Thomas Jefferson wrote this recommendation of Meriwether Lewis on his qualifications for what was to become the Lewis & Clark expedition: “Of courage undaunted, possessing a firmness and perseverance of purpose which nothing but impossibilities could divert from it’s direction, careful as a father of those committed to his charge, yet steady in the maintenance
Courage has many faces. I’m speaking about personal courage, staring honesty in the face and the boldness to stand up for what we believe. We have numerous opportunities each day to act on those moments; to step up and really be honest and affirmative for what we believe. Often we stay silent, leave it for
“He complains a lot.” “He needs so much of my attention.” “She creates more problems/frustrations than she solves.” Sound familiar? We hire our team members as resources to help us achieve our objectives. When a team member tips that scale to where they create more work and frustration than they solve, then we have to
Let sales people do what they do best – sell. My good friend Bob Sappio started at APL around the same time I did. We both started straight out of college. There are many stories I could tell about the seasoned executive he is … Bob started out in sales and there is a legendary
I was working with a client, a new CEO, about the dynamics of influencing his Board of Directors , whom he, as of yet, did not know well. We discussed his ability to persuade his Board on issues important to him. I drew a bell curve with the typical vertical lines intersecting the Bell at
This story is an excerpt from my book, Our Stories Matter. (Sunflower illustration by Isabella Hutley) There are times when our filters, our preconceptions get in the way, and by doing so we miss the opportunity to see life in others, to see the world from a broader perspective. As we look to become more
I was in New York with a colleague, Gregory Hill. We were having several cups of coffee, discussing the importance of strong foundations in corporations. Organizations go through change – growth, market dynamics, Customer demands, stakeholder pressures. An organization’s ability, and readiness, to face that change, and to create real sustainability is paramount. All too
If I Commit, I lock myself into a direction. I need to keep my options open. Once I dive in, there is no way out. Sound familiar? Every time I visit my friend Edward in the English countryside, I come back relaxed, refreshed. Something about long walks and the fresh air… This weekend I was
“Ninety percent of selling is conviction, and 10 per cent is persuasion.” Shiv Khera Great Quote. However, as leaders, we usually end up at that crossroads where we have that one opportunity to close the deal, to persuade – the meeting with our boss, the presentation to the Board of Directors, or the pitch to
My client was exploring several opportunities to expand his business – partnerships, acquisitions, product expansions. Lots of opportunities, and all clearly in his sandbox. These opportunities would expand his core business in line with the clear strategic objectives he had set for his company’s growth. As he explored these opportunities, as he discussed them with
