When it comes to storytelling in business, the most commonly used story archetype is that of the hero and their quest. Essentially, these stories involve a protagonist whose normal life is disrupted by some external change and subsequently goes on a journey in an attempt to resolve or improve the … Click to continue reading
As this week marks the official start of Spring for most northern countries, I wanted to take the opportunity to revisit an idea I wrote about sometime ago about a seasonal event in these parts and the lessons we can glean from it on leadership and organizational success. In addition … Click to continue reading
When it comes to communicating the vision or goals you have for your organization, few vehicles serve to deliver your message as effectively as the art of storytelling. In fact, some of the most respected leaders have relied on storytelling to not only communicate their vision, but to encourage their … Click to continue reading
Have you ever had an employee come to you with an idea or proposal to address a particular situation to which you answered with one of the following replies? “That’s a great idea, but let’s shop this around a bit first.” “I agree that we need to change this, but … Click to continue reading
The following is a guest post by Marlene Chism. Drama in the form of negativity happens for many reasons and not just because of personalities, or because of women bickering and gossiping at the water cooler. Often negativity exists because the structures currently in place do not support the massive … Click to continue reading
A few weeks ago, I wrote a piece about the importance of leaders taking time off work and going on vacation, a piece which I’m happy to share has been picked up by the American Management Association (AMA) and is now featured on their website. Since publishing that piece, I’ve … Click to continue reading
One of the common themes I’ve written about on my blog is the key role focus plays in our ability to be successful. But how many of us are actually focusing on what we want to accomplish, as opposed to focusing more on the things we’re trying to avoid? That’s … Click to continue reading
A few days ago, I decided to change a photograph that’s been on display for the last several years in one of the picture frames which currently grace my desk. The photograph was a picture I had taken of my girls several years ago on one of those days from … Click to continue reading
With the arrival of another new year, many of us have been busy celebrating various traditions which serve to not only remind us of events from the past year, but which also imbue us with a sense of optimism for what we might achieve in the months ahead. In the … Click to continue reading
In my previous post, I wrote about how it’s important for leaders to take advantage of the quiet time that comes with the end of the year to take stock of what was accomplished over the last 12 months and reflect on what those achievements gave rise to in terms … Click to continue reading
As we slowly approach the end of another year, there is once again a discernible feeling of anticipation for what the upcoming year will bring. In many ways, this is quite natural and expected since, like a present wrapped in shiny paper, the start of a new year often stirs … Click to continue reading
Which personality type is best suited for leadership – the extroverted or the introverted? It’s a question that surfaces every now and then in discussions on leadership, often with the consensus that while an extrovert would appear to have an easier time leading others, introverts also have unique attributes which … Click to continue reading