The Era of “Effective Immediately”

Never has the figurative sense of two words meant so much more than the literally sense as “Effective Immediately.” (OK, I’ll concede that “I Do” is also up there in the two-worder club). Google It I just Googled “Effective Immediately.” Yikes.  I didn’t do the math, and I wouldn’t say that I performed any scientifically [...]

Airbrushes, Avatars and Authenticity: Leading Without Misleading

If you were to look at many leaders today, you’d think that they were superheroes. Unblemished. Never afraid. Superpowers. Boundless energy. And performing with a perfect record… But this is not reality. And it is not anywhere near being helpful. In fact, it’s misleading. I believe that today’s leader must wrestle with who they truly [...]

Raise Your “Voice”

Organizational behaviorists define voice as a means for employees to communicate dissatisfaction with their work situations in an effort to make their work environments more congruent with their self-interests and goals. Progressive leaders, not surprisingly, are encouraged to welcome their employees’ voices with open-door eagerness and gratitude. However, studies reveal that employees intentionally distort the [...]

Rebel Leadership – ‘Rebel With a Cause’

Rebel Efforts Pay Off ‘That is the best damn Store entrance I have ever seen.’ That was the day, the day that she knew! She had spent her entire career in a male dominated retail environment, her colleagues and peers all assuming that her ‘Senior Store Manager’ position had been achieved by her ‘close’ relationship [...]

Risk – The Tumbling Dice of Leadership

Oh, my, my, my, I’m the lone craps shooter, playin’ the field ev’ry night.  Baby… can’t stay…you got to roll me, and call me the tumblin’ dice. ~ The Rolling Stones, Tumbling Dice 1972 Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner! “New roller coming out” yelled the croupier as he slid five dice toward me.  The table was [...]