How an old dinner party trick helps solve modern gridlock It’s “what I did on my summer vacation” essay time. I spent part of mine visiting friends who live in Pennsylvania near the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area — gently winding roads, idyllic farmstands, the ever-flowing Delaware River. Driving around, I saw the local
A preview of the 3rd edition of You’re It: Crisis, Change, and How to Lead When it Matters Most that was released on September 8, 2026 Character isn’t taught. It’s revealed. “Your character will be revealed as you live your life. There will be mistakes. There will be tests. You will not pass them all.
Character When It Matters Most Read More »
Polished speed is not what we should ask of AI — or ourselves The real costs of fast, polished, thought-free output There’s a passage from Mike Barlow‘s new book, The Thinking Mirror, that’s been sticking with me: AI is exceptionally good at smoothing things out—filling gaps, offering plausible continuations before you’ve fully realized what you
Efficiency is a False God Read More »
Avoidable missteps every change leader should note It’s been painful to watch the tumult at CBS News. The news operation came under new leadership following the merger of Paramount Global and Skydance Media in 2025 (a deal that is pending, though expected to go through). That change was coming wasn’t a newsflash. How it has
How Not to Lead Change: The CBS News Edition Read More »
Humans work best when we work together. Fifteen years ago, on May 22, 2011, an EF5 tornado ripped through Joplin, Missouri. It remains among the deadliest and costliest tornadoes in the nation’s history: 158 fatalities, more than 1,100 injured, over 4,000 homes destroyed. Utter devastation. From that day, Joplin rose again. That story is told
Joplin 15 Years On: The Power of Everyone Read More »
Attuning yourself to many frequencies enriches your life and leadership There’s something restorative about starting the day with my dog and the birds. Rhythm with surprise. An analog start to what will likely be a digitally immersive day. It’s grounding. Even on the same route, my dog Ollie always finds something fresh to sniff or
The Morning Listen Read More »
Management is not about counting butts in seats. It is about creating the conditions where people can contribute to the fullest extent of their abilities. It requires understanding the human factors in organizations.
Why Trust is Better than Micromanagement Read More »
An organization’s culture is dynamic. Leaders need to tend to all of the ingredients to get the outcome they desire.
What Cookies Can Teach You About Your Organization’s Culture Read More »
Woo-hoo! I am pleased that this article about the dramatic turnaround at NYU Langone Medical Center that I co-authored with Doug Wilson and Nathaniel Foote is a finalist for a prestigious the American Society of Business Publication Editors Azbee Awards of Excellence. Among the lessons is that clear, transparent metrics and deep humanity can turn
Transformation Article is Finalist for Award Read More »
I am pleased that my piece for strategy+business on leading through principles made the 2017 “most read” list. With more than 20,000 views, the article certainly resonated with many people. And that is the more important point–how moving from rules to principles engages and empowers an organization to more nimbly solve problems, seize opportunities, and
Leading Through Principles Makes Top Read List Read More »
It was a pleasure to be interviewed by Mabbly founder Adam Fridman for a recent Inc. article on the relevance of well-being for organizations. My contribution was on resilience and the need to keep people focused on a positive future even in the face of adversity. Resilience is about the ability to bounce forward. When
Why Resilience and Well-Being Matter in Your Organization Read More »
My recent piece in strategy+business on the power of reframing leadership conversations through a more intentional use of the common conjunction, “and” received a lot of attention. It is the habitual use of such seemingly simple practices that helps differentiate truly effective leaders from the also-rans. “And” is a powerful way to engage and connect.
