Anything you do without enthusiasm makes you less of who you were meant to be. “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” Ralph Waldo Emerson Once enthusiasm is lost, it’s like starting a fire with wet wood. Enthusiasm is: Strength. Joy. Grit. Sweet. Enthusiasm is the difference between putting in your time and meaningful effort. […]…
Recently I was in Houston, at a new conference, and once again I had a packed out room with enthusiastic participants. I may be the only trainer around who specializes in helping directors with the business end of their work. We did Time Management and they agreed they wanted me back for my training on…
Treat people like tools – they act like zombies. Machines get things done, but people have heart. What are you really doing? Tee-ball: The tee-ball coach is teaching Freddie to hit the ball off a tee. The task is learning to hit. A skillful coach knows there’s more. “Freddie, why are you learning to hit […]…
I could use some help. I’m trying – without success – to create an acronym that captures the essence of mentoring. How would you use MENTOR or MENTORING as an acronym? What I have so far needs some work. M. Mission – what are we working to accomplish. Mentoring has focused outcomes. Mentors and proteges […]…
Stress increases when leaders can’t bring kind and tough together. Kind without tough makes you a pushover. Tough without kind makes you a jerk. Accountability is candy to some leaders. It’s easy for them to say, “No.” They have no problem holding people’s feet to the fire. But you aren’t one of them. Extremes: Some […]…
#1. Forgetting who serves who. Leaders serve others so others can serve others. It’s easy to begin thinking the people around you are there to serve you. Repeat to yourself, “I’m here to bring out the best in others.” #2. Blaming rather than taking ownership. The first question real leaders ask when someone under-performs is, […]…
Here are a few free resources to help you plan children’s church for Independence Day week-end. Have a great 4th of July holiday. Children’s Sermons via Kidmin Independence Day Lessons — Revival Fire For Kids Usually this blog carries something for managers of all kinds — whether in a school or in a business. But…
In this episode of the Blanchard LeaderChat podcast, we interview Sydney Finkelstein, author of Superbosses: How Exceptional Leaders Master the Flow of Talent. Drawing on some of the key points from his book, Finkelstein explores the different ways managers of all personality types bring out the best in people. He discusses the importance of seeing […]…
My latest book is out now, on Amazon.com and in Kindle format. I originally wrote it for my grandsons. They needed help with spelling. It never has been taught in a sensible, organized fashion in public school and they couldn’t intuit it like I could. I also realized that all Montessori teachers who teach in…
Lots of managers complain that their team is not as smart as they would like — or as hard working. Guess what.. the old saying about pointing out someone else means more fingers are pointing at you. Learn how to motivate and set your team free to achieve their potential. Great management doesn’t come naturally. …