Posts Tagged ‘Excellence’
Can You REALLY Let Go of the Outcome?
I’ve written before about the concept of process versus outcome in achieving sustainable excellence (see Understanding Process & Outcome). For a leader, coach, or performer, the basic concept is simple: Focus on the task at hand and let the outcomes take care of themselves. I’ve spoken with countless clients about this over the years. But…
Read MoreCan Confidence and Humility Coexist in a Leader?
A Lesson in the Airport The other day I was in an airport lounge preparing for my latest consulting trip. The lounge was filled with the usual business types chatting on their cell phones, having drinks and generally conveying an air of self-importance. An employee came by to clean up my area, collecting glasses and…
Read More5 Steps To Resiliency
Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg and Wharton professor Adam Grant have recently released a new book on resilience. Sandberg lost her husband suddenly in 2015. As she struggled to adjust to life without her mate she became interested in resiliency and how she could demonstrate this quality in response to her own personal tragedy. As I came across…
Read MoreWhat All Leaders Can Learn from NASCAR
This weekend the NASCAR racing series returns to the Talladega Speedway. Last year I was interviewed by Megan Englehart of Fox Sports about the pressures facing young drivers in the Truck Series elimination race at this track. As the circuit returns to Talladega this year, I’ve reflected on some lessons all leaders can learn from high-pressure events…
Read MoreWhy New Year’s Resolutions Don’t Work
Next time you are in the gym, take a look around at the new faces you see. These are the people who set a New Year’s resolution to get in better shape and lose weight. Most of them won’t be in the gym with you in a couple of months. Research shows that less than 10% of…
Read MoreMicrosoft 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…
Read MoreHow Do I Get in the Zone?
You know the feeling. Everything is going your way. The ball goes straight down the fairway every time. Before you hit your shot you KNOW it’s going to be good. The words are rolling off your tongue during the speech or presentation. You have the audience on the edge of their seats. You close the…
Read MoreThoughts On Leadership From A Fortune 20 Executive
I’m fortunate that practically all my corporate clients genuinely care about leadership and demonstrate this commitment in our engagement. However, many executives claim to be interested in leadership yet their behavior often doesn’t match their speech. I’ve recently crossed paths with a senior leader (not a client) who writes about and demonstrates leadership. Karin Hurt…
Read MoreRadio Interview on the Psychological Aspects of Performance
Enjoyed a great radio interview with Bryce Johnson http://www.unpackinit.com on sport psychology. We discussed a range of topics that also apply to executive coaching and any other performance oriented pursuit. Some of the concepts we discussed include: The importance of psychological skills at the highest level of performance Can mental toughness be learned? How can I…
Read MoreRedefining Passion In Leadership
In your leadership journey you have undoubtedly heard about the need for passion. It’s true that passion is essential to excellence. But I find leadership passion is very misunderstood. Passion comes in many different packages. When we think of passion we often go to images of highly charismatic, often dramatic, leaders giving impassioned speeches to…
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