Recovering Leader

How to Upgrade Your Leadership through EQ

Does what we feel drive how we think, problem-solve, and lead others? I used to think not. I’ve recently discovered it’s time to rethink, or, more aptly, re-feel that. Going through the Emotional Intelligence (EQ) in Action certification course last week, I gained a new appreciation for how feelings drive everything we think and do. Like it or not, neuroscience... 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 →

Try NOT to Manage Perceptions

Wondering what your colleagues are thinking about you lately? What’s the buzz on you at exec team or board meetings? Good. Go for it—it’s important to understand how others view us. Not to pretend or try and manage it, but in order to develop ourselves, and to care for the impact we have on others. So go ahead, glimpse yourself... Read more →

7 Leadership Strengths Are Weaknesses When Taken Too Far

Consider a few of the typical strengths a leader may have: maybe they're a good delegator, a great relationship-builder, results-oriented, decisive, etc. Interestingly, our strengths become weaknesses when we overuse or misapply them to the situation. That's why I often hear my clients' colleagues say, "It's his strength, but also weakness at times..." So it's important to know which of... Read more →

LeaderTip: Resentment

We all feel resentment toward others at times, and leaders are no exception. It’s been said that holding on to it is like taking poison and hoping the OTHER person will die. Denying resentment only prolongs the stress it causes you. In fact, you won’t free yourself of its side effects until you let go of the wish / hope... Read more →

EQ Leadership Watch: Stand in the River of Your Feelings

So often I get asked by clients (and friends/family for that matter) about those darker moments, when pain, sadness, fear, or anger well up -- what to do with it? Certainly we're not acculturated to feel our feelings, particularly in the professional setting, notwithstanding the work of Goleman on Emotional Intelligence. So what to do with the pain? Denial, avoidance,... Read more →