Category Growth
What Public Problem Are You Working To Solve And Why?
When faced with this type of question, how would you answer? I was recently challenged with this very question when applying for a fellowship. I appreciate this type of question because it causes us to think and to state who we are and what we are all about. I feel strongly that many of the […]
The Resilient Leader: A Tribute
In honor of Thay’s homecoming yesterday – after living in exile for 51 years. Welcome home! Mindfulness in a Changing World: The Teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh. As we attempt to navigate the unremitting surge of life, pressing us forward, many look to the guidance of spiritual leaders. We do so in order to realize […]
Receiving Feedback: A Letter To A Mentor
One of the things I most admire about individuals who consistently perform at optimal levels is their willingness to put themselves into situations where they constantly receive feedback. This idea of gathering as much feedback and information as possible – in order to achieve and maintain high-level performance – is outlined in the work of […]
Ethics – Relics or Relevant?
Many classical philosophers and scholars spent their entire lives grappling with the idea of ‘ethics’, including Aristotle and some of his contemporaries. We can only imagine the rich debate that filled the Lyceum as both student and teacher challenged their understanding of applied ethics. Aristotle, one of the most influential minds in the field of […]
The Apology of a Daring Leader
Apologizing is not weakness Owning our missteps – shows humanity, an acknowledgement of responsibility, humility, and vulnerability The process of apologizing helps us reset and reprioritize the things we value An apology clears the way for new beginnings and possibilities Saying I’m sorry will help us move towards growth and understanding A Case […]
The Purpose Review
The ineffectual nature of the traditional performance review process seems to be a never ending storyline as evidenced in the 2008 Wall Street Journal article, “Get rid of the performance review!”. Discussions on how to skillfully facilitate a meaningful dialogue with actionable content persists with few notable changes. I would advocate that we consider a […]
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 […]
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 […]
Leadership and Reasoning 