In new research published in the Journal of Leadership and Organizational Development, three researchers from George Washington University challenge the age old assumption that people leave jobs because of their direct boss. What they found is that people are more inclined to leave because of a more senior functional leader in their organization. If the […]

If I gave you three words to describe your organization, which words would you choose? Could you do it? Would they resonate with the employee base? How about with your leadership team? Do you think your competitors and your customers would agree? I have worked in many organizations where they were wearing blinders. The internal […]

When things do not go as planned you should always have a backup plan. Life throws curveballs, you will be caught off guard at times by the decisions that others make. And the worst thing you can do is to be so surprised that you are out of options. You will be a duck, dead […]

There comes a period in your professional career when you are asked to give more of yourself than you may want. It is when you have to decide if you are a “company man” or if you are more rogue and independent. Are you willing to sacrifice the long hours, commit to the endless politicking, and […]

Describe your brand in ten words or less. Can you do it? Brand matters. It sticks with you. It takes up something known as “mindshare”. It is about your value proposition to the organization. People remember, people talk, so what they say should be of concern to you. If you cannot describe what you want […]

It is time to take leadership development to the next level. Time to really rally your troops. It is time that we recognize the value of developing our people. And it is time we stop taking the importance of development for granted. We need to stop allowing our leaders to sidestep their own development. They […]

In every profession, there is a transcendent superstar. Someone who leaves a legacy behind, someone who alters the course of the profession and inspires future generations. With the Olympics, it is easy to start talking about transcendent star power with the likes of Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt, Lebron James, Misti May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings […]

You may think you own your career, but the reality is you don not. Not fully anyway. Not if you work in Corporate America. The reality is that the truth lies somewhere in between. You can manage your career, and you can work hard to network, build your contacts, scout for new opportunities, but there […]

There is nothing quite like the Olympics. I get swept up in the fever and the tide of emotions that pours out of each athlete. They train so hard for their entire life for this one moment and for some they will take the medal stand in full adoration of their nation. Yet for most […]