News & Events

Culture is not the dye color used in a garment.  It is not the style of cut or choice of accents.  Culture is the “fabric” you choose to make that garment including the combination of yarns and type of weave.  The right fabric allows your people to move freely, feel comfortable and be their best […]

With every new job comes an opportunity to reinvent yourself as a leader. What strengths do you want to leverage? What behaviors do you want to change or stop altogether? Define the kind of leader you want to be going forward. Identify the ways you can improve your personal and professional brand. Write them down […]

You cannot offer too many compliments or words of appreciation.  Some leaders feel the need to use them sparingly less their comments sound too routine or their people begin to feel a sense of entitlement. Employees who understand what they are doing well, and that you appreciate what they do, are more engaged.  Go ahead […]

I believe that Trust and Transparency are the core elements of building great relationships in the workplace.  Being transparent, however, about who we truly are as individuals and professionals…our strengths, flaws, aspirations…makes us feel vulnerable. Some leaders say that people must first earn their trust before they are willing to share sensitive information.  In other […]

Culture is the organizational extension of the way leaders build relationships inside a company…and it starts at the very top. Culture is created, sustained and changed from the inside out…the way a leader manages relationships across the organization will define the culture, regardless of whether she wishes it or not. The CEO and President cannot […]

If “wanting to be liked by your employees” is a leadership flaw, then count me among the world’s worst bosses. Some of my most valued friends are people I work with every day. I worry about the impact of critical conversations we have on our friendship. Despite my concerns, I engage in those conversations because […]

“When I ask for the time of day, you tell me how to construct a watch.”  I have received this feedback from members of my team more than once.  Striking a balance between offering too much or too little of your perspective can sometimes be a challenge. Ask people to help you.  Encourage them to […]

When you hear that someone is a “natural leader”, don’t take the statement at face value. Watch them. They work hard at making it look easy. Years of experiences, successes, failures and learnings have molded the leader. Someone may have good leadership instincts but that alone will not make a great leader unless they work […]

“I made a mistake. I understand how it impacted you. I apologize. This is what I commit to do differently going forward. Please hold me accountable to honor my commitment.” As leaders, we sometimes tend to dismiss our errors, or trivialize their impact, or blame them on someone else. What a lost opportunity to improve […]

“You can’t get there from here.” This was the response I would occasionally hear when asking for directions in Appalachia. It was sometimes difficult to get from one location to another due to mountains, rivers and rough terrain. But, if getting to some place was important enough, you could always find a way. As leaders, […]