Leadership Blog

There are people who walk into a room and are naturally recognized as leaders. They seem to gain followers without even trying. They have a presence about them. Who do you know like that? Is it you?

Why are the Minnesota Twins playing so well this year (so far) after having the worst record in baseball three years ago? They went from being one of the worst teams in history to busting one record after another, and are one of baseball’s best stories this year.

Initiators and processors are two different skill sets. You’re usually one more than the other. In every industry and every organization, there are initiating roles and there are processing roles. Which are you?

A couple of weeks ago I planted my very first garden. The process actually began last November when my wife and I prepared the area and looked forward to our spring planting.

The business world is moving at a fast pace with technical advancements emerging that we never thought possible a decade ago. Sometimes it feels like everything is changing and that we need to change, too.

On a recent trip to New York, I learned the story about the MetLife North Building. Originally proposed as a 100-story-tower, MetLife sought to build the tallest skyscraper in the world in the 1920s. Then the Great Depression hit.

As CEO, I often get asked, “What keeps you up at night?” It is a good question to ask ourselves, especially as leaders. My answer most of the time is: not much. Does that surprise you? The reason is that I have peace of mind.

I remember in grade school teachers saying, “There is no such thing as a dumb question.” The comment was designed to combat fear and inspire participation. They prompted us to ask questions, rather than pretend we know.

Last April, I wrote about a Leader Worth Following who retired after a long and successful sales career at Marco. Less than a month after retirement, Kevin Schwantz began a battle with cancer. In January, he shared that his time on earth would be limited.

We’ve all heard the phrase, “The grass is always greener on the other side” and sometimes it is natural to feel like that at work. People leave their jobs for a variety of reasons – a better opportunity, a different environment, location or pace, or a desire for a new challenge o…