Approachable Leadership Blog
Rediscover Priority: Why You and Your Team Should Do Less
How often do you find yourself doing work that’s just good enough? Steve Jobs reminds us why it’s important to prioritize and how less really can mean more.
Can Approachability Make You Younger and More Healthy?
In 1984, two scientists discovered an enzyme that helps protect people from premature cellular aging. What’s it got to do with approachability?
Gallup Q12 and How Approachable Leaders Drive Engagement
Have you ever heard of Gallup’s Q12 “engagement” factors? If you’ve been around HR for any length of time you are familiar with Gallup’s Q12 research
The Magic Bank Account: A Billfold of Inspiration
The author of this story is unknown. It was found in the billfold of Coach Paul Bear Bryant, Alabama, after he died in 1982.
Compassionate Listening Makes You a Better Leader: 7 Listening Tips
When was the last time you really listened to someone? When was the last time someone really listened to you? Has it been a while? Do you remember how you felt after that conversation?
Why New Leaders Make the “Villain Assumption” Plus 4 Ways to Make the Hero Assumption Instead
Do you ever think, “I don’t think this person cares about doing good work.” This is the Villain Assumption. Good leaders make the Hero Assumption instead.
The Future of Work: 5 Ways Leadership Will Change in an AI Economy (Part 2)
There are 5 ways work will change in an AI economy. In our last post we looked at the ways AI and new technology is likely to impact our workplaces. Bottom line: work will change a LOT over the next 5-10 years
The Future of Work: 5 Ways Leadership Will Change in an AI Economy
How are technology and artificial intelligence changing the future of work? In big ways. This means big challenges – and opportunities – for leaders.
Simple Positive Affirmations for Work to Transform Your Team
While Stuart Smalley may be the king of positive affirmations, I’ve been talking about positive affirmations for work a lot more than usual the last few weeks…
Change in the Workplace: 5 Tips for Leaders
How should leaders deal with “always on” change in the workplace? We often talk about change at work as if people universally resist it. Change is something people resist. Except when they don’t…
Phil Teaches 4 Execution Habits at Leadership Event
Last week, Phil delivered a keynote for the Arbuckle Area SHRM chapter and the Southern Oklahoma Leadership Luncheon. The topic? Follow up and follow through. "The real place where the rubber meets the road as a leader is, do I actually do what I say that I'm going to...
Strategy Execution: What You’re Not Thinking About
Can your kid’s X-Box teach you strategy execution? I got to spend some quality time with my kid and her X-Box this weekend while we survived the second straight week of major winter weather events that weren’t. Her favorite game is Forza, a car racing game that is amazingly accurate…
Proud Day at Approachable Leadership
I received a great gift last week. My former intern Cameron Brown had a bound copy of his dissertation on leader approachability delivered to my office. I am proudly displaying it on my shelf next to a couple of other…
New Year, Same Resolutions: 3 Questions to Ask Yourself
The New Year showed up again. If your office is anything like mine, that means a lot of talk about resolutions and a “better me.” Personally, I love this time of year. I love it because it encourages people to reexamine
Approachability Playbook Released on Amazon: Bonus Offers
Most of you know I love music. I was listening to a favorite Spotify playlist when I started this post. In the nick of time a classic song inspired the subject line. (Recognize the lyric? Scroll to the bottom to see if you’re right!)…
Why You Should Use the “F-Word” with Your Team
You should use the F-word with your team a LOT more than you do. Do you use the F-word with your team? I sure do. The F-word gets people’s attention. When you drop an F-bomb your teammates will sit up and listen…
Developing Leaders Through Training
Developing leaders is a crucial component to any thriving business. But there are two things that keep a lot of organizations from properly developing leaders. Those two things are time and investment…
Generational Stereotypes Are BS – Here’s What to Do Instead
Generational stereotypes are bad for business.
Seems like our culture has become obsessed with generational stereotypes. New articles come out day after day. And they purport to have uncovered some great new insight into how to deal with the millennials creeping into our offices. Here’s my insight.
Most of it’s bullshit.
People are just people. And we all want the same things. We want to be engaged. And to be challenged. We want to be respected. To be compensated. And to be valued.
