My day started out completely unfocused and demotivated. It felt like walking through six-inches of mud in high top tennis shoes. (Yes, I have done that.) I would like to blame it on daylight savings, but that would be deflecting…
As a new manager, Jordan was excellent at facilitating team and one-on-one decision-making meetings. Her boss praised her for creating an environment of mutual trust, open sharing, creativity, and energy. However, Jordan was continually disappointed in the output of the…
Group decision-making and planning does not have to be painful, time-consuming, and unproductive. There is a simple process you can follow to make this experience enjoyable, efficient, and productive. This experience involves three primary steps. Start with What What? Hasn’t…
In school, I ran the 100-yard dash on the track team. It was like most races. There was a clear starting line, a finish line, and a lane for each person. I knew what I had to do to reach…
Recently, I was part of an open discussion entitled “Leading Generational Differences.” This was a topic the group generated during a leadership forum a colleague and I were conducting. With all the attention being given to this topic by authors,…
Recently, I asked participants in a leadership workshop to think about types of terrible leaders and give them a catchy name. We had a delightful interaction defining, and mildly joking about, the disruptive behaviors that are exhibited by some people…
This past Spring I was inspired to get my motorcycle license. I was motived by a desire to increase my skills in this activity and also to spend time with my dad who has been riding and rebuilding motorcycles most…
On August 4, 2017, my co-facilitators and I were completing the last day of a leadership academy in Bangalore, India with a group of fourteen thoughtful, energetic, and talented people. As I watched the group collaboratively interact together in pursuit…
In this ToddCast, Todd Long, of Leadership Innovations, discusses the difference between Transactional and Collaborative Relationships. Transactional Relationships are characterized by: Quick interactions Surface Communication Lower trust Lower care Collaborative Relationships are characterized by: Deeper communication More time Higher…
Recently, I had a meeting scheduled at the River Market in Kansas City. I rarely visit this part of the city. A prior meeting finished early, so I had time to spare. I decided to go to the River Market,…