I have been doing some deeper exploration of the hidden ways in which fear affects functioning. This is an important topic for leaders because fear-based decisions are not always obvious yet frequently produce negative personal and organizational outcomes. The challenge of succession planning illustrates the subtle and powerful ways in which fear influences important decisions. Family business succession Consider succession planning in family businesses. In a family busi

Most leaders I know think they are lucid, and believe their decisions are guided by facts and hard evidence. The vast majority of us don’t imagine ourselves to be emotionally out of control. Nor do we believe we project our emotional needs on others. Well, here’s a litmus test: If you’re a parent, a business leader or a spouse, and you want to better understand how emotional factors influence human decisions, pay attention to pet trends. I began thinking about this in ear

A company president asked, “What are some of the leadership goals you try to promote?” I sent him the following list, and offer it to a wider audience of leaders for consideration: Agnostic curiosity Asking a question with the attitude of wanting to discover something new: “I’m more interested in exploring than in leading you to my solution.” Humble swagger Confidence tempered by the sober recognition of dumb luck in one’s success: “Yes, I’ve worked hard, and acknowledge m