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How To Survive In The Age Of Disruption

Posted by on September 13, 2017

I recently spoke on this topic for a new client. We are all accustomed to what I called developmental and market change. To address this level of change we must constantly lean into process improvement and in some cases execute a significant realignment. However, disruption requires nothing less than dramatic transformation to survive much less thrive. This post by Steve Olenski was spot on:

“Disruption has become the rule among companies of all stripes, and it’s coming from every angle. When PwC surveyed CEOs for its annual chief executive study in 2014, the majority of respondents said changing consumer behaviors, rising competition, and shifts in distribution channels were forcing massive change in their industries.

Fast forward to 2017 and nothing has changed. If anything disruption is coming even more fast and yes more furious.”

Categories: Leading Change Organizational Culture Strategic Planning | Comments Off on How To Survive In The Age Of Disruption

The 10 Best Decisions I've Made In Marriage

Posted by on September 8, 2017

So many ups and downs, good days and bad describe most marriages. You are living with another person that deserves your best while seeing you at your worst. If our primary motive is to manipulate change in the other person for our own benefit then the marriage will probably never last. Mark Merrill and his wife Susan always provide great wisdom:

“As my wife Susan and I were writing our newly released books, Lists to Love By for Busy Husbands and Lists to Love by for Busy Wives, I spent a lot of time reflecting on our marriage and life together. I also thought about some of the choices I have made along the way. Here are the 10 best decisions I (and Susan too) have made in marriage.”

Categories: Church Scattered Marriage | Comments Off on The 10 Best Decisions I've Made In Marriage

Four Things Leaders Must Do When Times Are Tough

Posted by on September 4, 2017

In normal business cycles change is always there and we are able to realign our company cultures to continue to be effective. Today disruption is the norm with multiple parts of our value chain changing and never coming back. Leaders must be dealers in hope that the future will be better than the present. This Forbes post is excellent:

“The average lifespan of a company in the S&P 500 was 67 years in the 1920s. Today, it’s under 15. Companies have to adapt to new environments and situations faster than ever before, and the threat of macroeconomic turmoil and business model disruption is as high as it ever has been.”

As a leader, what can you do in the midst of these challenges? In difficult times, research shows that the key is to instill trust, compassion, stability and hope.

Categories: Career Development Leadership Development Pastoral Leadership | Comments Off on Four Things Leaders Must Do When Times Are Tough

How To Forget About Work When You're Not Working

Posted by on September 1, 2017

I read and coach a lot about the incredible challenge of work-life balance. I have never had a client that does not have this subject on the top three list of things they want to address. I am convinced that life integration is the key to resolving many of these tensions. This HBR post gives some practical advise:

“When was the last time you got away from work? I mean truly got away from it: didn’t think about it, didn’t worry about it, didn’t have a to-do list rattling around in your brain.

Most of us know there are benefits to getting away from work. We know we need time to recharge each day in order to be able to sustain our attention in the office. We know time away from complex problems allows us to find a fresh perspective. We know if we work too many long days in a row we’ll find ourselves doing what I affectionately call “fake work” — sitting at our desks without actually accomplishing anything.”

Categories: Margin Work Life Integration | Comments Off on How To Forget About Work When You're Not Working

Developing A Change Leader Mindset

Posted by on August 30, 2017

Sadly many leaders of very large companies are still trying to manage change or avoid it altogether. Change is an ever present inevitable truth that simply cannot be avoided. Leaders are dealers in the hope that our future beyond change will be better than our present reality. This post by Forbes Coaches Council is worth the read:

“Trite but true, change is the only constant. Having spent over 25 years working with leaders and companies to create change, I’ve decided we are approaching change all wrong. Our approach has always been focused on managing change. Our mindset needs to be on leading it.”

Categories: Leading Change | Comments Off on Developing A Change Leader Mindset

When Delegation Becomes Abdication

Posted by on August 28, 2017

One universal truth about leadership is that most of us fail to delegate all of the work that someone else could do just as well or even better. It is one of the primary ways to develop other leaders. However, when we do it poorly then our expectations are not met and the other person feels like they failed. This Michael Hyatt post is helpful:

“Tell me you’ve had this experience. You assign a task but then forget about it. I sure have. As a leader, I am not a micromanager. That’s good news for my team. But I have to be intentional that delegation doesn’t drift into abdication. It’s not always disastrous when this happens. If we’ve hired well, our teams bridge the gap and nobody is worse off. But sometimes when assignments fall through the cracks, we create serious problems for ourselves.”

Categories: Delegation Leadership Development | Comments Off on When Delegation Becomes Abdication

How To Develop The Next Generation Of Leaders

Posted by on August 25, 2017

When the primary purpose of your leadership is to drive results you will take your eye off the ball of the higher priority of developing new leaders. It clearly is a short term investment of time now that will pay significant results later for the entire organization. This post by the Forbes Coaches council is spot on:

“Baby boomers are stepping into retirement in growing numbers. This means that companies are starting to lose institutional knowledge and experience, not to mention an entire section of leadership. While there is still time to get younger generations up to speed on leadership tasks, that training is not something that should be an afterthought.”

Categories: Leadership Development Pastoral Leadership | Comments Off on How To Develop The Next Generation Of Leaders

Good Leaders Do Not Need A Hammer

Posted by on August 23, 2017

Today if you have to tell someone you are the leader in reality you probably are not. Positional authority has given way to relational trust in most work cultures. Does that mean that all directive leadership is dead? No, however you must adapt to a situational leadership model to align with what you team needs. This Forbes post is excellent:

“Multigenerational teams have given leaders cause to pause for review of their management styles, tools and techniques. It is no secret workforce changes have prompted a revisit of everything from training delivery to employee benefits to leadership development. What worked for the baby-boomer generation doesn’t necessarily work for Generation X, millennials or Generation Z.”

Categories: Leadership Development | Comments Off on Good Leaders Do Not Need A Hammer

The Value Of Silence In Great Teamwork

Posted by on August 21, 2017

When I used to have very low self trust, I really needed other people both to like and agree with me in team meetings. This insecurity would cause me to say too much and lean in too hard to make sure everyone knew I was both smart and right. Once I learned to be secure in myself, it dramatically removed the burden of always having to be on offense.

The best thing you can do sometimes for your team is to say nothing and this Fast Company post reminds us why:

“Have more than thou showest/Speak less than thou knowest.”

That’s a quote from King Lear, a play by William Shakespeare, who was very good at writing things. As far as the plot goes, it probably revolves around a guy named King Lear who–I’m assuming–betrays someone, or gets betrayed, or something happens mid-betrayal–likely involving poison. The point is that I’ve never read King Lear, or much Shakespeare at all for that matter.

Categories: Teamwork | Comments Off on The Value Of Silence In Great Teamwork

Nine Strategies To Reduce Stress

Posted by on August 18, 2017

The inability to sustain margin may be the biggest challenge we face in this always on world we live in. It seems like the demands of work and home always exceed our capacity to meet them. Since so many factors are outside of my control, I must discipline myself to own the choices I can make. This post by the Coaches Council was very helpful:

“Stress is a part of life, especially business life. There are simply too many things that require your attention, which means that it’s far too easy to get overwhelmed, or worn down, by worries about the consequences of poor choices or imagined futures.

Managing stress, therefore, is vital, especially when you’re managing others. Teams look to their leads for direction, and people will pick up on signs that things aren’t right.”

Categories: Margin Personal Leadership | Comments Off on Nine Strategies To Reduce Stress