I got an email today from a friend who wrote:

“In the middle of reading Fierce Leadership, I got a phone call from a good friend who was one of my colleagues at IBM in Boulder, Colorado. He shared that they are CHARGING EMPLOYEES for the use of napkins and cutlery in the site cafeteria. I am reading your words about making a deeper connection with people, and I get this information in stark contrast. At one time I was so proud of IBM, and to be part of IBM. What a long wicked way things have come.” (more…)

I offer the following true story as an opportunity to practice squid eye. If you’ve read Fierce Leadership, you know all about squid eye – the ability to spot the “tells” that indicate something is wrong, something isn’t working. If you’re good at squid eye, you are able to see what doesn’t want to be seen, what is hiding, often right under our noses. It’s like having sight in the presence of the blind.

“Tells” are all around us and come in many forms. So-called “best” practices that, when we consider the results they produce, are in fact, worst practices. Strongly held beliefs that make everyone weep, winning us nothing to write home about. Organizations that declare war on the wrong things. (more…)

In last month’s newsletter I wrote: “If you want to become a great leader, gain the capacity to connect with colleagues and customers - at a deep level – or lower your aim.”  Kent, a reader, asked, “What is the Fierce definition of human connectivity?”

I don’t have an official definition for human connectivity, but I know it when I experience it and I imagine you do too. (more…)

If I had a buck for every time I’ve advised would-be authors how to write a best selling book, I’d be, well, not rich, but quite comfortable. Here’s what I always advise.

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In April of 2008, an article by Ellen McGirt in Fast Company attempted to explain the President’s appeal, particularly to young constituents. McGirt wrote, “While a visionary puts forth a specific plan to be implemented, an adaptive leader works with constituents to devise one together.” And that Obama… “reinforces the notion that everyone is included and that this movement is actually a conversation to which everyone is invited.” Bravo!

The challenge is that when President Obama gathers around him people with competing perspectives in order to arrive at the best possible decisions for all of us, ingrained human behavior and politics as usual will get squarely in the way. If ever there was a time to transform an ineffective “culture”, this is it.

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