We’re thrilled to bring you the first guest blog post from our 2019 Leadership Conference Keynote Speaker, Simon T. Bailey. “The biggest risk is not taking any risk…In a world that is changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks.” – Mark Zuckerberg Have you ever had an idea or dream but for some …
3 Ways Leaders Make Emotional Connections
When I first started working in then-Big Six consulting firm Coopers & Lybrand, the partner I was assigned to was a gentleman named Chris Abramson, and he had an enormous scale of responsibility. Yet whenever I talked with him, which was not that often, he gave me his undivided attention. He talked with me about my goals and my development …
Beware the “Culture of Nice”
It was important to Melissa* that she create an inclusive culture where all voices were heard. Yet, as a chronic conflict avoider, she was unwittingly building a “culture of nice,” where getting along was valued over getting things done. (*Names have been changed to protect identities.) Neither extreme is helpful. But Melissa failed to see how her culture of nice …
Reinvent Your Personal Brand
Like so many of you reading this blog, my “to read” stack is piled halfway to the ceiling. Some books and longer articles that I want to read, and others, that for one reason or another, I need to read. Add to that stack the deluge of emails, daily periodicals, and of course, blogs like Forbes and Harvard Business Review, and I sometimes …
Find the Reverse Leaders in Your Midst
You’ve likely seen reverse leadership in action. It happens when someone not in a formal leadership role demonstrates great leadership ability: when a field service agent steps up with a solution to a persistent problem, for example; when a customer service rep inspires her colleagues through her exemplary customer-centric behavior. When someone on an account team improves dramatically after being …
New Manager Mis-Steps
Robert* was making Janice* crazy. He hired her for her research skills but then delegated only menial tasks, and kept her out of the loop on the most strategic projects. He invited her to join him for a conference presentation, but then expected her to watch him present rather than present with him. Robert kept promising a pipeline of interesting …
The One Skill All Leaders Should Work On
Republished with permission If I had to pick one skill for the majority of leaders I work with to improve, it would be assertiveness. Not because being assertive is such a wonderful trait in and of itself. Rather, because of its power to magnify so many other leadership strengths. Assertiveness gets a bad rap when people equate it with being …
Find the Reverse Leaders in Your Midst
In the spirit of reverse innovation, and reverse mentoring, I submit to you that the next trend to watch out for in leadership is, you guessed it — reverse leadership. You’ve likely seen reverse leadership in action. It happens when someone not in a formal leadership role demonstrates great leadership ability: when a field service agent steps up with a solution to a …
Self-Care 101 for Nonprofit Leaders
Imagine: After a full day sitting at your computer, you’re finally putting the finishing touches on a major presentation and BAM! You hear a grinding, whirring noise followed by your screen going dark. The computer shuts down with all your effort wiped out. Unsaved for a variety of inexplicable reasons. Your heart begins to palpitate, palms are getting clammy, perspiration …
Rave Reviews & Personal Takeaways from 2018 Leadership Conference Breakout Sessions
Rave reviews are still pouring in for our 2018 Leadership Conference. We thought we’d share just a few of the a-ha moments and takeaways that attendees have shared with us! (And to experience a-has of your own, register now for the follow-up meta-skills classes we’re scheduling through the end of the year in the NLC Training Center. Seats are limited …