A dear old friend who is 93 and recuperating from Covid-19 reminded me of something he’s always said. This has been his leadership philosophy for decades: The purpose of life is not to be happy. The purpose of life is to make a difference. The way you make a difference is in the way you
A cool day in February at Munson Creek Falls State Natural Site, Oregon.
Madelyn shuddered at the word… Networking. She’d been out of a job for a couple of months and knew she needed to reach out and talk with people. But she’d convinced herself that online research was the way to go. She didn’t want to waste other leaders’ time. “They’re so busy, they won’t have time
Whatever works for you…
Years ago, I asked my husband if there were one thing he’d like me to change, what would it be. “Be totally honest with me, I’d really like to know,” I said. He thought for a few seconds (seconds!) and said…“Pick up your shoes.” What? He was serious. It bugged him that I took off
Ahhhhhh…
Years ago, I worked for a leader who had no empathy for employees who experienced the death of a family member. That sounds cruel, but it’s true. She would express a trite “sorry-for-your-loss” phrase and move on to the business at hand. She expected they would continue their work, with no hiccups, no lapses in
Be curious
When I think of leaders I’ve worked with over the years, the stand outs (there are many) are those who habitually create environments where people flourish and grow. They bring light, openness and heart to difficult situations. They encourage others’ input, always looking for new or better ways to do what is done. They share
