Q: What one word would you choose to end the statement? A group of regional leaders meets monthly at a local restaurant. It has a similar vibe each time: new members connecting, friends getting reacquainted, familiar organizations, leaders having light as well as...
It’s time to move beyond passion casting on the one hand, and rigid planning on the other. It is time for fresh, flexible thinking guided by core convictions and clear, collaborative action so that we all can move in the same direction together.
I spent two days with about 30 emerging leaders ranging in age from 18-29. These young leaders engaged in discussion and debate on topics ranging from vocation to leadership, and from social engagement to what it means to lead with integrity and skill. What impressed...
I have been teaching and coaching about transformational leadership for decades. I realize it can be a buzzword or too common to have the impact it deserves. To be clear, strong leaders are not always transformational leaders (think of awful dictators and power...
My son’s car headed down our 200-foot driveway toward the street. Despite a few inches of snow, the drive was fully plowed and snow melted by the sun. So he was confident navigating the right turn at the bottom of the hill onto the street, like he’d done many times....
Some leaders have a natural gift of discernment. Others – like me – learned it in the school of hard knocks and after many mistakes. We have learned the practice of discernment even though we lack the natural bent. But I need more of it. Maybe you do too. Discernment...
Strong leaders are surrounded by a plethora of voices. The challenge is knowing which ones to listen to—to which should I pay attention or seek out? Voices matter! Here are a few that will compete for your attention: The Client’s Voice Everyone who wants to be...
You know the saying…”He who hesitates is lost!” Right? Well, it depends! When I was a young banker with a few bucks in my account, I was looking for the next hot investment. It was the 80s and people were buying businesses left and right, and I wanted in on the...
A leadership strategy without ethical clarity produces moral bankruptcy.Bill Donahue I work with leaders in two environments – doctoral students at a Christian graduate institution and clients in the marketplace. So I help leaders grapple with personal and cultural...
You don’t have to do life alone. But some of you choose to. I cannot imagine why. Oh, I know…you have many relationships; you know lots of people. You have Facebook friends and Twitter peeps. You know some guys in the softball league or some gals at the monthly...
It’s still a man’s world out there. Still true that women in comparable positions and with similar expertise and experience are paid at least 20% less than their male counterparts. And it remains difficult to get C-suite positions as a qualified woman. C’mon guys....
According to some HR data, if you have eight people on your team, two of them are highly motivated, two are cynical and withdrawn, and four are somewhat motivated. So how do you move a few of the “somewhat” into the “highly” category? They need motivation. But under...
In my work with a range of institutions, a number of areas need vital attention and focus. Here’s a short list: A Clear...
Regardless of the leadership role you play there are common challenges we all face as we seek to build an organization or guide a team. Here are 4 essential challenges to meet, the tension created in the process of facing each challenge, and the outcome we hope to...
One of the great leadership challenges is making the transition from subject matter expert (SME) to leading teams of SMEs. From “hands on” execution and metrics to “hands off” strategic decisions and measures, here are 4 shifts to navigate. Shift from “Me” to “We”...
My wife was prepping an Easter salad while I did odd jobs around the house. Ready to mix the dressing in the blender, she saw a small crack in the plastic casing. “Hey Bill, can you put some crazy glue on this?” “Sure!” I have no mechanical skills, but I’m the McGyver...
Perhaps like your city, the first ten minutes of our evening news is packed with murders, tragic fires, car accidents and natural disasters. Then we have 8 minutes of weather, 10 minutes of sports news, and finally a positive “human interest” story to send us off with...
Much silence makes a powerful noise – African proverb I asked a gifted therapist, “If you could teach leaders only one skill, what would it be?” You guessed it. “Listening,” he said, “And it should be taught to the entire team and the entire organization, not just the...
What kind of leadership destroys your sense of belonging, of community, and fractures relationships on a team? What role do leaders play in the process of fostering (or inhibiting) a sense of unity and cohesion among team members? Here are some pitfalls to avoid and...
As I look back at crises within our family over the 2019-2020 season, I shudder at the sheer amount and intensity of events. Two serious car wrecks, a shoulder surgery, torn ankle ligaments (at Christmas!), the passing of a 90-year-old parent, a major pet crisis, a...
Values-Driven Leadership Much discussion takes place each new year about shaping and declaring Core Values. Along with crafting and communicating a compelling vision (see my blog on how to accomplish that), clarifying and shaping your Core Values is equally essential....
Whether you are a coach like me, or a manager or even a peer, you play the role of “coach” as you empower and equip leaders for success. I believe everyone needs coaching. Premier athletes, corporate CEOs, and world-class musicians all have coaches—people who bring...
Unlike Mission, Vision is “seeing” language. But sometimes we cannot…or will not see. Something blurs or blocks our vision. More than ever in recent history we need leaders with clear vision. Leaders to guide us forward. What stands in the way of having a clear,...
The more time I spend with leaders of all ages and stripes, the more angst I feel in their spirit. Many hold positions of leadership but are not passionate about this season in life. Others, young and idealistic (in the good sense of the word) are willing to take...
When you hear “First Responder” what imagines come to mind? Ambulances with EMT’s racing to a crash site? Doc’s and nurses rushing COVID patients to an ICU room? A city street strewn with hoses, smoke and fire billowing from high rises, fire trucks hoisting rescuers...
Why is it some communicators can hold an audience in rapt attention while others barely keep us interested? Why are some talks or seminars so compelling they don’t simply entertain and inspire us, they move us to immediate and consistent action? What makes us...