LEADING INTO THE FUTURE
Posts on Leadership Topics
I Want To Be A Multiplier!
Some leaders drain energy. Others multiply it.
That is the key insight from Multipliers by Liz Wiseman. I first read the book more than ten years ago, but only now am I ready for the message…
Results or Relationships?
Without thinking much about it, I assumed you had to choose:
🎯 Be the results-focused leader
❤️ Or the relationship-centered one
It felt like a natural trade-off. But then I read Uncommon Greatness by Mark Miller, and one of the fundamentals he introduces changes this…
Stop motivating.
Start engaging!
I just read Carrots and Sticks Don’t Work by Paul Marciano and the distinction between motivation and engagement really resonated with me.
Too often, companies rely on external motivators—bonuses, incentives, even pressure. But these “carrots and sticks” might drive short-term results while preventing long-term commitment...
Priorities vs. Priority: Are We Chasing the Impossible?
This quote from Essentialism by Greg McKeown has been circling in my mind today:
“The word priority came into the English language in the 1400s. It was singular. It meant the very first or prior thing. It stayed singular for the next five hundred years. Only in the 1900s did we pluralize the term and start talking about priorities. Illogically, we reasoned that by changing the word, we could bend reality. Somehow we would now be able to have multiple ‘first’ things.”
Fast forward to today…
The Leadership Power of Saying "No"
As leaders, we’re often tempted to say yes—to opportunities, requests, and tasks. It feels productive, collaborative, and even necessary. No one likes to be the naysayer.
But here’s the problem: Every “yes” must also be a “no” to something else. Remember: resources are limited, and too many priorities can overwhelm your team…
Why Do You Want to Be a Leader?
I recently reread Patrick Lencioni’s book The Motive, and it reinforced a critical question for anyone in leadership: Why do you want to be a leader?
Lencioni distinguishes between two types of leaders:
🔹 Reward-centered leaders – Those who pursue leadership for status, power, or financial rewards.
🔹 Responsibility-centered leaders – Those who embrace leadership as a duty to serve, improve, and strengthen their organizations.
According to Lencioni, there are” five omissions” that responsibility-centered leaders never neglect...
Recognition: The Secret Ingredient for Leadership Success
I recently read The Carrot Principle by Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton. Even though it was first published in 2001, its message feels more relevant than ever. Why? Because we are still far from where we should be when it comes to recognition as a core leadership practice.
This book opened my eyes…
Forget Strategy...
Patrick Lencioni has been talking about organizational health for years. The idea is simple: A dysfunctional team will derail even the best strategy, while a healthy team can make even an average strategy work.
And yet, so many organizations still focus almost exclusively on strategy, operations, and technology—while failing to invest in clarity and cohesive teams…
Rituals of New Beginnings
It has somehow become a personal tradition that every time I prepare for a new role, I revisit “The First 90 Days” by Michael D. Watkins.
Each time I read it, something different stands out. The book evolves with me or perhaps I evolve with it. While it is recommended also for first-time managers, I find it increasingly relevant the more senior my roles become. It offers solid guidance for leaders stepping into complex environments and leading large teams or organizations…