Here’s a leadership fundamental that may seem to be counterintuitive: “Be quick to listen and slow to speak.” Most of us associate leadership with “talking.”  Leaders have to be the boss.  They make decisions.  They give direction.  They provide inspiration.  They deliver the “hard” feedback. All of that may be true.  But when you think […]

I heard Cynt Marshall, the president of the NBA Dallas Mavericks, describe her leadership style in three words: Listen, Learn and Love. Leaders often feel compelled to talk. They have the floor; they expect to fill up the air with words. Marshall’s formula reminds the leader to hold back. An effective leader understands that there […]

“Trust is the stacking of small moments over time, something that cannot be summoned with a command – there are either marbles in the jar or there are not.”  –  Brené Brown, Dare to Lead Trusted – I’ve come to learn that being trusted is among the most sought-after character traits. The leadership books tell […]

I read an article about building a culture that caused me to think about what we are doing in our company. It supports the idea of building a strong culture because people thrive in strong cultures.  It’s good for us.  It is what makes us human. According to Mark Pagel, an evolutionary biologist, we are […]