Best Articles
With so many articles and blogs on my site, I know it can be hard to know where to begin. This page compiles the best articles from our top categories to help you discover what calls to you. Enjoy! -Gregg
Browse by Category
Ethical Leadership
Why Are We Talking about Ethics?
There I was, giving a guest lecture on leadership at a European business school, when I got an intriguing question from a student in the
Ethical Leadership: Our Gamechanger
(This presentation was given on April 27, 2022, by Bob Vanourek at the University of Denver’s Elevate Ethics 2022 Event, hosted by the Daniels College
The Importance of Trust in Leadership
There are many ways to think about leadership. For some, as we have seen, it is about control or power. For others, it is about
The Importance of Credibility in Leadership
Credibility: the quality of being worthy of belief and trust Credibility, which flows from character and competence, is one of the most essential aspects of
The Ethical Challenges Faced by Leaders
“Divorced from ethics, leadership is reduced to management and politics to mere technique.” -James MacGregor Burns We all face ethical challenges and dilemmas, and all
Ethical Decision-Making: Simple Tests
When it comes to ethical challenges, we are all tested at some point. Leaders are tested most when they are under duress. Many leaders are
Leadership Derailers
What Are Your Leadership Derailers?
Here’s the thing: we all want to be better leaders. But too often we focus on what to do as leaders while neglecting what not to
Why Conflict Is Good–And How to Manage It
Most people avoid conflict. But that’s a mistake. Conflict is essential in high-performing teams but must be managed well. Here’s how.
The Problem with Tired Leaders
Are you tired? Stressed? Busy? Just par for the course for today’s leader, right? Wrong. These days, it seems that “busy is the new black.”
Rationalizations that Derail Leadership
“The softest pillow is a clear conscience.” –Narayana Murthy, Co-founder and former CEO, Infosys Our ability to rationalize our behavior is astonishing. And dangerous. Basically,
The Leader’s Worst Enemy: Ego
Of all the leadership traps, none is more fatal than ego. When others around you are whispering how wonderful you are, how fortunate the group
Your Ego Is Not Your Amigo
Why do you want to lead? All too often, the answer has breadcrumbs back to ego. The drivers may be disguised in other terms such
Self Leadership
Renewing Yourself Amidst the Chaos
Article Summary: Wise leaders take the time for self-care through a regimen of daily activities, sanctuary, and retreats. The benefits of personal renewal for leaders
How Ego and Pride Derail Leaders
Article Summary: If you think you don’t have a problem with your ego, watch out. That’s when leaders are at the greatest risk of losing
Why Do You Want to Lead?
Article Summary: Knowing why you want to lead is essential. If your motive to lead is selfish, you’ll fail. Your ego is a leadership toxin.
What’s Your Leadership Quest?
It’s time to raise your leadership game. What’s your leadership quest? What are you seeking to do through your leadership, and where do you want
10 Keys to Self-Leadership
We face a barrage of challenges these days: astonishing technological change, intense competition, a barrage of demands on our attention, tension between work and home,
Your Leadership Mindset
What is your leadership mindset? What are your self-conceptions and beliefs that drive your behavior as a leader? In many cases, these are unknown because
Developing People
Why We Need More Coaching Leaders
Article Summary: A coaching leadership style is on the rise to help organizations be more effective with today’s workers and our current challenges. +++ Coaching
Unleashing Leaders in Your Organization
In his classic essay, “The Servant as Leader,” Robert Greenleaf (creator of the servant leadership framework), wrote the following: “Anyone can lead…. There is a
How Great Leaders Reward, Recognize, and Celebrate People
“There are two things people want more than sex and money—recognition and praise.” -Mary Kay Ash, founder, Mary Kay Inc. It’s not enough to recruit
Great Leaders Develop People Intentionally
Triple crown leaders—ones who build excellent, ethical, and enduring organizations or teams—focus not just on recruiting great people but also developing them intentionally. They focus
The Importance of Heart in Leadership
In “triple crown leadership,” our framework for how to build organizations that are excellent, ethical, and enduring, both head and heart are required for exceptional
The Power of Empathy in Leadership
These days, we ask much of our leaders. Organizations and governments are under great pressures to perform. These days, leaders are responsible for crisis management
Building Culture
Leadership and Psychological Safety in Teams
The problems in far too many organizations today are legion: Unproductive, boring meetings Astonishing amounts of wasted time Avoidance of sensitive issues Lack of full
CHRO–Become Your Organization’s Chief Culture Officer
Today’s Human Resources (HR) leader has a wonderful opportunity to make an important strategic contribution: Become your organization’s Chief Culture Officer. If your CEO already
How to Change Your Organizational Culture
Most leaders understand that organizational culture is important. But many struggle with how to change and improve their culture. For too many leaders, culture is
Culture as a Competitive Advantage
“Culture isn’t just one aspect of the game—it is the game.” –Lou Gerstner, former CEO of IBM How can your organization gain a sustainable competitive
Values and Culture Key to Success
Interview with the late Tony Hsieh, former CEO of Zappos, Leaders Speak Series Tony Hsieh was CEO of online retailer Zappos and author of Delivering
How to Build a Culture of Character
Culture is simply “how we do things here,” a set of beliefs and habits that influence how people behave. Culture forms over time and determines
Servant Leadership
How to Become a Better Servant Leader
Decades ago, Robert Greenleaf articulated one of the most important leadership frameworks in history: “servant leadership.” Greenleaf described the essence of this counterintuitive approach here: “The servant
The Paradoxes of Servant Leadership
Leadership is rife with paradoxes, seemingly self-contradictory statements that may nonetheless be true. We see this in the servant leadership framework as well as other
The Essential Qualities of Servant Leadership
In the years since Robert Greenleaf first published his essay, “The Servant as Leader,” many notable authors and experts have built upon his work. As
Why Servant Leaders Outperform Bosses
One of the most common structures used in organizations over the ages is based on a hierarchical model of bosses and subordinates. It likely has
How Robert Greenleaf Created Servant Leadership
Robert Greenleaf was the founder of the servant-leadership movement. But who was this self-effacing man? Why did Stephen R. Covey say, “… I have found
Who Determines If You’re a Leader?
Are you a leader if you’re a boss with people who report to you? If you’re a military officer with personnel subject to your orders?
Other
The Essence of Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurs today have a powerful hold on the collective imagination. Look around and notice the many inspiring examples of entrepreneurs in action. But much of
Leadership Lessons from The Lord of the Rings
Leaders Venture into the Unknown “It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your
Leader, Manager, Follower: Not as Simple as You Think
“Life’s a dance, you learn as you go. Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow.” -song lyric by John Michael Montgomery Which are you: a leader,
The Three Most Important Questions About Your Leadership
Here are three critical questions to ask yourself before you undertake the responsibility of leading other people: 1. What’s the difference between “the leader”
Synthesis: A Critical Leadership Skill
“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” -Leonardo Da Vinci Leaders today are swamped with information 24/7. The complexity can be overwhelming. Yet leaders are supposed to
Bucket Filler or Bucket Dipper?
“Sprinkle joy.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson Jack, Bob’s seven year-old grandson and Gregg’s nephew, came home from school recently talking about buckets. In this metaphor, we