A reflection on what I stand for in my coaching and consulting
Read moreThis week, I have journeyed to Boston to work on a number of projects. In fact, for much of July and August, I will be “on the road” in the US and Latin America. One of my goals for this summer is to reflect on how I might better express what I do and why it is unique, distinctive, and
A quick visit to the north
Read moreOn Wednesday of this week, I left the calm of my mini-vacation in the Swiss Alps and journeyed to a remarkable chateau, the Domaine de Rebetz, about an hour north of Paris in Picardy. The occasion was a L’Oréal seminar called “Transition to General Management”, a week-long training program for managers taking on significant new responsibilities, most often as
Thoughts on Nelson Mandela
Read moreSome reports out of South Africa in recent weeks have called Nelson Mandela’s condition “critical”. The thought that we may soon lose this remarkable man has led many to comment on his impressive leadership, or on his importance in African and world history. Personally, I feel as though I am losing an old friend, although I never have had the
The power of simplicity
Read more“Out of clutter, find simplicity.” This was Albert Einstein’s first rule of work. It is a quote that I have used countless times in my coaching of leaders. In fact, after fifteen years of working with individuals on their self-expression, I have come to believe that there is a general human tendency to make messages overly complex. When I
Images of management and leadership
Read moreAs a long-time student and writer about leadership and storytelling, I have developed a keen interest in metaphor and imagery. This week, I take a look at some of my favorite language surrounding the concept of managers and leaders. As it turns out, the notion of leaders and managers does lend itself to images that are at the same time
Reflecting a bit more on managers and leaders
Read moreLast week, I wrote of my intention to share some of the images I particularly like, metaphors that explain the classic distinction between leaders and managers. As I think about this, though, it may make more sense to first discuss here the historical context of the manager vs. leader debate. Then, in the next post, I will present the