I thought of myself as confident yet humble. I suppose I was, at least as best I could be. In retrospect…not so humble! I remember taking a course with Ron Heifetz at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, back in 1984 or 1985. We were assigned to a group of about 9 students and we met … Continued
Last week, I posited that you and I have the ability and choice to be more or less authentic. Occasionally, we consciously decide how much or how little of our “real” selves we will show. But in nearly every relationship and even every encounter, we unconsciously decide how true we will be to our core self, … Continued
Thank you to the nearly 300 people who responded to my survey about authentic leadership. Your great input fuels today’s column. So, why focus on “authentic” leadership? Why not start-up leadership, courageous leadership, improvisational, trustworthy, heroic, servant or — well, pick your favorite adjective . . . dancing leadership, defiant, athletic, flourishing…Why authentic? Two reasons. … Continued
This belongs to the general series on the incredible power of partnership — of “paired leadership.” And this is the last for now in the mini-series on “leading a subordinate to partnership.” The first 4 are all available at danmulhern.com/category/reading-for-leading. I have been writing about helping lead a subordinate to become a partner. And last … Continued
This is a continuing series on “paired leadership” generally, and the last of 4 on creating a partnership with one who is subordinate to you. My launching point for this series has been how, for well over a decade, my oldest daughter and I were much more adversarial than mutually supportive. I wrap up this … Continued
In a continuing series on the power of creating partnerships – including with those who are “below” us. Recap: For the past two weeks I have been writing about how it’s possible to turn (nearly every) top-down relationship into a partnership, and that doing so generates greater substantive and relational results for both people. I … Continued
Paired Leadership — 3rd in a series — This series is written for people who can imagine that creating a PARTNERSHIP with a key report (or child or student) might generate much better results and much more satisfying relationships than “managing down.” What I call “Paired leadership” or partnership is mysterious, but when we take … Continued
Continuing thoughts on “paired leadership” – 2nd in an ongoing series. As I wrote last week, in some key paired leadership situations there are pure equals, like spouses and co-founders. But sometimes your paired leader or partner is “beneath” you in the hierarchy. You are each vital to the team and organization, and of course, … Continued
Happy New Year . . . and to help make it so . . . I will be writing much of this year on the topic that has for three years completely seized my imagination, my research, teaching, client practice, and family life. Paired Leadership. Pairs — sometimes pure equals like spouses, co-founders, co-ceos. Pairs … Continued
My friend Mike Tenbusch asked me if I’d write about his book in this space. I honestly can’t remember anyone asking me that before (although in 16 years of writing it, I’m sure someone has). So, Mike is first. I have often quoted Kouzes & Posner in this space who write, “leaders go first.” On … Continued