The promise problem

I have sat across from some genuinely talented leaders, and I keep seeing the same thing. Brilliant strategy. Capable people. And then somewhere between the planning session and the finish line, things quietly slip. Deadlines drift. Commitments blur. The leader is...

The standards you walk past

Steve Jobs once sent back a shipment of screws because they weren’t beautiful enough. Not functional enough. Beautiful. Most people thought he was nuts. What they missed was the standard you walk past becomes the standard you accept. Think about the last time...

Accountability changes behavior

Ever wondered where your kids’ good behaviors come from? What about the bad ones? Look no further than the mirror. Children absorb what they see. They model what they experience. They normalize what we tolerate. Why is this any different in organizations? It si...

The clarity we lack

Many leaders I work with struggle to see what makes them unique. They look at their markets and see crowded spaces with endless options. “It’s all been done,” they tell me. “How can we possibly stand out?” Here’s what I’ve...

The tone you set

Two days of snow. A rare gift of stillness. Time to watch football and witness something profound about leadership. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. A day to reflect on how we choose to create change. Through conversation or command. Through influence or intimidation. And...