Why Being Told You Have “Too Much Influence” Is Actually a Compliment

Leadership Memo 2025-7 In my last newsletter, I shared the moment a CEO called an executive meeting with one item on the agenda: me. I was just a director. Not on the executive team. But apparently, I had "too much…

The Secret to Leading People Well? Start with Appreciation.

If you want to lead well, there’s no secret. Most leaders just miss one simple habit: showing appreciation. It’s not fluff. It’s not optional. It makes others feel seen and valued. Genuinely appreciating people strengthens trust, boosts morale, and inspires…

You Don’t Need to Agree on Everything: The Power of Reconciliation in Leadership

In a mini-series that we started last month, we’ve been unpacking how to navigate conflict, starting with owning your part even when the conflict may be 99.99 percent their fault. Then listening for the other person’s hurt and perspective. Today,…

The Paradox of Independence: Why We Need Each Other to Thrive

The fireworks have faded, the flags are folded away, and the 4th of July has come and gone. As we reflect on what it means to celebrate America’s independence, it’s worth asking a deeper question: What does independence mean for…

From Influence to Impact: 10 Non-Negotiables of Modern Leadership

Leadership Memo 2025-6 Leadership isn't about job titles or fancy offices. I learned that the hard way when a CEO once called an executive meeting with one agenda item: me. At the time, I was just a director, not even…

Work-Life Balance Is Broken—Here’s What Leaders Actually Need

Work-life balance sounds like a noble goal… until the fires just. keep. coming. I recently spoke with a CEO who’s newly married, newly short-staffed, and deeply stressed. He had just let someone go, and in the aftermath, found himself doing…

The Ownership Shift: What Bayer’s DSO Teaches Us About Leading Differently

Leadership Memo 2025-5 Last month, we explored how Bayer’s Dynamic Shared Ownership (DSO) transformation has been going after one year. This time, let’s take a closer look at how DSO really works in everyday practice. CEO Bill Anderson points to…

Leading with Heart: Why Kindness Is a Leadership Essential, Not a Weakness

Kindness isn’t just a nice personality trait. It’s a core leadership skill. In today’s world, leaders are often expected to be sharp, strategic, and results-driven. But without kindness, leadership becomes cold and transactional. Kindness is what transforms leadership from managing…

From Surviving to Thriving: A Leader’s Guide to Human Flourishing

Would you say you’re flourishing? It’s not a word we hear often in today’s fast-paced world. A little whimsical, a little niche. It sounds more at home in poetry or therapy than in the boardroom. Yet recently, in an interview…

Essential Leadership: Why What You Say ‘No’ To Defines Your Success

The higher up you go, the more opportunities and demands come your way: Invitations, initiatives, partnerships, boards, new ventures. If you're not careful, you can run yourself into the ground trying to do it all. The older I get, the…