Archives for 2016

REI Reaps Rewards By Putting Purpose Before Profit

As we approach the holidays, retail businesses are in high gear preparing for their most profitable season. For many companies, the holiday season largely determines their outcome for the year. The fate of leaders during this season has a profound effect on their careers. Miss your targets and your job may be in jeopardy. Resulting […]

Microsoft Learned from MINDSET — So Can We

In Rich Karlgaard’s recent Forbes column, he recommends three books for vacation reading. While vacation is over for most of us, I was struck by the longevity of one of his recommendations. Karlgaard referenced the success of Microsoft since Satya Nadella has taken over as CEO and noted the recent conversation he and other colleagues […]

4 Keys to Simone Biles’ Success

Simone Biles has officially captured the hearts of worldwide gymnastic and Olympic fans. Her performance in Rio has been dominant, winning four gold medals along with a bronze. She is so talented that her teammates reportedly joke about competing for first place in the “non-Simone division.” In watching Simone compete and reading the press accounts […]

5 Reasons Leaders Don’t Give Tough Feedback

Most of us agree we can’t be great without candid feedback, especially about things we can improve in ourselves and our performance. Yet often we don’t receive this feedback at all or react poorly when we do. Lisa McKale recently published a very nice infographic on Resourceful Manager regarding this topic. In my experience these are typical reasons […]

How Lin-Manuel Miranda Created a Smash Hit: Leadership Lessons

When’s the last time you’ve heard so much buzz about a Broadway musical? Hamilton creator and star Lin-Manuel Miranda has turned a history lesson into a serious case of ticket envy across America. Even before Hamilton was nominated for a record sixteen Tony awards and claimed eleven top prizes, people have been willing to stand in […]