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Opportunity: One Leader’s Example of What it Means to Seize the Initiative
Lieutenant General Omar Bradley recognized the opportunity and seized it. Fighting...
One Cut at a Time: 8 Leadership Lessons from the Barber’s Chair
Today, I visited my barber, Todd. I have always enjoyed a...
When Performance Goes Dark: Why Organizations Need Better Visibility Before AI Takes the Wheel
Rapid growth creates an appealing problem: more customers, locations, employees,...
Leadership in Seat 18E
I’m not sure where to start this blog, but perhaps...
The Leader with the Mop
Several years ago, while facilitating a leadership development event, I...
The Uncanny Valley
According to Wikipedia, the uncanny valley (Japanese: 不気味の谷 bukimi no...
It’s Good to be a Fan of People
I’m an ideas person. I immerse myself in interesting concepts or...
Leaders Must…
In my spare time, I enjoy doing a little military...
The Order of Honor
I recently read a story about the Stanley Cup being...
Growing Fast Without Growing Apart: Why Turnover and Employee Commitment Matter More Than Ever
“Retention isn’t a human resources problem — it is a leadership outcome....
El Cap and Overnight Success
A week ago from the time of this writing, my...
The Squirrel Union
I recently visited my parents in the town where I...
Be All In Where You Are
I experienced many moves during my Army career. My wife...
Learning Stewardship in a Culture of Urgency
Some organizations are built to move fast because they have to....
As Many Times as It Takes: Consistent Enforcement of Team Standards
I’m often confronted by leaders who, in a state of...
What If Discipline Isn’t Enough
Growing up, I heard the phrase “follow-through” in all kinds...
Cultural Drift: The Silent Current Reshaping Organizations
“Culture is what happens when the boss is not in...
Of Steve Kerr and “I Don’t Know”
On April 17 of this year, Steve Kerr said, “I...
What 128 Miles of Ocean Taught Me About Leadership
I live in Flagler County, Florida where the name “Flagler”...
A Dual Approach to Leadership
As part of a monthly meeting with a peer group...
When Leaders Get Comfortable
There’s a moment in every leadership journey that almost no...
On Functional Discipline
Talent is no match for the destructive power of ill-discipline....
R.A.I.S.E. the Standard: Elevating the Hard Conversation
At the conclusion of spring practice 2025, I found myself...
What Is a Worker Worth? From Pay Grades to Real Contribution
Determining the worth of an individual worker is one of...
Old(er)
Leaders get old. Which is hardly new news. Everyone gets old(er). And everyone...
If the FDA Doesn’t Expect Perfection, Why Do You?
Recently, my pastor opened a sermon with something I did...
Strength Doesn’t Make You Tough
I wasn’t sure I could do it. The US Army’s...
Performance Isn’t Always What You Think It Is
With seconds left in Super Bowl XLIX, the Seattle Seahawks...
Stewardship: A Noble Act of Leadership
We take care of the things we care for. This...
The Sommelier’s Sage Advice
I should probably start with a confession. I’ve never been...
Work and Workflow Analysis: The Science Behind Smarter Work in the Age of Agent AI
If “culture eats strategy for breakfast,” then workflow eats culture...
Woke: Too
Here at the end of Black History Month, I’m thinking...
Pajama Pants at 30,000 Feet and Other Lessons in Leadership
In 1980, I took my first airplane ride from Oklahoma...
The Most Important Work Is Unscheduled
In October 2016 the nation lost a golfing legend. Sam...
Be Better by Being Different
Most coaches rely on three familiar strategies: recruiting better athletes,...
Lead with Clarity
A shrill blast from the coach’s whistle brought everything to...
Why Standards Fail Long Before Results Do
What a Difference a Year Can Make We often overestimate what...
Human Capital Management in 2026: Where the “People Stuff” Gets Real
Human capital management (HCM) is the practical application of industrial...
No Such Thing as “Out of Character”
No Such Thing as “Out of Character I believe Clark Lea....
Leadership Lesson from a Museum
Most leadership books don’t mention gas stations. But one museum...
The Power of Teams: Why Being Part of Something Bigger Makes Us Better
You’ve probably been part of a group in which you...
Misplaced Passion: A Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing
You could feel the excitement in the room as the...
Editing is Easier than Creating
A blank page is terrifying. Especially for leaders. Deep thinking is...
Integrating the Paths — Optimizing Your Personal, Relationship, and Work Journeys
Integrating the Paths — Optimizing Your Personal, Relationship, and Work Journeys I remember...
I’m Full
At some point this week, thanks to Thanksgiving gatherings, surely...
Woke
We need woke leaders. Thus, we need to be woke...
Persistence: The Power That Outperforms Talent
I recently came across a popular quote on persistence by...
No Hallways, No Problem: Building Connection in a Virtual World
Do you remember the days before smartphones, when hitting a...
Bringing a Strategy to Life: Plan, Prepare, Execute, Assess
Great strategies bring a leader’s vision to life. They help...
The Hardest Job of a Young Leader
A few years ago, I sat with the Unity Council...
Work Decisions and Their Impact on Personal and Relationship Paths
I vividly recall the day I found myself still typing...
Leading From the Inside Out
Cleansing the inside of our cups The world pushes us to...
Charlie Kirk and a Lumber Yard
The day Charlie Kirk died will always be the night...
My Door is Always Open
Okay, maybe some of us should stop. I spent over a...
From Blueprint to Improv: Rethinking Leadership Development for the AI Era
The traditional “build” model of leadership, where organizations carefully groom...
A Lesson in Risk Analysis: Risk — Persistence — Reward
A Lesson in Leadership: Risk — Persistence — Reward A good friend shared a...
Give the Questions to the Test
Remember those school days when a teacher handed out a...
Navigating the Work Critical Path — Essential Steps and Pitfalls
Navigating the Work Critical Path — Essential Steps and Pitfalls I’ll never forget...
Stressed or Stretched?: Why “Good Stress” Makes Us Better Leaders
I’ve noticed something lately. Everywhere I turn, people are talking...
That Loser Scottie Scheffler
Nearly a month has passed since the top ranked golfer...
Beyond the Front Lines
Every aspiring Army officer dreams of the day they’ll get...
Preparing to Lead Where Eagles Dare
The skies above my home have recently been the soaring...
Shaping the Future: How Leaders Influence Beyond the Present
In 2003, researchers at Duke University conducted a groundbreaking study...
The Guts to Try
A few months ago, a high-level leader in college athletics...
The Relationship Ripple — How Choices Affect Personal and Work Paths
I once found myself apologizing profusely over a miscommunication with...
Of Skis and Making Your Bed
Dominate Your First 90 Minutes To Change Your Life — and the World...
Pronouns: Part II
Three quotes stick with me from my first week as...
Don’t Ask If You’ve Already Decided
Last week I posed a question in our staff meeting...
Ethical Realism: Professional Character in Unconventional Environments
In the unpredictable world of modern armed conflict, traditional virtues...
Leaders, do your people enjoy coming to work? If not, that’s your fault.
Leaders, do your people enjoy coming to work? If not,...
Comparing My Best With Their Last
“Why are you doing that?” he asked me. “Doing what?” I...
Charting the Relationships Critical Path — Key Steps and Hurdles
Charting the Relationships Critical Path — Key Steps and Hurdles I still recall...
Do It Anyway
Creating a Culture of Development Without Strings Attached Have you ever...
16
Our son, a spade, and a sword Sixteen is especially sweet...
The Demand of Decisions
Story by Jason Cummins After a disappointing 3–9 campaign in 2021,...
Precision Without Clarity: When Leadership Misses the Mark
Precision Without Clarity: When Leaders Get Lost in the Dashboard...
Leading Down-and-In Versus Up-and-Out
“I’m no longer able to do the things I used...
Boomerang Leaders — Throw to Grow
Boomerang Leaders — Throw to Grow I still remember the first time I...
The Personal Ripple — How Your Choices Affect Relationships and Work
The Personal Ripple — How Your Choices Affect Relationships and Work I still...
Get up. Keep walking.
Often, the simplest leadership lessons endure. “Get up. Keep walking.” I...
Madness
Jim Valvano was right. About a number of things, actually. But...
Delegate Well
The funny thing about urgent things is, well, they’re urgent....
The Email Heard Round the World
Recently, Elon Musk sent a mass email to federal employees...
Push & Pull: A Dual Approach to Leadership
As part of a monthly meeting with a peer group...
Instituting a World-Class Development Program
Chances are that providing professional and leadership development opportunities to...
Steps and Challenges
Mapping the Personal Critical Path — Steps and Challenges I once attempted...
Living and Leading in the Messy Middle
My whole life, I’ve struggled with perfectionism. I’ve been my...
Shirley, a Leader
Last week I viewed a film about the unexpected candidacy...
Humanizing Generative AI
“Evidence-based leader selection and development offers significant benefits to organizations,...
The Art of Conversation: Recognizing and Responding to Different Needs
As leaders, one of our most powerful tools is the...
Overconfidence, Ambition, and Irresistible Failure
“General Lee, sir,” a teary-eyed George Pickett declared, “I have...
Scar Seeking
Several years ago, our youngest son took a hard fall...
The Critical Path — A Lifeline in the Chaos
A few years ago, I found myself in a somewhat...
Am I Becoming the Person I Choose to Be?
The end of the year often feels like an opportunity...
To Where Will You Run?
Three questions for us, leaders, as we leg out the...
Key the Mic: The Power of Courage and Competency in Leadership
In the military, “key the mic” means pressing the button...
Blocking and Tackling: How the Basics Matter On High Performing Teams
I was reminded recently about the basics. How well a...
A Little Less “But” and a Little More “And”
A Little Less But and a Little More And On Sunday,...
Talent vs Teamwork
America’s professional soccer league, Major League Soccer (MLS) is currently...
Running Your Own Race: Letting Go of the Comparison Trap
“On the line!” No exclamation has ever brought me a more...
Suffering
Spending our courage for another, and sharing our courage with...
So You Think Your Boss Must Be Crazy…
This is often a new-employee experience, yet all of us...
Leadership and Violence
In 2016, Rear Admiral Peg Klein, then Advisor to the...
Stop. Start. Finish: A Few Thoughts on Time
I love Minor League Baseball. Some of my fondest childhood...
Shields Up
Several years ago, the movie 300 captivated audiences with its...
The Value of Executive Coaching
One of the most important aspects of being a successful...
Little Things Turn into Big Things: Why Discipline Matters (Even at Risk of Mutiny)
My battle buddy, Tim, and I nearly started a mutiny...
The Impact of Words
Change… the word alone can cause some people to cringe...
Rally. Cry.
Our son is walking an agonizing road, and we abandoned...
Finding Common Ground
As a leader, it can be frustrating to navigate the...
On Cohesion
That cohesion is necessary for teams to achieve success at...
Better Risk Management…DOUBT IT!
In leadership, doubt often gets a bad rap. Doubt is...
Broadening Horizons: Lessons From the Olympic Games
Every four years, the world gets to experience the Summer...
Leaders are Storytellers . . . Tell Yours
Leaders are Storytellers . . . Tell Yours “Tell the story of the mountain...
Change in Organizations
Change can be scary, especially in our organizations. However, change...
What’s the Plan? Leading Your Team from a Dream to Reality
“Wake up, kids!” their father bellowed with enthusiasm. “It’s time...
Strategy. A Lesson in Leadership and Decision-Making from the book “The Generals”
Strategy: A Lesson in Leadership and Decision-Making from the Book...
Lessons from our Founding Fathers
On July 4th, people across the country come together to...
The Power of the Picture
My friend Nick is gifted at painting pictures. Yet he’s...
Legacy: My Dad’s Continued Impact
“When you lose a parent, the world is off its...
Possibly a Leadership Blog
This is supposed to be a leadership blog, I know. But...
What lies ahead?: 3 Principles for Leading Teams in Uncertainty
They knew the Pacific Ocean lay to the west, but...
How Analytics Complement Leaders’ Experience
Last week, I had the pleasure of participating in our...
Finding Harmony Between Control & Creativity
Control: n. the act or power of controlling; regulation; domination...
The Emerging Prominence of Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is probably the most widely discussed, hottest...
Don’t Steal The Struggle
It’s a scene common to every parent. A child sits...
The Culture of Busy
The increasing din of information, technology, and emphasis on multi-tasking...
Pronouns
There’s a lot of talk about pronouns going around. A...
Grace to the Humble; Law to the Proud
Grace for the Humble; Law for the Proud This past year...
Leveraging a Crisis for Growth
In 2018, the University of Virginia was the first #1...
Eclipsed
We love solar eclipses. And hate social eclipses. In a...
Keys to Excelling at Performance Measurement
Job performance is a topic often discussed, and for good...
Dream a Little Dream
When you tell someone your dreams and they don’t laugh,...
Predictability and Change: The Seasons and Storms of Leadership
“. . . in this world nothing can be said to be...
“Mama Needs a New Pair of Shoes!”: Risk vs. Gamble
I live in Kentucky. Horses. Bourbon. Bluegrass. Big Blue Nation....
The Rise (and Fall?) of the Prompt Engineer
Organizations are under severe pressure to keep leaders at the...
Have a Stay instead of an Exit Interview
You have a sneaky suspicion that your high-potential team member...
Love Actually
Love is in the air, and by that I mean...
Proactivity: Adopting the Principles of the Offense to Avoid Passivity
“If you do nothing long enough, something’s bound to happen.”...
Unlocking Hidden Potential
Everyone has the potential to achieve greatness. Whether greatness in...
Leading with a Marathon Mindset
“I ran the Boston Marathon.” I don’t often boast, but...
Unknown Is Not Unimportant
People don’t know about Greensboro, Alabama. At least not in...
New Year’s Resolutions
As the new year begins, many of us are making...
Great leaders Are Good Gift Givers
This past Christmas my wife and I received a custom,...
A Fighting Chance
Equipping Your Team With the Means to Succeed They had...
Don’t Confuse Commitment for Competence
If you are anything like me, then you absolutely love...
Lessons from the College Football Playoff
Early in this century, a computer algorithm would evaluate all...
Team Leader Commandments
Two years ago, I was asked to address a group...
Seizing Meaningful Impact
The Value of a Single Encounter I’ve learned that people...
Full of It
At some point this week, thanks to Thanksgiving gatherings, surely...
Pick Something Important, and Kill It
I am a huge fan of airport bookstores…where I’ve always...
The Ideal Versus the Real
Closing the Gap in Your Culture’s Divide I absolutely love...
Rethinking Your Circle of Trust?
One of the exercises we do with a leader involves...
What aspects of our work influence job satisfaction?
Job satisfaction is important for all employees. Job satisfaction refers...
We Should Stop Saying “My Door is Always Open”
Okay, maybe some of us should stop. I spent over...
Plane. Rude. Leadership.
I’m not sure where to start this blog, but perhaps...
