Mary Marshall As you start to close out 2017 and look to 2018 – revising old plans, making new ones, celebrating successes and learning from failures, don’t forget to reflect, at least for a moment at today. As business leaders, you are always looking out ahead, mitigating … Read more
Yes, it’s that time of year when we all look at our annual goals, both personal and professional, and say “oh” or maybe even “uh oh.” For businesses that employ an active strategic planning process, and by active, I mean regular monthly or quarterly reviews, … Read more
There was a great piece in the New York Times by Daniel Goleman that I still look to as an excellent reminder of what good leadership is and isn’t, and it definitely includes developed emotional intelligence. Although emotional intelligence, (or EQI as it is commonly referred … Read more
Last week we had 18 local entrepreneurs graduate from the Seattle Small Business Administration Emerging Leaders program. Each one of the business owners created a strategic plan for their business that will carry them to 2020 and beyond. For seven months they attended classes and … Read more
When trying to define what our individual values are, there are three things I have found helpful. First, there are those pivotal stories that make up our foundation – the stories that “define” a moment for us. These stories are ones we remember as instrumental … Read more
As Kathleen Hogan of Microsoft recently wrote, “culture is a hot topic” these days. It’s hot because there is finally a realization that culture matters to the success or failure of an organization. When we talk about success or failure it is almost always tied … Read more
Today a lot of people are talking, but few are listening. Leadership begins with listening. If a leader starts by talking, how does he or she know if they are addressing the right problem? The right audience? Have they devised the right solution? Many leaders … Read more
Last week, the Air Force Academy superintendent took a powerful stance for leadership, for values, and was an example of what good leaders do. Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria told the recruits that if they could not treat someone with dignity and respect they should “get … Read more
In today’s workplace, not to mention our political environment, it’s becoming harder and harder to disagree with someone and still work together. It’s as if we can’t coexist with differing points-of-view anymore and the attitude seems to be “if you’re not with me, you’re against … Read more
One characteristic of good leadership is being decisive. We ask our leaders to make decisions and depending upon our perspective, often give them permission to do so. They are in charge, so they should make the decisions. At the same time, we routinely second guess … Read more