Many leaders I speak with will say, “I hate politics.” What they usually mean is: “I hate manipulation, hidden agendas, and backroom conversations.” On that point, Patrick Lencioni would agree. In The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, Lencioni argues that politics are a symptom of dysfunction, not a necessity of leadership. When teams lack trust, […]
One of the many authors that shaped my views on leadership and high-performing organizations is Jim Collins. In his classic book, Good to Great, Collins offers a powerful insight: the biggest barrier to greatness isn’t bad leadership — it’s good leadership that has stopped growing. I hear it often in my discussions with senior leaders […]
I often hear experienced leaders express frustration about Gen Z’s supposed sense of entitlement. They’ll say things like, “They expect too much, too soon,” or “They don’t want to pay their dues.” But, what if what looks like entitlement is actually something else — a desire for self-agency? Gen Z has grown up in a […]
Volatile, Uncertain, Chaotic, and Ambiguous – these are just some of the words you hear to describe the world today. Everything is speeding up, change is constant, and you may conclude that to lead is to live dangerously. Leadership has entered a new era – one where the mechanistic models and rules of the past […]
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned in my years of leadership, mentorship, and even friendship is: You can’t inspire people who aren’t ready to change. No matter how passionate your message, how polished your pitch, or how perfect your strategy, if someone isn’t open to growth, transformation won’t happen. I’ve seen this happen […]
Throughout my life, I’ve had various “coaches.” I had a batting coach when I played little league baseball to improve my swing. I had a coach when I struggled in my accounting courses in college. As a professional, I had coaches to help me learn how to be an effective leader, transition into new and […]
The Clarity Advantage: Why Senior Leaders Seek Coaching If you’ve ever felt the weight of making high-stakes decisions while juggling conflicting priorities, you’re not alone. Many of my clients, senior leaders in some of the world’s most respected companies, come to me for coaching for one predominant reason: to gain clarity. Why Clarity Is So […]
By John Burt, Executive Leadership Coach In today’s complex, fast-paced business environment, traditional “carrot and stick” management often falls flat. While bonuses, promotions, and recognition still have their place, they’re no longer the primary fuel for sustained high performance — especially in knowledge-based and creative industries. The leaders who inspire peak performance now focus on […]
We recently returned from a 9-day trip to Scotland (a magical place if you’ve never been), where we spent time driving through the Highlands—rugged, stunning, and sparsely populated terrain. Once you get outside the main cities, you often find yourself on a single-track roads with camper-vans and oversized rental cars. One ubiquitous feature that stood […]