Recently I heard these words: “There is no playbook for how to lead through this crisis…” I couldn’t disagree more. Perhaps leadership learning is not specific to this “unprecedented” crisis – but all major world (and even many organizational) crises were unprecedented before they happened. This is ours.

Everything you know about leadership has not changed.  In fact, much of what you know is simply being called upon in unexpected ways.  This is a time to remember the basics.  If you are looking for a playbook, one of my favorites is The Leadership Challenge by Kouzes and Posner. They say that leadership requires us to set an example, inspire a shared vision of the future, challenge the status quo, foster collaboration, encourage and strengthen others.  They share that leadership is everyone’s business. [Read more…]

Right about now, you might be very angry about all that’s going on with the Coronavirus situation. Especially if you watch any of the cable news reporting.

I confess. I can be an angry elf! Like the one in the film Elf. More on that later.

In the book, the 15 Commitments of Conscious Leaders, Commitment #3 (summarized) is: “I commit to feeling my feelings through to completion. They come, and I locate them in my body, then move, breathe, and vocalize them, so they release all the way.” It’s a topic that Conscious Leaders come back to time and time again because they practice emotional intelligence.

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Standing in the midst of the hipster hiking adventure store, I felt like a total fraud.  Not exactly adverse to shopping – as friends will attest – purchasing serious rainproof gear was novel for me.  But it was necessary as I was prepping to depart on an Arctic adventure with the Royal Canadian Navy as part of the ‘Canadian Leaders at Sea’ (CLaS) program.

I am not by nature a thrill-seeker.  I have huge respect for my friends who train for marathons or hike the Camino de Santiago but my idea of adventure runs more to wearing Fluevog shoes.  Yet I found myself in August 2019 signed up to sail from Iqaluit on Baffin Island (known in Inuktitut as ᕿᑭᖅᑖᓗᒃ/Qikiqtaalukto) to St John’s, Newfoundland aboard Canadian frigate HMCS Ville de Québec.  My shipmates for the five days would include 200+ sailors and officers plus 14 fellow ClaSmates who had been selected for this innovative experiential learning program. [Read more…]

Development salaries are not great but are getting better. The Association of Fundraising Professionals 2019 salary survey showed the average salary is about $84,000, and that’s a 7.7 percent improvement! The median—“most middle”—salary is $72,500. What are the proven methods to reach financial independence on a relatively modest salary?

Coming from a missionary family, I was shocked at the age of 16 to read a letter from my parents’ mission board that read, “Dear Missionaries, Due to adverse economic conditions, the funds in your retirement account are depleted.” That’s it. Good luck. I vowed that was never going to happen to me, and I spent most of my life working with missionaries, clergy, social workers and teachers who are ridiculously underpaid attain a dignified retirement. [Read more…]

If you want to be your best – in literally anything – optimizing your sleep is your number one performance enhancer.   Leaders need sleep!  There is not one major organ within the body, or process within the brain, that isn’t enhanced by sleep (or impaired when you don’t get enough). Sleep makes you live longer. It enhances your memory and makes you more creative. It makes you look more attractive. It keeps you slim and lowers food cravings. Sleep improves both cognitive and motor learning. It protects you from cancer and dementia. It wards off colds and the flu. It lowers your risk of heart attacks, stroke, and diabetes. You’ll feel happier, less depressed, and less anxious. In athletes, sleep improves physical performance and reduces the risk of injury.

These conclusions come from over 17,000 carefully examined scientific reports to date. I highlight some of the most interesting and useful facts for leaders in the sections below. [Read more…]

When you think about leaders and managers who have brought out the best in you, what qualities come to mind? I remember those who listened, empowered me, demonstrated trust, offered support, and were dedicated to my growth.

Workplaces are starting to recognize and promote the idea of coach-like managers. Someone who asks more questions, acknowledges strengths, and empowers their team members to develop and grow as employees and human beings.  [Read more…]

The world has gone mad. Or, so it seems.

Volatility. The world is constantly changing, and becoming more unstable each day.

Uncertainty. It’s becoming more difficult to anticipate events or predict how they’ll unfold.

Complexity. Problems and their repercussions are more multi-layered, harder to understand.

Ambiguity. Not everything is black and white.

[Read more…]