Recovering Leader

10 Areas to Upgrade Your Effectiveness

“How can my organization be even more effective?" It's a great question from my clients, and one answered first and foremost as an “inside job”—that is, I suggest and help the executive to look at their own leadership choices in 10 practical areas and identify opportunities for improvement. Thinking about your own leadership and organization, how about giving it a... Read more →

Five Steps to Superb Delegating

Delegation at its best sets up capable people to do their best work for you in their own way. Low-yield delegation is command and control. Here are five simple steps to delegation excellence, based on many executive coaching assignments where I worked with clients on developing their best in this area: 1. Engage the best person or team. Look with... Read more →

6 Ways to Know if You're a Change Maker or Change Breaker

The leader’s innovation challenge is how to make major changes produce pragmatic results. So much is written about "innovation" that I think misses the mark on actually innovating. There are way more “great ideas” than can be done, but not enough leaders capable or willing enough to do them. Leaders and their organizations are used to being and doing things... Read more →

Job Seekers: Four Tips from the Hiring Front

I’ve been in the process of hiring an assistant (and down to the final handful from a high number,) and noticing a few things that may seem remedial, but are really standing out for me: Competition: Yes it’s true – there are many good and qualified people out there. Yet you can stand out from others with some effort, so... Read more →

2011 Congress Leadership Rant: Tinker or Transform?

The recent declaration that Congress will attempt to repeal health care reform passed last year, along with other obstructionist ditties, leave me a bit off kilter going into my vacation next week. Last month I took an emotional intelligence test and got my debrief this week. To be candid, it revealed I spend too much time in Joy and Love,... Read more →

Leading in Sync with Organizational Heartbeat

Organizations--like people--have a heartbeat that speeds up, slows down, and rests at a certain rate. Put your finger on that pulse and lead according to what you discover. You gain greater precicison about what's needed, how to be at your best as a leader, and how to help your colleagues do the same. It's a powerful practice--and surpisingly uncommon--to be... Read more →