McChrystal on Leadership Myth and Reality
General Stanley McChrystal commanded forces in one of the most results-driven environments imaginable — yet his deepest insight about leadership has…
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Competing Languages of Leadership
Leadership advice often focuses on communication style: how to be clearer, more persuasive, etc. While valuable, these tactics eventually hit…
Career Myths: Lies We Are Sold
I recently wrote a piece on leadership myths. While writing, I realized these weren’t just organizational myths. They’re…
Leadership Derailment: How Good Managers Go Bad
The executive stared out the window, shell-shocked and feeling blindsided. Her boss had just asked for her resignation. How did…
Technical Problems vs Adaptive Challenges
If you're a leader, you've likely faced a problem that refused to be solved by your…
Multi-Frame Thinking
We think effective leaders are great problem-solvers. That’s only partially true. What they’re really good at is multi-frame…
Leadership Myths that Persist
Why do organizations repeat the same leadership mistakes despite research showing they don't work? A key reason is…
Belief Triggers — Why Smart People Fail to Change
When it comes to change that sticks, willpower is overrated. So are tactics and techniques. In fact, most of our…
Please Exceed your Authority
"I don't want to step on anyone's toes." This is a common and reasonable…
Leonardo’s Code: A Blueprint for Timeless Work
Modern organizations worship at the altar of efficiency, focus, and relentless execution. We follow suit at the personal level as…
Work is Not School: Surviving Institutional Stupidity
For 16+ years, we master the rules of school. Study hard, get good grades, follow the formula and ultimately merit…
The Leadership Shadow: When Strengths Backfire
It's easy to assume that leaders derail due to obvious flaws—poor judgment, unchecked ego, toxic behavior. But…
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