No matter the industry, losing great talent is one of the toughest challenges for leaders and employees. Not only is there the question of trying to fill that person’s role, but the associated work of training and onboarding a new team member, plus the potential for disruption to the business and added work for those […]

If you’re lucky, you’ve had the experience of being part of a great team at least once or twice in your life and career. The characteristics of great leadership teams in business don’t differ all that much from the descriptors we see so often in sports. Great teams excel at communicating, are selfless, hard-working, strategic, […]

The pace of change inside business today is greater than ever. Leaders and employees can argue whether it’s fair or even necessary, but the reality is that constant change is here to stay. In our work with scores of companies working through change, we’ve identified some key best practices for managing change well, which we […]

When was the last time you heard a great speech? Listened to someone who captivated you with their personal story? Read something that was written so beautifully and powerfully that it challenged your thinking or moved you to action? For many of us, it may have been a while. That’s because outstanding communication is rarely […]

As I shared with my network on LinkedIn recently, I had a recent health scare that prompted a pause in my busy life to reflect on some critical questions. The questions are personal, and I’ve realized they may help others consider what matters most in their lives in and outside of work. For these reasons, […]

“Empathy” is a word that’s discussed often as a coveted leadership skill, and yet there’s still uncertainty – and some skepticism – about how much empathy matters in the workplace today. For some, empathy feels like a soft skill that may be difficult or impractical to apply, particularly when you’re leading a large team that […]

When I reflect on the most successful leaders I’ve worked with over the years, they all possess a variety of outstanding communication skills. Yet one skill consistently stands apart – the leader’s ability to clearly set expectations for their teams. Leaders who are crystal clear – not only about what they expect from their teams […]

We’ve all been there. Lost in the grip of a great story, we fast forward to the next episode of our favorite show, repeatedly flip the pages of a gripping novel from a beloved author, or get swept away in the details of a friend’s dramatic event. This is the power of the art and […]

The best leaders are exceptional communicators. That’s always been true and even more critical now, at a time when employees and other stakeholders are bombarded with information and often look to their leaders for what’s most important. Leaders who earn the trust and support of their team get there because they believe in the power […]

My entire career has been spent helping leaders communicate better. In working with leaders from a wide variety of industries over the years, our team has identified common traits that the best communicators possess. Not surprisingly, many of what defined greatness two decades ago still apply, and yet some skills have become even more relevant […]