Blog
Leaders Must Be Willing To Have Difficult Conversations
There is nothing more important to creating a strong team than hiring the right people. But unless you start a team from scratch, building a strong team will usually involve helping some people find the door. The BIG Idea: If you are going to lead, you must be...
A Culture of Kindness is Essential for Keeping Good Employees
Many years ago I had a coworker who had a very off-putting communication style. This was well known in my work area. When I saw the caller ID or this person walking toward my office, I could feel my nervous system bracing for conflict. I was constantly walking on...
This Job Is Killing Me
The Big Idea—A global study published in 2021 by the World Health Organization and the International Labor Organization says that working more than 55 hours per week is now the leading occupational hazard—and significantly increases the chances of early death. Several...
The Legend of John the Dwarf
A mentor of mine shared this story with me several years ago. John the Dwarf—also known as Saint John Kolobos—was a Coptic desert father born in the year 339 in the town of Thebes, Egypt. Given his moniker, I’m guessing he was not a tall man. He was raised in poverty...
The Cost, Cause, and Cure for Workplace Burnout
Shortly after graduating from college, I was talking to a friend who was living in Central America. He had dropped out of college our senior year, and we all wondered what had happened to him. Apparently, he had decided to become a scuba bum. A short conversation was...
The Five Most Common Happiness Traps at Work
“Most people climb the ladder of success only to realize it was leaning against the wrong building.” –Stephen Covey Several years ago I had a shot at what I thought was my dream job. My life's passion was leadership and I loved the mission—so it seemed like a great...
We Aren’t Really Here
“Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans.” –John Lennon A few years ago, I was in a particularly busy season of life. I was working full-time, raising a young family, volunteering regularly, participating in community groups, and squeezing in as many...
