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
The case for investing heavily in strengthening as a communicator
"You'll go as far as you are able to communicate." The quote in the title was from Maury, a senior executive and mentor in my first job out of college. While it stuck in my mind, I'm not sure I understood the power behind it until more than a decade later, when Maury...
The case for investing heavily in strengthening as a communicator
You have an amazing array of tools at your disposal to succeed as a communicator. Your technical command of a topic is important, but not enough. Your ability to articulate in terms they value and to do so with authentic passion, ensuring your body meets your message, and your message meets their needs, are all critical.
The Secret to Leadership Success Isn’t So Secret
Every year, a ridiculous number of books are written on leadership, and we consume them in volume, hoping to find the secret to leadership success. It’s not that hard, and it’s not a secret. Just ask them what they need from you.
Ten Life Lessons Learned & Reinforced From A Year Well Lived
Some years in our lives are more noteworthy than others. 2022 was one of those for us. Here are ten life lessons learned (or reinforced) from a year well-lived.
The Old Model of Manager is Broken—It’s Time to Start Fresh
It’s time to replace the tired, outdated model we have for identifying, developing, and tasking managers. Given the complexity of our environment today, we need to find new ways to harness the creative and productive power of inspired people, not send them running out the door or leave them idling in place.
The Skills of Effective Diplomats Offer Guidance for Managers and Leaders
In this article, I draw from history lessons to suggest a fresh model and set of skills based on old-school nation-state diplomacy to help today’s senior managers and organizational leaders navigate the challenges posed by varying constituent groups in our volatile era.
A Simple, Powerful Fix for Feedback Problems on Your Team
Of all the challenges managers at all levels face, delivering constructive (and even positive) feedback is near the top of the list. There’s good reason—it’s a confusing topic that even the experts who study human psychology and neuroscience disagree on, despite mountains of research. Here are four ideas to help strengthen your feedback culture and effectiveness.
Provocative Perspective—The Leadership Failure of Mass Layoffs
I’ve long believed layoffs are a lagging indicator of poor leadership engaged in misguided management practices. The CEO apologies for these misfires ring hollow. You cannot apologize your way out of a leadership failure at scale.
Seizing the Big Moments that Define Your Leadership Career
For individuals who choose to lead, it pays to see the signposts. Here are several significant moments in the career of everyone who leads that merit your complete engagement.
People Don’t Want to Manage and That’s a Problem
The old supervisory model and mentality are obsolete. The essence of the new role is empowerment and support. Perhaps instead of having individuals write off the opportunity to contribute to others and their organizations in unique ways, we might just build the next generation of great leaders. I’ve checked, and we need more of those great leaders!
Challenging Conversation Sound Bite #3: The Fallacy of the Feedback (Praise) Sandwich
In every challenging conversations workshop I run, the topic of the feedback sandwich (aka the praise sandwich) jumps up, and we spend time sharing perspectives on the use/uselessness of this tactic. Here are some reasons I believe you should say “No” to the praise sandwich in your feedback practices.