Several months ago, my daughter Catherine decided to play dodgeball during lunch with several students from her seventh-grade class. Knowing she was a stellar athlete, one of the boys in her class chose her to be on his team with his second selection. She beamed with confidence and dominated the game. How do I know?…
Tag: values
How my bad habit sabotaged productivity for my team
Over the past 12 years of my career, I have ruined vacations for nearly an entire generation of my employees. Like it or not, as leaders, people watch, and emulate, what we do. To say the least, my vacation habits have not been the best example. A Journey to Self Awareness Three years ago, my…
Purpose and Profit Can and Should Coexist
Too often, our society pits purpose and profit as opposing forces, as individuals pitch their camp in one of two extremes. On one side, purpose-driven zealots rail at the thought of making money and prioritizing financial results. On the other, greed absorbed corporates scoff at the idea of purpose being more than an idealistic fairy…
Is your purpose statement really just a marketing gimmick?
mission (and vision and values)When Simon Sinek’s Ted Talk, How Great Leaders Inspire Action, went viral, it fueled the resurgence of the purpose-driven organization. Of course, the best practice in corporate development has long included the development of mission (and vision and values) as a cultural baseline for strategy. But, as the corporate world has…
Is the Sharing Economy furthering the wealth divide?
I spent a good part of last week at one of my favorite conferences of the year — Fortune’s BrainstormTech conference. The conference brings together executives from the Media, Technology and Information Services sectors to discuss the state of the industry and various tech trends. Every year I feel like I come away with new…
Why reputation matters when it comes to deep personalization
Your reputation matters when it comes to deep personalization In a recent article, Fast Company outlined United’s struggle with deep personalization. The author describes the challenge that Linda Jojo, United’s EVP of Technology and Chief Digital Officer, has as she sponsors the development of United’s next-generation app. “We’re actually trying to arm our employees with…
Why Isn’t Healthcare Like Fire Service?
Like most Americans, I’m frustrated by the ongoing political battle between the left and the right over health care. Yet, in a sense, my schizophrenia as an angry independent that is furious at both Democrats and Republicans and almost never agrees with either side is a microcosm of America itself. I’m unable to decide what…
Do You Really Agree? Or Are You Following the Herd?
Did you quickly take up one of the default positions on the extreme side of the hot topic debates? Why? Do you feel compelled to follow the herd? Why not take your own stance?
Why You Don’t Have to Agree to Respect and Support Someone Else
To respect and support another person, whether a team member or a spouse, you don’t have to agree. Here’s why…and how you can reframe your mindset.
Don’t Give Up: If the Third Time’s a Charm, Second’s a Dog
How many people give up after the second time they try something, when it’s so much harder? Don’t give up, and here’s why!