Most leaders I work with don’t have a capability problem. They mis-read the signal. That voice in your head— ▪️ “I should already know this”▪️ “I’m behind”▪️ “I’m going to get exposed” That’s not proof, truth or even fact. It’s a signal. And here’s the mistake: Leaders treat it as truth instead of asking what […]
Raising the Bar Series | Part 6 To build accountability on your team, setting the standard matters. Holding the standard matters. But if it all depends on you… It won’t scale. Most leaders, often without realizing it, centralize accountability. They become: the reminder system the escalation point the final decision-maker And over time, everything […]
Raising the Bar Series | Part 5 Accountability isn’t something you enforce occasionally. It’s something you build into how your team operates every day. By now, most leaders understand the importance of accountability. They know it matters.They talk about it.They expect it. But where things break down isn’t in intention. It’s in consistency. Where […]
Raising the Bar Series | Part 4 When the bar starts to move in the name of empathy, it’s often a sign the real conversation hasn’t happened yet. Empathy has become essential to modern leadership. And that’s a good thing. But I see a pattern: Leaders care deeply about their people—but aren’t always sure […]
Raising the Bar Series | Part 3 Most leaders don’t struggle to set standards. They struggle to hold them. Because holding the bar creates tension. Why? Because as a leader you must: Address inconsistency when spotted Have crucial conversations others would rather avoid Apply the same standard, even when it’s inconvenient or uncomfortable So […]
Raising the Bar Series | Part 2 Most accountability problems aren’t performance issues, they are clarity issues. If accountability is breaking down, clarity is usually the problem. Not effort. Not capability. Not intent. Clarity. For some leaders, it feels like enforcement. For others, it feels like micromanagement. So they hold back until…. until they can’t. […]
Raising the Bar Series | Part 1 Accountability Is Leadership’s Greatest Weakness—Here’s Why It Matters Let’s be honest. Most leaders struggle to hold people accountable. Most teams would agree. Recent research from Gallup found that accountability is the lowest-rated leadership competency as reported by leaders and by the people they lead. That alignment is rare, […]
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 […]