learns differently.  He teaches his coaching staff to expect differently.  He expects his coaching staff to be flexible in accordance with the styles of their learners. In other words, he believes that coaches who believe there is only one way or style to coach will always fall short

I had a professor named Eugene Jennings at Michigan State who asserted that being an information manager was key to succeeding in organizations. He said most people are “cup down” vs. “cup up” information managers.  Let me explain: He would hold up a coffee cup and tilt it downward, as if he was pouring the liquid out of the cup.  His theory was that “cup down” wasn’t the best approach. “Cup down” information managers know

I was reading a random article on the safest way to hike.  I don’t hike much but it looks like an attractive hobby. One piece of advice stood out.  It applies to our everyday lives. The risk was getting lost.  What do you do? Ms. Davis, the author, said don’t panic. “Remember, the mistake isn’t getting lost, but how you respond to being off course. Do not immediately rush in the direction where you think the ‘right’ trail is.”