Before You Say a Word

Before You Say a Word

Before a leader ever casts vision, corrects a mistake, or delivers a speech, something else speaks first: presence. People often decide how they feel about us long before we say a word—through our expression, tone, posture, and the emotional atmosphere we create around us. This week, I was reminded that some of the most influential leaders don’t simply command attention; they make people feel seen, valued, and genuinely welcomed.

5 Strategies for Leading Through Change

5 Strategies for Leading Through Change

Change is never far away. A staff member leaves. A new initiative starts. Roles evolve. Seasons shift. And it can leave us feeling off-balance.
As George Bernard Shaw wrote,
“Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.”
That perspective is a helpful reminder: change isn’t just a disruption. It’s often the doorway to growth.

A Growth Mindset

A Growth Mindset

When I graduated from Duke University in 1991, I wasn’t in a particular hurry to get back. To paraphrase Sal Maricano of ESPN, “Happiness was Durham in my rear-view mirror.” I’d gone up there to play baseball and football, but ended up playing...
You Never Fully “Arrive”

You Never Fully “Arrive”

Last week I wrote about not transferring blame (via Colorado Mesa baseball).    As leaders, as we — and those we lead — truly own our mistakes, it’s important that we also learn from them, and then move on. Learn from the past; don’t live in it. That...