Recovering Leader

7 Leadership Strengths Are Weaknesses When Taken Too Far

If you don’t check your blind spot for your own blend of these seven strengths-become-weaknesses, you’ll be falling short of taking your A-game to the field every day, so why not give it a try? Read more →

Leadership and Resetting a Tough Day

The best of the best athletes, scientists, soloist musicians, and executives alike can find themselves dwelling on a snag or difficult situation, as if getting taken hostage by it. If left unchecked, it can get in the way of what could be a good day. Whether you've had something (or someone) turn your day upside down, are stymied by a... Read more →

Leadership's "Problem-tunities"

Go ahead and laugh, as we all know many organizations recode the word “problem” into “challenge” and "opportunity." Yet when a leader can respond to a loss or setback with an open mind and ability to derive its key lessons, strife becomes the breakfast of champions. Of course I encourage you to learn as much as possible from self-reflection and... Read more →

3 Great Ways to Approach Failure

Some “experts” go around saying failure’s great. After all, they repeatedly mention, Edison had 999 failed filaments before the one that illuminated the first light bulb. Let's not kid ourselves: failing professionally sucks, particularly during trying times. As most of us are NOT Thomas Edison, the 10th or so filament might in fact be career limiting / bending / ending,... Read more →

Why It's Great that Your Job’s at Risk.

It’s no secret that fear of losing your job will hinder your quality of work, and even put that job in jeopardy. Yet anxiety about job loss is rampant. Layoffs, changes in job, boss, colleagues, and companies have put many on a mental edge and/or ledge. In my work with leaders I see that excelling in this “new normal” means... Read more →

If Only They Knew, They’d See I’m a Fraud

It’s a common belief among high achievers that they are not as smart, talented, or capable as people think they are--something they see themselves as managing to hide from others. It’s been identified in popular psychology as the “Imposter Syndrome.” When I was newly-promoted to Senior Vice President at Charles Schwab, Dan Limon, then our EVP of Corporate Strategy, gave... Read more →

Monday’s LeaderTip: Worry Management

We all worry about the future at times, and leaders are no exception. Some even hang onto it, believing it to be an effective motivator. Yet the positive results you achieve are in spite of—not because of—the strain and stress of your worries. When you notice yourself doing it, call it for what it is: counterproductive, nagging, self-inflicted negativity about... Read more →

LeaderTip: Leadership in Fallibility

We all make mistakes every day, and leaders are no exception. If you have high standards, you may wrestle with the temptation to deny or dwell on your errors. Feel free to visit, but don’t pitch a tent there—remind yourself that so many of history’s errors have led to tremendous achievements. Most mistakes bear gifts—a lesson, a key insight, a... 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 →