Friends, For every hundred people reading this column today, I’d bet that 99 have an emotional response, if asked, “How do you feel about singing, and in particular about someone hearing your singing?” Don’t quit on me, now. This IS about leadership. You see, singing and leadership share the reality and the metaphor of “voice.” … Continued
Friends, My stomach has announced: the election is nearly here. My first memorable campaign was 1969, when I was in 5th grade. I could hardly sleep leading up to my dad’s mayoral election. He lost. And those stomach pains gave way to the peculiar physiological process we call crying – whatever tightness was held in … Continued
Friends, What if the things I am most sure about, I am actually most wrong about? And what if in this, you are like me? I’d say for the vast majority of my 5-plus decades – or at least starting during my adolescence – I have been overwhelmingly certain about many many judgments. Usually, these … Continued
Friends, I love teaching at a great public university — the Michigan of the West, because my daughters went to a great public university, the Berkeley of the East. My undergraduate students seem so familiar, like my kids’ friends who’d chat with us across the kitchen counter, rummage through the fridge at 1:00 AM, and … Continued
Friends, Are you in? All in? The authorized leader— with a title like “boss,” CEO, dad, teacher, principal — better be all in. They had better: pick up littered paper, say hello to visitors as though they own the place, contribute generously to the non-profit they run, buy stock in the company they manage, … Continued
Friends, I have been in positions for 29 of the last 31 years (exceptions: first year of law school and first year as a lawyer) when people supposedly had to pay attention to me. I’ve run teams, coached clients, taught students and most important raised three kids. So, they looked to me. I’ve made lots … Continued
Friends, Let’s start quickly with TV, then to school, and on to work. Tell me why these were GREAT shows? M.A.S.H., All in the Family, Happy Days, Mary Tyler Moore. If I’m dating myself terribly, throw in The Office, How I Met Your Mother, and Modern Family. Why so good? What do they have in … Continued
Friends, Here’s my favorite line from my favorite book on leadership: “Credible leaders accept and act upon the paradox of power: We become most powerful when we give our power away.” – Kouzes and Posner, The Leadership Challenge. Some never get this. They are threatened by staff. Their ego needs to be in control. They fear … Continued
Friends, He was 79 when he fell from his bike on a steep road this past spring. Although he lost consciousness, there didn’t appear to be lasting damage. But he fell ill at a family gathering in Idaho and died peacefully — a week ago today — surrounded by his wife and nine children. I … Continued
Note from Dan: Sally Helgesen is one of those thinkers who is both original and yet sensible. She breaks new ground and yet she makes perfect sense. When Sally and I discussed some ideas that are fascinating to her, I latched on to the one below, and encouraged her to write about this. I hope … Continued