The Seven Deadly Mistakes You can correct glaring mistakes. It’s subtle blunders that defeat you. The Seven Deadly Mistakes #1. Proving yourself. You proved yourself when they hired you. Own the job. Find confidence in your ability to listen, learn, and decide. You never know it all and you never have all the answers. Reject … Read more
Why Credibility Matters More Than Your Expertise or Past Wins IMAGINE two leaders join your organization in the same month. The first arrives with an impressive résumé: a top-tier MBA, fast-track promotions at a well-known company, and a reputation for ‘executive presence’. The second has a solid but more understated track record. This individual is … Read more
Stink Like a Pile of Manure Growing up I shoveled and wheeled cow manure in the winter. In the spring, I spread it on our fields. After a while you don’t notice the stink. There’s one smell that always burns my nostrils. It’s the smell of leaders who show up thinking only of themselves. You … Read more
The Invisible Architecture of Persuasion WHEN we think about persuasion, we picture the visible part: the rousing pitch, the polished slide deck, the closing argument that wins the room over. But the visible part is only half the equation. Persuasion’s real impact is determined by an invisible architecture. Here’s what that architecture is made of—the … Read more
Perception Isn’t Reality Perception isn’t reality. It’s judgment. You might be juggling ten priorities. But people think you don’t care when you rush past them. You’re judged by actions, not the good in your heart. Perceptions are filters. Once you’re seen as pushy, people find reasons to justify their judgment. A Script to Change Negative … Read more
First Look: Leadership Books for November 2026 HERE’S A LOOK at some of the best leadership books to be released in November 2026 curated just for you. Be sure to check out the other great titles being offered this month. Illuminating Hidden Brilliance: The Power of Multidimensional Leadership in a One-Dimensional World by Tony Martignetti … Read more
How to Become Scary Good The vampire at my doctor’s office loves Halloween. She has a full-length bloody Halloween poster on her door. She’s scary good at her job. She finds a vein, sucks my blood, and I don’t feel a thing. Halloween is more than a holiday for her. It’s a family reunion. Become … Read more
The Hamster Wheel Problem: Why Comfortable Isn’t the Same as Satisfied EARLY in my career, I spent about six years just going through the motions. I was busy. I had meetings, email, work, kids, responsibilities, all the normal stuff. If you had asked me whether I had a lot going on, I would have said … Read more
Stop Encouraging Poor Performance Over the years I’ve worked with leaders who felt awkward putting weight on people. These leaders think they’re being kind. It’s not a sin to expect people to do their job. People learn to fall short when their manager repeatedly rescues them. Don’t reward poor performance. Stop Propagating Poor Performance Poor … Read more
What If the Most Caring Act of Leadership Is Learning to Lead Yourself? WHEN I started a business at 19, I knew next to nothing about leadership. The only thing I did know was that I wanted to put my people first, always. I was a servant leader through and through. Being so others-focused was … Read more