Who is that Person in the Mirror?
“Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?” In Snow White, Grimm’s famous fairy tale, the Magic Mirror never lies – much to the Queen’s great displeasure. But in real life, there is no such thing as a magic mirror and our mirrors don’t always tell the truth. When we look at […]
How to Bounce Back from Adversity
After talking to hundreds of CEOs in dozens of countries, there is one fundamental truth that stands out for me. There is no such thing as stability; the only constant is change and uncertainty. Great leaders must learn two lessons that are critical to their success in life and business: First, embrace the reality of […]
Lessons in Cultural Literacy
I still remember my first trip to Japan. Surrounded by the signs and sounds of Japanese, I felt utterly lost. Unable to decipher even the most basic information in restaurants and on city streets, I retreated into myself. It was hard to stretch into unfamiliar territory. When I asked questions, people reacted in ways I […]
The Power of Showing Your True Self
“Who are you, really?” When I ask this question, I’m usually greeted with confusion from my clients and colleagues. “What do you mean?” is often their first response. What I mean is, “what parts of yourself do you sacrifice to maintain the carefully crafted façade of a perfect leader, employee or person?” Understanding lights in […]
How to Master Body-Mind Awareness to Improve Performance
When you think about physical health, your first thought is likely about your physique. I’d like to be thinner, I’d like to be beefier, I want to have a toned mid-section. These are common phrases we hear and frequently conveyed messages in today’s media. But physical health isn’t all about your outward appearance – in […]
Self-Awareness Leads to Leadership Success
The way to leadership success is making good decisions. But that begs the question: How do I make good decisions? Start with deep self-awareness. Know Thyself Well Your staff knows you pretty well. To manage their boss, it’s in their best interest to know your strengths and weaknesses. At a minimum, you need to know […]
Four Rules to Coping with Setbacks
Leadership is a high-performance sport. You have to learn to deal with disappointments, you have to train for the long haul, keep yourself healthy and peak at just the right time. No one gets to the top without dealing with falls and setbacks. So what are the rules of this high-performance sport? Just Say No […]
Why Smart People Resist Change and What to Do about It
“When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.” This saying captures the culture of many organizations these days as they struggle to reinvent themselves, stay competitive, or grow. Why is this the case, when organizations are filled with smart, successful people? Successful people got where they are because they were good […]
How to Build a Culture that Encourages Risk-taking
When Nik Wallenda crossed Niagara Falls on a tightrope recently, the feat itself was overshadowed by Wallenda’s decision to defy the television network and remove his tether at the last minute. His reason: The Flying Wallendas are not thrill seekers; they are prepared professionals taking reasonable risks. The public’s response to Wallenda’s defiance was not […]
Leading Lego by Mastering Paradoxical Thinking
Jørgen Vig Knudstorp, who rose from Director of Strategy to CEO of Lego in under three years, does not shy away from a challenge. The legendary toy company was looking at ten years of sluggish sales and underwhelming product launches, and analysts were predicting that old-fashioned construction toys would never appeal to a new generation […]
