The three of us sat there in anxious silence as we considered the two options. We either file for bankruptcy or we double-down on our investment. Our 5-year old company was out of money. Every business I’ve started has a moment. It’s that punch-in-the-gut moment when you’ve got to make a big decision. There will […]
“Hey, I’ve got a question for you… with all the travel you do, how do you and your wife keep your marriage strong?” The conversation just got real. I asked my good friend that question right after we finished talking about the Cowboys vs. Eagles game. My friend and his wife have a strong marriage […]
My student pulled me aside during the break and asked me “What are leaders reading today?” Without giving me a chance to respond, he followed it quickly by asking a second question, “What should I be reading to improve my communication as a leader?” The question he had for me is one I think about […]
During my college years, I’m ashamed to admit it, but I was self-centered. It was all about me. For an infant or a small toddler to think this way, you’d probably expect it. But, as a college-aged student, it just looks selfish. Not a great way to meet new friends. Since that time I’ve discovered […]
Everyone looked at him and waited to hear his response. All nine people in the conference room had their attention fixed on one person. After a brief but dramatic pause, he began to speak with a calm voice and a solid solution. The rest of the group seemed transfixed as they listened. It was hard […]
I was listening to two managers in my workshop when he said it. They were doing a role-play exercise and focusing on coaching style questions but it was obvious to me now, this manager didn’t quite get it yet. I heard him ask, “Did you ask Jenna from Marketing to help with this?” The response […]
“Well, that guy’s an idiot.” He said it so matter-of-fact. As if he were pointing out the color of the car we were riding in. It was stated as if “Everyone knows it. It’s common knowledge and everyone agrees with me.” Wow. That’s a strong opinion. I couldn’t help myself. I just had to ask one […]
My concern for the upcoming event increased when I asked the executive how their organization defined leadership. His response was, “Well, you really can’t define leadership because there isn’t just one definition. Everyone has their own definition.” Hmmm…. How do you teach something you can’t explain simply? It’s the job of senior leadership to remove the […]
I flew to Dallas for a meeting with my new boss. As a Business Development Manager I would be negotiating contracts for the company so I asked him about negotiating prices. He glared back at me and gave a direct response, “We don’t sell on price here! We sell on value!” Now, I didn’t disagree […]
Golf has always been a game of both simple and complex. Speaking persuasively to an audience can feel the same way sometimes. For an audience to commit to following a leader, influence will always play a role. Since I know many leaders love to hit the links… I’ll use golf as the metaphor to teach […]
