Tom’s a CEO who had a leader who was struggling at work. He needed some additional oversight until he matures into his potential. But he was reluctant to release any control. Tom knew that if this leader didn’t accept his recommendations willingly he would likely sabotage any help he sent his way. He needed to prove that he was teachable, ...
Researchers Alison Reynolds and David Lewis studied how businesses tackle complex problems. These researchers labeled the businesses that were best as solving problems as “Generative.” Two key attributes stood out at these Generative companies; being Cognitively Diverse and Psychologically Safe. Reynolds and Lewis discovered that teams that were diverse in their backgrounds and thinking styles proved more successful at solving ...
When I was a young and foolish 25-year-old, I read an article about a new business concept called “Rent a Wreck.” After leaving public accounting I was searching for my next career, so I started a used car rental agency. Looking back, I heard only what I wanted to hear. When friends and bankers asked me tough questions, I had ...
Phil Cohen was telling me that his father-in-law, Frank Turpin, was a great leader. Over Frank’s career, he worked his way up to vice-president of what later became Exxon. Frank died in 2004. A few years after he died, Phil called Frank’s son, Hank, and asked, “How was your dad so successful?” Hank replied, “He knew how to attract talented ...
Hunting was not my thing, but as a teenager some friends invited me to go deer hunting. Upon arrival they pointed me towards a tree and told me to climb the tree and wait for a deer. I tried to climb the tree with my rifle, but, out of frustration and laziness, I finally left my gun at the base ...
As I consulted with a young business owner, it struck me that some of my business experiences are foreign to younger generations. For instance, few people under 45 years old have experienced rising interest rates. As our economy fuels up, we are running a bigger risk of interest rates rising, possibly in a significant way. Personally, I remember the pain ...
Years ago, Kathy and I met a family on the streets of Kansas City who were panhandling for money. They told a sad story that seemed believable, so we decided to help. We bought them some groceries, and then, I began helping this man to find a job. We developed a resume, I lined up an interview, and I even ...
Our youngest daughter, Bekah, noticed the oil light when it first surfaced, but she thought it was a “suggestion” to get her oil changed. She scheduled an oil change and kept driving. Two days later, she discovered that the light was a warning, not a suggestion! With no oil in the car, the engine “threw a rod” and ruined the ...
Morten Hansen, a University of California, Berkley professor, has released a new book around his research on high performers. In our fast-paced world when we have so many priorities and opportunities, Mr. Hansen discovered that the highest performing workers have mastered selectivity. These high performers have discovered that carefully selecting which projects and tasks they should work on is more ...
Years ago, a pastor and his elders were locked in conflict. Early on, the pastor shared a vision with the elders that they needed to become more evangelistic and community minded. The leaders, knowing their church was dying, embraced his vision and hired this pastor to move them forward. Sometime later, however, these longstanding leaders began grumbling about the changes ...
Equipping Others to Do Work Differently
