Leadership Skill Building

Authenticity and Vulnerability: The New Currency of Trust

///
Authentic and vulnerable are two words I am hearing often when I ask people what they like about the person they report to and the people in the top leadership roles. My experience is that these words are mentioned more today than in the past. While they do not mean the same thing, together they are critical in developing relationships. They are vital for self-awareness and building trust. A couple of quick definitions: Authenticity is being genuine and…
Read Full Article

Reach Out: Why Brave Connections Matter for the Human-Centered Leader

///
A quiet truth runs beneath every meaningful career moment in healthcare: Relationships—not transactions—move us forward. I was reminded of this recently when a physician leader reached out to me on LinkedIn in response to uLeadership’s “BIG announcement” about joining Healthcare Plus Solutions Group®. Turns out, we connected on a Zoom call, no agenda at all, just an engaging and inspiring conversation. Later, I mentioned our call to a colleague who knows this physician, Dr. Stephen Williams,…
Read Full Article

The Best Leaders Are Those Who Learn From Others

///
When asked what characteristics the most successful people have, I often mention curiosity. This is what it takes to learn from others. In most organizations, there are usually some leaders who are achieving better results than others. This is a good thing. These days, very few travel dollars are needed to get help. What it takes is the willingness to ask the person achieving good results how they are doing it. One difference between a…
Read Full Article

We All Make a Difference in the Lives of Others

///
In the first book I authored, Hardwiring Excellence, I used the metaphor of a flywheel to describe how consistent, values-driven actions create momentum in an organization. The idea of the flywheel initially came from author Jim Collins. A flywheel takes effort to start moving; however, once it gets going, the flywheel turns with less effort. The flywheel I outlined in my work has purpose, worthwhile work, and making a difference at the core. Leaders play a key role in helping…
Read Full Article

Trust, Ownership, and One Bold Question: Inside NorthBay Health’s Cultural Turnaround

///
Few professions offer the privilege of touching lives in as many ways as nursing. From birth to end of life, through vulnerability, illness, and healing—nurses serve as connectors to health, humanity, and hope. In a recent episode of the Healthcare Plus Podcast, Quint Studer spoke with two visionary leaders from Georgetown University: Dr. Roberta Waite, inaugural dean of the relaunched independent Berkley School of Nursing (BSON), and Dr. Stephan Davis, the inaugural executive director of…
Read Full Article

Do You Have the Right Tools in Your Backpack?

///
As a leader, you are probably carrying around lots of tools. Some you picked up long ago. Others you’ve kept accumulating with the years and the relentless march of technology. The question is, do you have the RIGHT tools to do your job? If you’ve ever met a novice backpacker, you might notice they’re weighed down with all kinds of stuff. On the other hand, it’s amazing how little an expert backpacker takes with them into…
Read Full Article

Familiarity Breeds Complacency; Take Time to Walk in Your Customers’ Shoes

///
Have you heard that most car accidents happen close to home? It’s often because the driver’s familiarity with the roads leads to complacency. The same happens in a community. Citizens get used to something the way it is. Chuck Marohn of Strong Towns encourages people to walk their community. When I do this, I see things that I don’t experience in a car. For example, I might see a power pole in the middle of…
Read Full Article

Greatness Starts With the Courage to Look at the Truth

///
“Face the brutal facts.” That is a lesson Jim Collins included in his book Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap…and Others Don’t. This book continues to provide an excellent blueprint for any organization that wants to be great. Sometimes the work a company is doing is good; it’s just not enough to achieve the desired goal. It takes courage to look at the brutal facts—about performance issues, market challenges, or other uncomfortable data or insights.…
Read Full Article

Success Starts With Relationship Building

///
Do not assume. This thought hit me as I read feedback from attendees of a sales conference. The most often mentioned takeaway is to focus on building relationships. Reading them, I wondered how many of us make assumptions in this area. Do the people we lead know a positive outcome begins by building a relationship? It is not unusual for salespeople to be told to make so many contacts a day. Research likely says a certain…
Read Full Article

“If It’s None of Your Business, It’s None of Your Business” (and Three Other Helpful Tips for Work and Life)

///
In my writings and talks, I often quote Cousin Al. Today is no exception. For those who might be wondering…yes, there really is a Cousin Al! His father and my mother were brother and sister, so he is my first cousin. Al has the ability to say things in a way that is memorable and helpful. Much of what I talk and write about focuses on lessons learned from experience. This includes experiences gained from reading and…
Read Full Article