The natural response to negative situations is to back away. Human nature is wired to be self-protective and so when confronting the negative the common response is to flee, fight, or freeze. But effective leaders learn to lean into the negative...
Read moreThe Link between Character and Emotional Intelligence
Character and emotional intelligence can be considered as two layers of our leadership capability, the two layers that are foundational to our leadership effectiveness. Character can be defined as the virtues, values, and traits that underlie our...
Read moreLeaders Are Learners
Effective leaders are committed to constantly learning and growing. This desire to grow is driven by their character. Effective leaders have the following character traits: Confident but not arrogant, they know they have been greatly blessed with...
Read moreWhat Is Character?
Character is the most important ingredient of leadership. I often use the analogy of a structure in describing leadership where character is the foundation. Without a strong foundation of character our leadership can be weak. We often describe...
Read moreCharacter Beats IQ 53-5 in Thrilling Leadership Bowl
OK, it is the middle of November and as the college football season moves towards the playoffs it gets more interesting, so I couldn’t resist the playful title. But there is a real point to this article. It is that leadership is more dependent...
Read moreTransparency and Trust
Transparency and trust are inextricably linked in leadership – transparency on the part of the leader to warrant trust from the constituent. Trustworthiness is a critical character trait for those that want to lead. People only accept the...
Read moreThe Structure of Leadership
Effective leadership is built upon strong character, emotional intelligence, cognitive intelligence, and subject-matter expertise. In my workshops and talks on leadership I often use the analogy of the structure of a house where character is the...
Read moreValues and Principles
Values and principles set the boundaries for how an organizations operates and deals with its various stakeholders. In a previous article, we used the analogy of a funnel to describe the management system of an organization as it moved from broad...
Read moreLeadership and Humility
While effective leaders are often intelligent and high-functioning, humility is a key character trait of the best leaders. Humility draws in people while arrogance drives them away. No doubt we have all seen people in leadership positions who had...
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