The buck stops here. 

Depending on your age, you may not be aware of that slogan. President Harry Truman had a sign on his desk in the Oval Office that stated “THE BUCK STOPS HERE.” This phrase during that time become very popular. Well, that may have been many, many years ago, however it applies just as much today as it did then. I have found the truth is whatever your role may be: CEO, Dist Supervisor, Dept. Head, School Principal, it doesn’t matter, YOU COUNT THE MOST. What I know to be true is, PEOPLE JOIN PEOPLE and PEOPLE LEAVE PEOPLE. Research has proven this time and time again. It is not always about money or perks. These may get them in the door, but [...]

By |2022-07-07T16:19:58+00:00April 27th, 2022|Coaching, Leadership|0 Comments

Leadership and Problem-Solving.

The Sufi philosopher Azhar Khan once said “Life is a continuous succession of problems, like waves from the ocean. They never stop.” If that is true, solving problems is a critical leadership competency. Like an accident where someone is hurt you focus on caring for the injured person, stopping the bleeding, and minimizing damage before you start analyzing what and how it happened. Over the years I have learned when faced with a problem or crisis to discipline myself by intentionally staying calm, and thinking in terms of "what can be done now," rather than how it occurred and who is to blame. There will be time to reflect on the what and how and learn from that. Below are [...]

By |2022-07-07T16:18:53+00:00April 14th, 2022|Coaching, Leadership|0 Comments

Conflict is inevitable — now what? 

The fact remains, that we will always have conflict. On the job, with the boss, if you’re the boss with employees, at home in our relationships, and even outside the home. Frankly, as a leader, IT COMES WITH THE TERRITORY, we may not like it, but as the overused statement goes “it is what it is." How well you manage and handle conflict can be a deal-breaker. Conflict is like fire. When it sparks, it can intensify, spread, and cause pain, loss, and irreparable damage. It can distract, derail, and possibly destroy relationships. However, conflict is not an inherently bad thing. Different views, beliefs, feelings, values, and ideas will often collide. That is everyday life. My main point is, that [...]

By |2022-07-07T16:16:48+00:00April 6th, 2022|Leadership|0 Comments

That doesn’t just happen.

Last year I had the privilege and opportunity to get to know Pastor Michael Kai, and I can tell you that he is an inspirational leader. I just finished reading his latest book, “That Doesn’t Just Happen,” and I highly recommend reading it if you are looking to build a culture of true excellence. I love his title. That is so true with your personal growth and development. Your growth and your leadership development "doesn't just happen." You must be intentional and have a plan. For me, it starts with asking myself these questions: How will I be different next year at this time? What new knowledge will I have to acquire to perfect my craft and leadership? What new habits [...]

By |2022-03-29T17:33:02+00:00March 29th, 2022|Development, Leadership|0 Comments

How effective are your one-to-one meetings?

Most leaders meet regularly with their team members; I refer to these meetings as Performance Evaluation Plan (PEP) sessions or one-to-one time. Ask open-ended questions to understand better what your team is focusing on and how you can best support them. It can be challenging to determine whether these meetings are well-invested or an ineffective checkmark. My experience has taught me not to turn this valuable time into a training session or a long, drawn-out strategy session. Instead, use this time to identify better execution, results, and behavior change. There may be some coaching and or mentoring during the PEP, so be careful not to park there too long and not get to a commitment to action. Your team member, coachee, or mentee may [...]

By |2022-03-22T18:38:18+00:00March 22nd, 2022|Coaching|0 Comments
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