Why so many top execs miss the mark communicating in crisis I was recently asked to comment on the fallout from the Air Canada CEO’s comments after a collision between one of its regional jets and a fire truck at LaGuardia Airport. Two pilots were killed and 41 others injured. Initial indications are the accident
The CEO F’d Up… Now What? Read More »
How do you see what’s not quite there? I recently shared my working definition of leading with the host of a podcast (episode to come): Helping people into an uncertain future with hope, confidence, and agency. He was surprised that the future was part of the definition. I replied that I could not imagine it
Leading as Sensing the Future Read More »
On September 11, 2001, the almost cloudless blue skies seemed full of hope and possibility. That is, until 8:46 a.m., when American Airlines flight 11 plunged into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Suddenly, everything changed. I was startled awake in Southern California by a call from home: “Turn on the TV.” I
The Enduring Leadership Legacy of 9/11 Read More »
Are we solving too much? What if the most complex challenges we face can’t be solved? It’s one of the toughest questions I wrestle with. The elusiveness of real answers flies in the face of reams of frameworks and hacks that purport to solve just about anything, backed by billions of dollars and the best
Dancing with Problems… and the Illusion of Solutions Read More »
BOOM! It’s the moment when everything goes sideways. The crash. The shot. The lawsuit. The technical meltdown. In that instant, time blurs. Pressure spikes. Vision narrows. The crisis is real. Based on my years of researching and working with crisis leaders, here are three underappreciated things that the best get right and the worst, well,
Three Essential (and Overlooked) Skills for Crisis Leaders Read More »
As organizations and communities face ever-more complex challenges, how we think about leading needs to change as well.
Building Communities of Leading Read More »
The good folks at Shepherd Books asked me to recommend five books for crisis leaders. I love sharing some of the books I’ve read that have influenced my thinking and practice. I could easily have listed a dozen. I also wanted to be provocative so I skipped some of my faves in favor of a
Books for Crisis Leaders Read More »
Here are pragmatic measures for crisis leaders to take to boost performance and facilitate resilience in the event of a large-scale grid or internet failure.
Crisis Prep for Remote Teams Read More »
One of the more challenging tasks for anyone in an organization is leading “up” to your boss. You have no authority over that person. In fact, they have all of the authority over you. Navigating this power imbalance requires cultivating influence and building a trust-based relationship. When it works, each person can make the greatest
Insights on “Leading Up” Read More »
Crisis teams succeed or fail as teams—this is not an individual sport. Unless teams get used to working together in routine times, they are unlikely to gel when it matters most.
Prepare Your Crisis Team Now Read More »
On June 11, You’re It: Crisis, Change, and How to Lead When it Matters Most was officially available in bookstores. The book brings together 15 years of research and best practices in leading through the turbulence of natural disasters, corporate turnaround, and other incidents. You’re It was named one a top business book for June
You’re It Off to Rousing Start Read More »
I’m excited that my next book is available for pre-order. Crisis, Change, and How to Lead When it Matters Most: You’re It distills 15 years of practice and research on leading in high stakes, high pressure situations into a pragmatic framework with field-tested tools. Thanks to co-authors Leonard Marcus Joseph M. Henderson and Barry Dorn for
New Book Now on Pre-Sale Read More »
