August 2022 – The Maximum Standard

It’s About Who You Know: Paul Revere

“The British are coming!” shouted Paul Revere as he traversed the countryside surrounding Boston. Meanwhile, William Dawes carried the same message shouting the same thing.

Yet only one of these men became famous. Only one of these men was successful in their mission to warn Boston that night.

This week we look into what makes a successful communicator. Why some people thrive like Revere while some people disappear in history like Dawes.

Lead well!

Steve

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Never Walk by Trash

I was walking into my office building last week with a few colleagues when I clearly saw a piece of trash laying on the ground. I instinctively tried to ignore it when once again the all-too-familiar voice of a man I’ve never personally met, but once heard speak, echoed in my head.

“Never pass a piece of trash without picking it up.”

General Michael Garrett’s leadership advice is both literal and metaphorical. This week we explore how to ensure we’re not walking by trash and instead improving the organization through personal example.

Lead well!

Steve

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The Birthday Compliment

We have a tradition in our house where on your birthday and before we light the candles, everyone takes a turn to say something they appreciated about you that year.

This year all my kids are now teenagers, and the quality of gratitude has gone through the roof. It made me question why our family waits a year to give great compliments.

Or why leaders at work rarely give them at all. And when they do, it’s done passively. This week we explore how to overcome this barrier, give great compliments, and recognize your team.

Lead well!

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The Myth of the Swinging Pendulum

It’s so easy to see life as a pendulum. When we go too far one way, we overcorrect and swing back the other way.

The key is to strike a balance between extremes. This week we look at two sides of leadership styles: the interpersonal leader and the results-driven leader.

We don’t have to choose to be one or the other. In fact, we should try to be both.

Lead well!

Steve

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Make Every Interaction Positive

This week we explore the concept of valuing others. It’s so easy to walk by people because of our busy schedules.

Yet every person and engagement has the opportunity for a positive interaction. Each one also has the opportunity for a negative result.

In this article, we talk about how a little deliberate planning increases our chances of a positive outcome. More importantly, we connect with our most valuable asset: people.

Lead well!

Steve

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