Sometimes, I find myself pondering and applying the words of others. Unlikely sources often prevail. Below are some ideas that have stayed with me, and that my readers might find useful: “Every bowl has its capacity” Iranian proverb Comment: I hear much bemoaning about low confidence – in children, in employees and in leaders. This quote issues a warning, of sorts, about the other side of the confidence coin: leaders who think they can do more than they actually can d

The distant hero – romantically saving others while remaining aloof – has long punctuated the plot lines for blockbuster movies and novels. Such idealism makes for great fiction, and poor leadership. In the real world of families, children are advantaged by knowing, understanding and respecting their parents. In a similar way, employees benefit from leaders who are transparent and genuine. Too many organizational leaders miss opportunities to connect because they are sti

A good friend told me her New Year’s resolution is giving up gossip. I don’t hear that very often, so it got me thinking. The Oxford Dictionary defines gossip as “casual or unconstrained conversation about other people, typically involving details that are not confirmed as being true.” Destructive gossip That negative spin might explain why most leaders respond skeptically to office grapevines. Destructive forms of gossip are all too familiar: Spreading “dirt” and mis