I recently came across a blog post about taking inspiration from Abraham Lincoln, a beloved historic figure who famously experienced numerous failures and setbacks on his journey to becoming the sixteenth president of the United States. I have read many similar articles before, but in this one, the author said something that really stood out: …
In case you haven’t noticed, life doesn’t always go according to plan. Even the most carefully planned strategies and very best intentions get derailed by the unexpected and the unavoidable. It’s not just the big things, like career paths and families, that don’t always turn out the way we’d envisioned; we frequently get …
I am an admitted news-junkie, avid-reader, and life-long-learner. I consume hours of news stories and dozens of articles every day, and I love it. I enjoy being informed, knowing what’s going on in the world, and – most importantly – learning new things. I also have a lot of other things I want …
Last year the world lost a remarkable man, talented speaker, and incredible teacher. Though several months have gone by since Zig Ziglar passed away, I still frequently reflect on the awesome legacy he left behind, and hardly a day goes by when one of his quotes or some of his advice doesn’t pass through my …
There are a lot of things in this world over which we have little or no control. We have little, and many times no control over weather, some illnesses, traffic, the attitudes and actions of other people, and the cost of necessities such as fuel and groceries. The reality is that sometimes, a significant …
I have always believed that there is far more to gain from focusing on and leveraging your strengths than fixating on and continually trying to fix your weaknesses. Have you ever experienced a performance review where your supervisor spent the first five minutes acknowledging and praising your strengths and what you’ve done right, then …
While we all appreciate hearing the words, “Thank you,” the value of this simple phrase can vary greatly from one utterance to another. We all know that when those words pass some lips, they mean very little, while those same words can mean the world coming from someone else. Context matters greatly when it comes …
Whether it’s a presentation to a conference room full of senior executives, a speech to a crowd of your peers, a blog article on an important topic, or a book that just went to press – whenever we “put ourselves out there,” we tend to hold our breath and wait for the feedback. Every …
We are in a series discussing and learning from the recently published book titled Great Leaders Grow: Becoming a Leader for Life. The book, authored by Ken Blanchard and Mark Miller, is available wherever best selling books are sold. The book is directly applicable to any person who desires to become a more effective healthcare leader. …
We all like to get out of something as much or more than what we put into it. When we work hard, we expect to receive fair compensation, respect and appreciation. When we sow seeds, we anticipate reaping the harvest. So naturally, when there’s not enough to go around, we each worry about our fair …
We are in a series discussing and learning from the recently published book titled Great Leaders Grow: Becoming a Leader for Life. The book, authored by Ken Blanchard and Mark Miller is available wherever best selling books are sold. The book is directly applicable to any person who desires to become a more effective healthcare leader. …
As a healthcare leader, you encounter numerous ‘roadblocks’ as you lead your team forward. Roadblocks, obstacles, hurdles, challenges, setbacks – whatever form in which they come, they can be extremely frustrating and time consuming. Roadblocks are a fact of life and leadership and are often unavoidable. We may not be able to …
A recent issue of The Modern Servant Leader blog (http://modernservantleader.com) featured an article by Benjamin Lichtenwalner asking readers to think about whether they are a climber or a contributor. This is an excellent question worthy of careful thought, conclusions and appropriate actions! Which are you, a climber or a contributor? The honest truth will …
For the next several articles in this column, we will study and learn from the recently published book by Ken Blanchard and Mark Miller titled, Great Leaders Grow: Becoming a Leader for Life. The book is published by Berrett-Koehler Publications and is available wherever best selling books are sold. I encourage you to purchase a copy …
I have long admired the leadership and wisdom of General Colin Powell. I had the privilege several years ago to spend about thirty minutes alone with the General, and my positive perception and respect for him did not diminish one bit – in fact, it increased exponentially! Here is a man who not only possesses …
Gratitude is a truly refreshing sentiment. We all enjoy being the recipients of genuine gratitude – it feels good to be recognized and appreciated! But more than receiving gratitude, I think nothing does the soul more good than feeling and expressing heartfelt thankfulness. Think about it, when we are truly grateful toward others, when we …
Every leader receives critique. Some leaders appreciate it, some dread it, and some resent it – but every good leader needs it. In order to truly achieve leadership excellence, you need to learn, grow, mature, develop, and improve as a leader, and one of the best tools for accomplishing this is critique. Without …