Trust is valuable. We want others to trust us, and we want to be trusted. With institutional trust hovering at an all-time low, it is perhaps needed in those around us more than ever. As leaders, the need to build trust is dire. We can never lead at our best in a low trust environment.

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Since hybrid work has become more common, there have been some consistent challenges that come alongside the opportunities to succeed. Coordinating schedules, feeling disconnected, and a lack of serendipity in conversations lead the list. But one of the most impactful difficulties is managing performance when some people are in the office more than others.The Human

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Listening is something we do every day. We know it is important, yet we take it for granted. That’s why I was pleased that it emerged in our Remarkable Leadership Skills Bracket as one of the two most important leadership skills (from an initial field of 16 skills!).  Here’s why so many voted for listening (in

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I have long said that as we become better leaders, we become better humans – and vice versa. Empathy is one example of that truth. Empathy is a valuable and important human skill and leadership skill. If you think of the best leaders you have experienced, you have likely experienced leadership empathy from them. So,

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Making change happen has always been an important role for leaders, now more than ever. Much has been studied and written about managing change, and to a slightly lesser extent, leading change. And even given all that study and advice, most leaders and organizations aren’t very good at making change happen. Maybe it is because

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Is competition good or bad? The answer, depending on several factors, could be “yes, no, or it depends”. What about organizational competition? My answer would be the same! Let’s look at how to determine if organizational competition is helping or harming your team and organizational results.Organizational Competition is Good When…It spurs innovation and creativity. When

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We usually seek others to mentor us, and rightly so. Mentors offer invaluable perspectives and support. However, it’s vital to realize that one of the key mentors in your life can be yourself.Four Key Strategies to Self-MentoringTreat Yourself Better: Consider how a good mentor would treat you – with encouragement, support, and belief in your

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When you ask someone a question and they respond, “It depends,” how does that make you feel? Does it make think the person is blowing you off or hedging their bets? Do you wonder if they are non-committal or not as knowledgeable as you thought? It could mean any of those things. Or it could

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It has been about four years since COVID-19 moved from virus to pandemic status. And those events changed how we view the world – and work – forever. At this four-year mark, I am looking at the biggest pandemic lessons I learned. After you read mine, I hope you will share your own in the

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There is a well-known game played on car trips. It is most often called “Slug bug” or “Punch buggy”. Regardless of the name, the game rewards those who see a VW Beetle (the “bug”) first. The first person to see the car in question can “slug” or “punch” the other person. (More details are here.)

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