Friends, The great John Tenbusch, master teacher, philosopher and maybe part madman, would grit his teeth so hard you could hear the grinding from the last seat in room 214 of University of Detroit High School. Through clenched jaw he would growl, “Damn it _____ [insert terrified frosh’s name here]. I didn’t teach you that.” … Continued
Friends, [I’ll return next week to the series on the things that undermine best-self leadership. But I’ve got to stop for this awesome holiday.] Instead of a question at the end of RFL, consider this, up front: Who is the most thanks-giving person you know? Whoever that person is I’m confident you would say these … Continued
Friends, Last week I wrote about the need we all have as leaders to become aware of our judgments of others – our mental whipping boys. My point was to develop the skill of stepping outside your judgments and strong opinions and to see yourself judging. Let me exemplify this and push to why it … Continued
Friends, I finish every column with the line “lead with your best self.” This week I begin a mini-series with boundary-pushing ideas about doing that. They’re harder ideas, because they’re new – at least stuff I haven’t read much elsewhere – and hard because they demand more of you and me than I often suggest. … Continued
Friends, I can’t quite figure out what to think of the fact that Kate, our oldest daughter, was the one of our three kids who seemed to need the most coaching; and now at 22, she’s expert and forthright. I look up to her for thoughtful advice. Yesterday, she was really on her game. She … 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, Tomorrow, Jennifer and I officially release A Governor’s Story: The Fight for Jobs and America’s Economic Future. It took us about 18 months to write, and it’s about 300 pages long, so, (how) can I distill a decent Reading for Leading message? (Warning: I run a paragraph longer than usual, but beg you to … Continued
Friends, Maybe because all four of my grandparents came to this country as young adults, I have always had a bias in favor of the gifts that newcomers bring to a culture. I am stoked at the experience I have begun in this regard. Might it have relevance for you? I have 30-some students in … Continued