It’s likely that five hundred years from today, more advanced beings will look back on our leadership consulting practices with disbelief. Eavesdropping into that future, we listen to a spirited conversation between Anya and Klaus, two of the world’s few remaining leadership consultants. The setting is a Finnish sauna, in the year 2515: Klaus: “I’m glad our culture’s sauna has survived for many centuries – It’s no exaggeration that most of my worthwhile thinking has been

We live in a world where attention gets bestowed on those who have answers, whether or not the answers make sense. Parents feel pressured to explain, solve and fix. So do politicians, physicians, chiefs of police, business owners, religious leaders, terrorists, and media talk show hosts. That pressure often leads to superficial conclusions about complex issues. The allure of “getting it right” too easily produces premature or downright dangerous decisions. I’ve noticed

It’s not uncommon for the individuals we coach to see themselves in a “one-down” position. They often show up helpless, depressed, frustrated, angry, or confused about how to handle an unsavory relationship with someone in power. They usually perceive that the individual in power could hurt them emotionally, or financially. Consider these situations: Joellen, the president of one of my client companies, has a customer whom she calls “ridiculous.” She experiences this c