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
Final Thoughts — Lessons on Leading from Growing Up Around Dad
This article is the third and final in my series paying tribute to my Dad, who passed away late this summer. The earlier articles in this trilogy include: Leadership and Management Lessons from Losing Dad and Life and Leadership...
Final Thoughts — Lessons on Leading from Growing Up Around Dad
Dad conducted a master class in overcoming adversity as a child. From an early age placement in an orphanage to navigating poverty, suffering from severe crossed eyes until a radical surgery in his teens, he personified tenacity. We called it “sticktoitiveness,” and to Dad, this was a key to success. He carried this forward through his life.
Leaders: How Hard are You Thinking About These Two BIG Issues?
There are two issues every person in a leadership role must constantly focus on and work on: (1) who they aspire to be as leaders and (2) how hard they are working at developing their skills as strategists. Anything less than daily work on these issues is a problem.
Leadership Caffeine™—If You’re Leading Change, Expect Flak
Don’t let the flak derail your transformation initiative. Instead, dive in to understand the core of any resistance better and strive to build your coalition. Transformation initiatives succeed on the strength of relationships, not ideas.
Leadership Caffeine Jam Session 4 —Rethinking Employee Career Development for This Era
I’m excited to have a great friend and fabulous expert on career development, Julie Winkle Giulioni, join the upcoming Leadership Caffeine Jam Session: Rethinking Employee Career Development for This Era on Friday, February 11 at noon central. You can register here. (This will be recorded and the video, chat stream, and mind map distributed to all registrants.)
Why You Need to Write the Manifesto for Success with Your Group
Clarifying your group’s values or creating a Manifesto for Success gives substance and meaning to the working environment you want to bring to life with your group members. This activity is essential and impactful whether you are leading a senior management team, a functional group, or a project team.
How to Maximize Value from Your Coaching Experience
I find that many participants come into coaching situations unclear on what to expect and unsure how to leverage the experience. Here are some ideas to help.
When Your “Ask” Runs Into a Brick Wall— Find the Loose Brick
People resist anything that threatens their autonomy and safety. Quit leading with what you need and start focusing on what’s important to them, and you’ll watch resistance melt.
Leadership Caffeine Jam Session #3: All About Tuning Your Communication Skills for Success
We’re live on January 14 at noon central with the latest (free) Leadership Caffeine Jam Session entitled: The Persuasive Power of the Right Words in the Right Order Said the Right Way. No slides, no pitches, plenty of ideas and interaction!
Here’s Why This Firm Will Lose the War for Talent and Fail
Here are at least five ways a major organization misfired with the search for talent. Are your firm’s screening practices getting in the way of survival and success?
Seven Things to Stop Doing as a Leader This (and every) Year
As you search for new resolutions and ideas to grow and strengthen in your leadership role in the months ahead, here are seven things I encourage you to stop.