Here is one concept that I come back to time and time again for leadership development. Let's talk about the "designed alliance." To create collaborative relationships, you have to clarify, “Here’s what I need from you. What do you need from me?” The designed alliance is a tool that helps you do that.

This weekly conversation is equal to routine maintenance on your car engine. The marriage meeting is a way of “checking the oil” to make sure that your engine doesn’t burnout!

Coaching conversations are different from typical conversations. Here’s what to expect and why they are so powerful.

Do you find yourself “agonizing” over decisions, looking for the “perfect” option? If so, satisficing could serve you well. Satisficing is the skill of recognizing “good enough.”

Photo Credit: Unsplash @markuswinkler

How can you measure what really matters as you move into mid-life?

In this episode of the Small Small Business Podcast, I’m interviewed by Steve Fredlund. His podcast and consulting work focus on serving the many tiny business that make up “main street” across America. We cover a TON of good stuff for small business owners.

Deb Coviello, host of The Drop in CEO, reflects on CEO burnout – the impact on the individual (fatigue), family (disconnected) and business (employees find you inaccessible). She also interviews me on some of the other symptoms of burnout that leaders should watch for.

Part of what makes leaders so inspiring is that they are able to see something that others don’t yet. They share that vision so that it inspires others. And, they help others make measurable progress on that vision.

When you feel ineffective, it impacts both your confidence and self-esteem. That impacts how you approach your work and your relationships. Those who lack confidence often engage in more “avoiding” or “accommodating” behaviors. Those same behaviors lead to increased resentment, anxiety, and depression.

Small experiments can lead to really big changes.

What helped you succeed as a solo star will get in your way as a team leader. Here’s how to prevent that.

If you are looking for an easy to remember and easy to measure process for training people, here it is! It’s also a helpful process for delegation, because there is inevitably some element of training that goes with delegation.