Recovering Leader

Monday LeaderTip: Close the Gap

Being in a senior position can be distancing—with the crush of crowded schedules and pressing issues, some level of isolation is quite common. That said, more effective leadership requires an extra effort to engage with others. Crossing the divide is a leader's responsibility, and the best way to do this is to extend invitations—to brainstorm, help, solve a problem, or... Read more →

Monday LeaderTip: "Should" Gets in the Way

When high standards are taken too far, they become counterproductive. Rooted in disappointment that things and people are not as they "should" be, some level of negativity, stress, and frustration follows. "Should" is not a pragmatic starting point for whatever you hope to achieve, as it simply denies the current state of things. Make it a point to catch your... Read more →

Vision for the White House: Self-Aware Leadership from the Top Down

Barack Obama has been elected with a mandate for a new kind of leadership. Here's my vision of the type of leadership framework needed to enable President Obama and his executive team to achieve the many important goals in the years ahead: There is tremendous candor, trust, and healthy conflict among the Obama executive team. They are responsible for how... Read more →

When a Leader's High Standards Turn Toxic

Consider a leader who’s smart, task-oriented, and has high standards. If their ambient level of stress is low, then their expectations of others and themselves likely aren’t problematic. If it’s high, then they may have a “should” problem—something I see in my coaching practice fairly regularly. These are leaders who fit the profile, and who are constantly disappointed and frustrated.... Read more →

Monday LeaderTip: Kindness and Leadership

There has never been a better time to recognize that kindness is a necessity for true leadership. When you treat others—and yourself—with greater care, you unlock untapped potential all around you. In short, your people will want to be at their best, and to do their best work . . . and you will too. Make it a daily practice... Read more →

Self-aware Leadership Question: Winning

Is winning alone enough for you, or do you want to win something that creates a greater good? Read more →

Organizational "Undiscussables" Explained by Eric Klein

Here's a must-read article by consultant extraordinaire Eric Klein on "undiscussables" that build up in organizations. Check it out! Read more →

Self-Aware Leadership Watch: Wear Your Day Like Loose Clothes

Many are tightly-wound these days, as there's plenty to stress and worry about when we so choose. I was talking with a client yesterday about expectations and responsibilities, and came up with something that just seemed worth sharing with you: Just for today, take off your tight outfit of apprehension, regret, worry, fear, or anxiety. Wear your leadership, your work,... Read more →

Monday LeaderTip: Achievement and Sustainability

How you succeed is every bit as important as what you achieve. In recent decades we have mortgaged the "how" to get quick wins—tremendous value was placed on consumption and cashing in. Although the global economic and environmental tab for this approach is still being counted in the red, it comes with an opportunity for learning. Reshape your idea of... Read more →

Managing versus Leading

I've updated my list! Hope you find it helpful . . . David Peck Read more →

California Prop 8 / Gay Marriage Ban: Separation of Church and State Issue, or State-Sanctioned Discrimination?

California Ballot Measure 8, which bans Gay Marriage previously legalized by the state's Supreme Court, passed by a healthy margin this week. While one might say "the people have spoken," Yes-on-8 voters were inappropriately asked indirectly their own views about gay rights before they looked at the more foundational question of the appropriateness of such measures in the first place.... Read more →

Prouder to be an American Today than Yesterday

Regardless of who you may have supported in the presidential election, we are blessed in this country to have a process that enlists the voices of all of us to enact change. While many in this country were asleep at the switch of change during the last two elections, tonight's election was American Democracy at it's finest. Tonight, I am... Read more →

Monday LeaderTip: Stepping Away from the Familiar

It's human nature to stay with what is familiar, even when we know that a big change is needed. The prospect of venturing into the unknown comes with fear and risk. After all, you're going to have to make choices absent the reassuring guidance of past experience. It's so easy to imagine the downside of significant change, yet we owe... Read more →