Friends, I was with a friend of mine this week who is a lifelong educator. He was working with his fourth grader on her homework, and his daughter was getting frustrated and nervous that she couldn’t figure out a couple of problems. His advice to his daughter took me off guard. “It’s okay to leave … Continued
Not Just a Follower Friends, Today, I share outrage and a quick refresher. The outrage: Here’s what happens: the Detroit Tigers lose, and we blame the authorities. I’m guilty of this. I didn’t see why the Tigers manager Jim Leyland put Schlereth in for Scherzer. But hey, take your pick: from an owner, president, GM, … Continued
Friends, My friend Cheryl Polk said something to me I’ll never forget, “We share the same physical space,” she said, “but we don’t share the same psychological space.” Cheryl’s a psychologist, an African American woman, and she was shedding brilliant light for me on how the very diverse group of Kellogg National Fellows to which … Continued
Sibling Rivalry – Sibling Leadership Friends, I was talking to my sister Sheila a trained social worker, about the cover of this week’s TIME: “Why Mom Liked You Best: The Science of Favoritism.” I asked her what she thought it meant for leadership. “Everything,” she said. “I think it’s present in every workplace, as people … Continued
Friends, So, we’re out here in far away California. Our house feels like a summer cottage – lots of wood and windows-to-nature and walls that don’t require northern insulation – and we feel like we’re on vacation. Classes don’t start until late August. Jack’s cool with summer. Jennifer and I are a bit too Type-A. … Continued
Friends, Have you ever thought about all the lines that have been erased in the last 50 years? It hit me when I was listening to a story about the number and impact of “soldier bloggers” in Iraq and Afghanistan. Technology has eliminated the line between journalists and troops, and the line between commanders and … Continued
Friends, I’m looking for the Mohamed Bouazizi in my world. . . and in yours. Mind you, this is scary leadership stuff. Bouazizi was angry. He was a street vegetable vendor. A policewoman fined him and took his stuff; she was unsatisfied with the fine he paid, and so her assistants allegedly attacked him. He … Continued
Friends, The last month has been reminiscent of a time 40 years ago, in the late 60s when all hell broke loose. Powerlessness and acceptance of injustice were cast aside, as people took to the streets in the U.S. and around the world. In 2010 we saw a foreshadowing of this renewed restlessness when the … Continued
Friends, I offer you a quote that knocked me over, a manly leadership lesson from it, and a then a more universal leadership lesson. Many – from Boston, hoops nuts, and mostly my age or older – need no introduction to Bill Russell. For the rest, a thumbnail: Bill Russell is a giant – literally … Continued
Last week on “Everyday Leadership” Dan discussed being the boss, and the different managerial styles between men and women. Different managerial styles between men and women can be a loaded question, with many different takes on it. Dan was looking to explore if there is a difference between genders, and what kind of effect it … Continued