In one sense, explanations and excuses seem like the same thing. They are both ways to address questions or concerns about actions and outcomes. They are used to create understanding about why something happened. So, what’s the difference and why does it matter?The DifferenceThe key difference lies in the intent and the acceptance of responsibility.

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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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Failure. This isn’t a word that is super inspiring or brings joy to our hearts and minds. Yet it is something we need to think about as a leader and individual. To think about failure in a more effective and helpful way (and perhaps stop avoiding it), let’s realize that there are two kinds of failure.The

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There are plenty of style questions that get asked of leaders – often stated as a dichotomy. Here is one for you – are you results-based or process-based? Perhaps this isn’t one you have thought about, yet I would suggest you should. Let’s talk about the question – and what the best answer might be.Results-Based

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If you missed it, there is a big football game this weekend. I’ve learned there are three types of people in the world. People who can’t wait for the Big Game, those who can’t wait for it to be over (no more football for a while!), and those who just don’t care. This article is

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You’ve had this moment. The moment when you know you need to make a change. When your need meets your willingness to change. I call this the coaching moment. When we are most open to advice, counsel, and guidance – and ready to try something new or different. Being a great coach takes more than skills

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One of the most important parts of a leader’s role is to coach those they lead. While few would disagree with that statement, many aren’t doing as much coaching as they should. That fact itself should concern organizations. But it isn’t the only problem. Do you (and your leaders) know if you are coaching the

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As the rational, well-intentioned, highly professional manager of a remote or hybrid team, do you make mistakes? Odds are you do. Likely because your brain tends to process information in certain ways that work most of the time. Most of the time. But we all have biases that occasionally get us in trouble. I have become

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We’ve all been in that meeting. Someone comes up with a fresh idea, and almost instantly, another person chimes in with, “Well, just playing Devil’s Advocate here, but…” This simple sentence has the power to limit brainstorming, sour the team dynamic, and yes, even hurt feelings. Have you ever been that person? Do you know

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The question a lot of leaders ask themselves is, “How do I know that people are working when I can’t see what they’re doing?” If you are slaving away at home or in a hotel room, that might seem insulting. Many leaders feel guilty asking the question, but the answer matters. Trust is evidence based. Managers

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