Wake-Up Calls for Managers
For the hard parts no one prepares you for
When the path isn’t clear, the stakes are high, and the answers aren’t obvious—this is where managers struggle most.
Wake-Up Calls for Managers delivers practical, real-world guidance for navigating:
- Tough conversations
- Leading through uncertainty
- Building influence without authority
- Driving results through others
The Leadership Caffeine Blog
Six Big Insights from the Global Challenging Conversations Workshops
We Grow Smarter Together If you’ve followed my work for any length, you know how excited I am about the insights generated via discussions in my various workshop programs. Every individual comes to a program with a unique perspective and experiences, and together, we...
Six Big Insights from the Global Challenging Conversations Workshops
In a recent global workshop series, two groups of individuals added their international flavor to the challenging conversations, topics, and guidance. I share the highlights below.
7 Simple Ideas to Build Professional Muscle this Year
Professional development like physical fitness and weight loss is oft discussed, frequently initiated and rarely completed. Make this year different. Here are 7 ideas that like push-ups, build core strength, can be practiced anywhere, and are absolutely free:
Best Of: Trying Not to Fail is Not the Same as Striving for Success
This post is excerpted from my collection: Leadership Caffeine-Ideas to Energize Your Professional Development. There’s a definite difference between focusing on not failing versus striving for success.
Best Of: A Leader’s Resolutions are Calendar Blind
This post is excerpted from my collection: Leadership Caffeine-Ideas to Energize Your Professional Development. As we head into the new year, it’s important to recognize that for the most effective leaders, every day is New Year’s Day.
Leadership Caffeine™-6 Reasons Why Patience is a Leader’s Best Friend
Patience is the most important attribute necessary for effective leadership that we rarely talk about. Here are 6 reasons why patience (at the right time) is an effective leader’s best choice:
Peace and Joy
Peace and Joy this Holiday Season! Merry Christmas!
Management Excellence Holiday Book List-Part 2
Here are a few more of my favorite things when it comes to professional development. Part 1 focused on leadership, strategy, getting to the next level and cultural intelligence. In Part 2, I range a bit further afield with an eclectic suggestion list of biographies. And remember, the best books on leadership aren’t found in the business section!
Management Excellence Holiday Reading List-Part 1
In case you’re looking for gift suggestions for the professional in your life or, you’re thinking of spending some holiday time on your own professional development, I’m offering a few thoughts in a series of posts this week. In this first part, I stick close to the leadership and management world. Parts 2 and 3 will offer suggestions from the world of biography, innovation and self-development.
Words are Insufficient
Much like everyone else, I am struggling to process the tragedy in Newtown last Friday. Words are insufficient and I won’t try to make sense of this senseless nightmare.
Leadership Caffeine™-Guiding Your Team off the Whiteboard into Action
Those first few steps towards action…those first movements beyond the whiteboard and into practice are some of the most difficult steps for many teams and organizations. Here are 7 ideas to help you get beyond the discussions in pursuit of change:

