“The Emperor’s New Clothes” is a short story written by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. It is about two weavers who promise an emperor a new suit of clothes that they say is invisible to those who are unfit for their positions, untrained, or incompetent. In reality, the tailors make no new clothes at all. Instead, they make everyone believe […]
Cultivating Executive Presence In the latest episode of “Leadership Powered by Common Sense,” host Doug Thorpe engages in a compelling conversation with Inga Hebdon, an accomplished executive coach with an ICF PCC credential. The episode delves into the concept of executive presence, exploring its components, the challenges leaders face, and actionable strategies to develop this […]
Resilience. It’s a term tossed around like a corporate beanbag these days, a leadership quality on every hiring manager’s wishlist. But what does it truly mean? The Resilience Matrix: It’s Not Just Bouncing Back The resilience matrix we introduce here is a powerful tool for understanding the leadership qualities needed to thrive in today’s dynamic […]
The business world is a dynamic ecosystem. Trends, technologies, and customer needs can morph overnight, leaving unprepared leaders scrambling to catch up. As a leader, staying abreast of changes within and outside your organization is not just a box to tick; it’s the cornerstone of sustainable success. This blog post dives into the essential strategies […]
Father’s Day is a time to celebrate the amazing men who guide us through life. But dads aren’t just grill masters and joke tellers; they’re leaders who play a crucial role in shaping the future, one child at a time. Building Strong Foundations: Setting Standards and Values Dads are often the first to introduce children […]
We all have dreams, aspirations, and a desire to grow. But sometimes, navigating the path towards those goals can feel overwhelming. Life throws us curveballs, and internal struggles can cloud our judgment. This is where the classic SWOT analysis steps in, offering a powerful framework for personal growth and success mapping. SWOT: A Strategic Tool […]
If you are thinking about making a change at work, at home or for yourself, don’t take the scenic route. We’ve all done it. You went on a trip. Somewhere along the way you see signs for the scenic route. So you take a detour. You begin traveling down smaller, winding roads. You see fewer […]
In learning how to fly an airplane, one of the first lessons has to do with understanding winds. Winds come in basically three types; Head winds – those hit you right in the face Tail winds – those from behind Cross winds – those at angles from the side I believe the challenges we […]
A few years ago I wrote a piece contrasting the “cool breeze” and the “fog machine”, whimsically (at least my attempt at whimsy) to illustrate extreme possibilities in the way a leader can show up at work. I think It’s time to delve deeper into that idea (minus the whimsy part). While the “Cool Breeze” […]
People talk about charismatic leaders having “big” personalities. Powerful leaders are often known as “Type A” personalities. We know about introverts and extroverts. But how does personality really impact your effectiveness as a manager or owner of a business? If we take away celebrity status from high paid CEOs and public figures, what else does […]
