Listening isn’t about getting information. It’s about building confidence.

Listening is by far the most important skill for a leader to hone. Have you ever seen a leader who seems unflappable and remains calm in even the most chaotic circumstances? Watch that person closely and you will see the secret to this cool demeanor—focused listening. As a leader, you need to pay attention to [...]

Iran Case Study: Power & Leadership

The situation in Iran serves as a sharp object lesson. Every leader at every level in every organization faces the test of power. The best will will use the power of their position to create a better world, even if it means sacrificing themselves. The mediocre will use that power to retain their position.
The situation [...]

Naked in Helsinki

As a young man, I had often heard tales of the hearty Finnish appetite for vodka, for cross country skiing, and for swimming in icy waters. They all seemed like tall tales to me. Oh how wrong you can be.
When I was working for Real Networks a few years back, I was fortunate enough to [...]

Michael Vick Deserves A Second Chance

 
 Tens of millions of people are glued to their televisions every autumn to cheer their  favorite NFL team to hit, shove, and grind their opponents into the dirt. We openly and  eagerly celebrate the physical spectacle of football—a sport that rewards the most agile of  men with the roar of 100,000 adoring fans while brutally [...]

Interview with Pamela Richarde

Pamela Richarde Past President of International Coaching Federation

Pamela is a charming and insightful leader. She has led an interesting and eclectic career in the Performing Arts, in Education, building her own businesses, and serving as Vice President & COO at Coach U, Inc . From 1996-2006 she helped create and then later [...]

Four Key Skills

Listening is by far the most important skill for a leader to hone. We need to pay attention to the words and actions of others while suspending judgment long enough to allow your intellect to catch up with your instincts. Why? Because as leaders, if we speak too soon, we shut of creation. We shut [...]

Empirical Skepticism

While it is true that great leaders inspire by painting a mental image of a better future, many charlatans and mean spirited characters can and have done as much. The hallmark of a great leader is a willingness to embrace doubt while driving to separate facts from opinions and theories. In short, the bedrock of [...]