Next Generation Leadership

If you’ve ever been a manager, you might relate to the lyrics of the 1972 song “Stuck in the Middle with You” by Stealers Wheel. The song—written about a chaotic industry dinner—has a chorus that feels eerily familiar to those in management:

“94% of executives and 88% of employees believe a distinct workplace culture is important to business success.” -Deloitte

My First Cup of Coffee

Much of the work managers and leaders do involves shifting focus from what we don't want, to envisioning the outcomes we do want. A useful way to think about this is transforming vicious cycles into virtuous ones.

Last night I watched Life is Beautiful, a movie about a Jewish Italian family who became victims of the Holocaust. I have no idea how I missed this back in 1997–it’s breathtaking and, of course, heartbreaking. A film is one thing, but it’s so tough when the whole world feels heartbreaking. It can become overwhelming. Overwhelming is exactly the problem. The idea of doing anything is overpowered...

Imagine walking into a room where everyone’s voice matters, where each person’s background is valued, and where diversity is not just a buzzword but a true, lived experience. Now, think further — what if YOU were the leader who created that room, that inclusive environment—one where inclusion isn’t a box to be checked but the very fabric of the workplace culture? As leaders, the journey toward...

I love spending time at client sites. I can tell so much by the feel of a place. Organizations are like people; there’s so much more than meets the eye. The real testament of an organization’s health lies in its culture—the way people are together—how they treat each other, how they feel when they are together, to what extent do they have and cherish group identity.

As a management and leadership coach for 30 years, I have talked with a LOT of people about workplace dynamics. Regardless of where the conversation begins–employee engagement, morale, feedback, communication–it always ends up with one of three themes:

“Long-term consistency trumps short-term intensity.” - Bruce Lee

A Lesson From A Raisin in the Sun Equity: The ability of all members of a community to fully access opportunities and resources, accounting specifically for the systems and structures of oppression that limit access for historically marginalized groups. Recently SHRM (Society for Human Resource Managers) made an announcement: