Become intentional in your leadership growth.
Be the willow tree
I love willow trees. It stems from my early childhood when we didn't have much, but we did have a huge (to me) willow tree that grew in our backyard. They are found all over the world, but the one in our backyard was the only one I saw as a child. It was unique,...
Be the glowstick
Our family loves glow sticks. We typically keep a pack of the sticks and some of the necklaces and bracelets just in case a need arises on a trip, campout, or just a fun time in the backyard. Our kids and friends are always pleasantly surprised when we hand them...
Be a goose
When you think about geese, there may not be a lot of positive things that come to mind. They can be mean, very territorial, and leave a mess everywhere. Many years ago when I lived in Birmingham, AL, I would go on runs around these beautiful little lakes in a large...
Four ways to find purpose in your work
I seem to coach and help a lot of leaders looking for their next job or step in their career. One thing I always stress is for the person to find their job, not just any job. (Ep 228-231) There is an intentional reason behind the distinction between the two; your job...
Showcase your work ethics
Your work ethic is a driver behind how you go about doing your work. Companies are continuing to increase the value of those that lead themselves with a strong work ethic, not only because of how productive they are but also because the world is changing. Customers...
Dealing with feedback that is not well received
Wouldn't it be nice if everyone was open to feedback, thankful for the insight, and then acted on the information in an impactful way? Leadership certainly would be easier, but unfortunately, that's not the reality that the majority of us face when giving feedback to...
Feedback in the right setting
Feedback in life and in work is essential for our personal growth. It's important for you as a leader, friend, and family member to share feedback that adds value to the person that you are giving it to. Equally important to the actual feedback that you give is...
Building trust when you are new
Being new to an organization or new role can be an exciting time. Your energy and engagement levels are very high and if you found your job instead of settling on any job out there (EP 228-231), you likely have high hopes for your future with the company. ...
How to handle tough conversations
Tough conversations are...well.. tough. It's certainly not the most enviable part of being a leader, but it's certainly a differentiator between an ok manager and a leader worth following. A great leader doesn't shy away from difficult conversations, but at the same...
Listen even when it’s difficult
Listening can be hard. There are typically many things vying for your attention while you try to focus on someone else, from the speaker to your own mental and emotional state and even the setting where you receiving the message. Here are some factors that...
Plan, monitor, and assess your goals
I love when New Year rolls around. I've typically taken some time during the last month to think through how the previous year went both personally and professionally and I've set some goals (PTB 301) to kick off the new year right. A goal without a plan or...
People over positions
The talk of the great resignation is the hot topic these days in the business world. Some companies are working to get ahead of the exodus of talent from the organization, others are afraid to even broach the topic in fear of speaking it into existence and a...
Why you need skin in the game
In order to be successful in something, you have to have something at stake, otherwise, what's the point of the effort? Some may answer by saying that there isn't a point. That's the root of why many projects, endeavors, tasks, and jobs fail to be successful; no one...
The art of staying focused
Staying focused is hard to do. There are so many personal and professional things that are constantly trying to get your attention and pull you away from what you are working on. How well do you do staying focused on your task? There is certainly an art to...
Contact Zack here
