Author Archives: Evan Schmiedehaus
The Hopeful Cynic
The Hopeful Cynic “When you are cynical, you are never disappointed. It’s courageous to hope, because at some point, you will get your heart broken.” I recently heard Carrie Newcomer make this statement as she was being interviewed by Krista Tippett for an episode of the thought-provoking “onbeing” podcast series. Dear readers, these words have […]
This Weary Traveler
Gratitude from the road…. Over the last four months, I have been traveling to Philadelphia every four weeks in the pursuit of an additional certification in Applied Positive Psychology. My travel occurs in the late afternoon or evenings following what is typically a very full workday. There are no direct flights from Austin to Philadelphia […]
Other People Matter
A favorite saying of mine is, “Other People Matter”. I really love the simplicity, broad implications, and the spirited possibility for us all to more clearly see and hear one another. One of my indirect mentors Christopher Peterson, Professor of Psychology at the University of Michigan, co-author of Characters, Strengths, and Virtues, researcher and one of the founders […]
Case Study: A Leader’s Journey
After our last post you should have a solid understanding of the Four Intelligences. As we jump into a real-life case study (where names and workplaces have been changed in order to protect the players involved), I challenge you to analyze how the story’s leader, Mark, uses his innate characteristics and learned competencies in order […]
There’s More to Intelligence than an IQ!
Part 2 of a Multi-Part Series Last week, we answered the paramount question: “Who am I as a leader?” We took time to distinguish between the Characteristics and Competencies of leadership, and touched on the connection to Multiple Intelligence Theory. In this post, we’ll define and explore the application of the Four Intelligences. At the […]
Mind Your Ps and Qs: Know Your Cs and CS
Part One of a Multi-Part Series Frank is a mid-level manager at a machining warehouse with three years of experience. He performs tasks enthusiastically and has received praise for his creative solutions for streamlining processes and procedures at his facility. Last week, one of Frank’s employees suddenly lost a close member of her family. Frank […]
Navigating Positional Thinkers
“The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority.” Kenneth Blanchard In the past couple of weeks, I have found myself lending support to individuals seeking guidance on how to collaborate with a leader stuck in positional thinking. I am always appreciative to have the opportunity to support fellow leaders as they explore the […]
Leading Courageously
The Pulitzer-Prize winning book Profiles In Courage, written by John F. Kennedy, speaks of historic leaders whose legacies are noted in history by their great sacrifices as a result of their courage. Reading the story of Daniel Webster, the Senator, former Constitutional lawyer and three-time Presidential candidate, particularly struck me this week as I also […]
Actively Seeking Feedback
A familiar cynical saying resurfaced for me this week, “If a leader asks you for feedback, they either want validation or information, they rarely want feedback”. I find this pessimistic view to be troubling. Since hearing it, I’ve recommitted to making myself accessible and incorporating the pursuit of actively seeking feedback into my leadership values. […]
You are killing my BUZZ………WORDS!
Leverage, empowerment, indexing, culture, good to great, diversity, exit strategy, face time, power lunch, holistic, on my radar, vulnerability, paradigm, sustainable, synergy, win-win, community, vitality, alignment, emotional intelligence, getting on the same page… Over the years I have interviewed and selected leaders from an ever-changing and incredibly diverse talent pool. Their education, experience, history, and […]
Leadership and Reasoning 