My co-writer, John Gillis, says “No one leads alone. No one.” When you pull away the perceptual film of “the leader,” you see “leading by two” is everywhere. We can learn how we best pair by looking at others who do it well. One unusual pair is Earlonne Woods and Nigel Poor. They co-host Ear Hustle, … Continued
I posted a variation of this article on LinkedIn last week. Ever wonder what a bellwether is? It’s a sheep. More specifically, a wether is a castrated male, equipped with a bell, leading the flock. In modern parlance people refer to “bellwether states,” and California has long been known as America’s bellwether state. It has … Continued
For the first time in the 20 years I’ve been writing a New Years message, I am contradicting the messages of my new years’ past. So, if you’re seeking a stimulus to support you in having a great year, following conventional and valuable insights, search my archives. Unconventionally, I’m not envisioning a great year. My … Continued
I sent out a short list of good books from 2018 on Friday. You can read my mini-reviews and click the links here. With this Read2Lead, I finish 2018. By the next time I write, my niece Erin will have given birth. Her amazing Maximus will have a brother or sister. Her kids won’t know … Continued
Here’s a short list of books I’ve enjoyed, separated into a few categories: 1. Being your best self. Anne Lamott, Almost Everything: Notes on Hope. I would describe Anne Lamott as a seeker, seer, and humorist. She always brings me to an awakened sense of, “Oh, right! That’s what matters.” She tells the hard truth she has … Continued
Today’s story is short and stands on its own – a tender example of LeadingX2: James Addison Baker III, was George H.W. Bush’s longtime friend, chief of staff and secretary of state. Bush had been close to Baker who was only forty when Baker’s first wife had died, and was with Bush last week, as … Continued
The Irish priests in Boston know their politics. Still, Fr. McInnes’ prescience and sophistication jolted me. During our marriage preparation, he knew full well the aspirations I was packing up for my trip from the ideals of Harvard’s halls to the political streets where I intended to run in Detroit. “Dan, what if the party … Continued
Cathy Raines, an organizational development expert at the State Department, thoughtfully challenged my post last week about how military heroes seldom act in a solitary way, but instead depend heavily on LeadingX2. She asked the two-part question: “What’s a step I can take and with whom as my partner/buddy?” I answer them in reverse order. … Continued
Often we think that soldiers are solitary heroes. This is almost never the case in that they train, work and survive in units, often in critical pairs. And often we think they enlist out of patriotism. That contains truth for some.* Actually, more enlist in the army for adventure, and for occupational and economic reasons. … Continued
Thanks to so many of you who commented on last week’s blog, offering feedback on the “Clear the Air” series and expressing interest in future topics. A good number asked me to write about “thoughts on leading as American citizens in this unsettling time.” With the primary tomorrow, that feels timely. I believe the major … Continued