Hey everyone, welcome to the party! LRI INK is super excited to be your host for the February 2024 Leadership Development Carnival. It’s like a festival of ideas here, with leadership gurus from across the globe dropping in to share their two cents on everything cool and critical – leadership, productivity, development, making team magic happen, and more! So, pull up a chair, and let’s dive into some seriously good reads that’ll get you thinking, doing, and maybe even changing the game at your place. Let’s get this carnival rolling!
Yum or Yuck? – by Phillip Wilson
Some leaders are a lot like my father-in-law, always looking at the glass half-empty (or worse). It’s easy to do. Leaders today–especially frontline leaders–often feel powerless. Squeezed between demands from above and below, they don’t believe they can make a real difference in the lives of those they lead.
4 Strategies to Remove Fear from Your Leadership – by Randy Conley
A recent survey reported that 33% of managers lead with fear. Is that you? In this post, Randy Conley shares four strategies you can use to remove fear-based tactics from your leadership.
What is Values Leadership and Why Do We Need it More Than Ever? – by Naomi Caietti
Five generations in the workforce today. Organizations have an opportunity to improve productivity, retention, and satisfaction from their team members working in a virtual /hybrid environment. Learn more about the importance of values leadership for your leaders and how it will benefit your business goals and outcomes.
How to Strengthen the Mind to Deal with Uncertainty – by Marcia Reynolds
You can help others be more comfortable with an unknown future. Ask these seven questions to relieve stress when the fear of not knowing takes over.
Sub-Optimized – by Julie Winkle Giulioni
In our quest for constant productivity, it’s easy to overlook the quieter moments that spark true innovation. Explore the concept of strategic sub-optimization and how making room for the unexpected can enrich our professional and personal lives.
Why it Matters that “Authentic” is Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Year – by David Grossman
With the rise of artificial intelligence, the quest for authenticity has only grown. But people’s understanding of authenticity naturally varies quite a bit, driving people to search for official definitions. Read on to see how this impacts leaders.
“Learning in the Flow of Work” for Leaders – by Sara Canaday
Sara Canaday highlights the power of “learning in the flow of work,” a vital approach for today’s dynamic business environment. She explains, “It’s not just about acquiring new skills; it’s about transforming how we absorb, process, and use knowledge in the heat of our daily tasks.” This piece encourages leaders to blend learning directly with their daily challenges, promoting a hands-on, adaptive style that enhances growth and leadership in real time.
How Do You Run a Business without Good Data? 5 Ways to Change That – by Jon Verbeck
While it may seem surprising for someone to run a business without looking at numbers, it’s not all that unusual. And while some business owners LOOK at the numbers, they don’t study them in a way to benefit from the information.
Here are some reasons why owners don’t look carefully at the numbers.
Is This the Year You Build a Respectful Culture? – by Chris Edmonds
Your work culture might suck, but even if your work culture is “OK,” changes are on the horizon with demands on business leaders to build and sustain purposeful, positive, and productive work cultures that attract and retain talented, engaged staff.
7 Ways To Improve Your Professionalism – by Bill Treasurer
Professionalism is not just a trait; it’s an art form that can dramatically elevate both individual and organizational success. Learn the 7 characteristics and practical tools designed to elevate your and your company’s professionalism to new heights.
The Psychology of Decision-Making: How to Make Better Choices – by Ray Frohnhoefer
Decision-making is integral to our daily lives, shaping our actions, relationships, and overall well-being. We literally make tens of thousands of decisions every day. However, the decision-making process is complex and influenced by various psychological factors. Let’s explore the cognitive processes, external influences, and personal biases that shape our choices. Moreover, we will explore psychology-based strategies to empower individuals to make better decisions in diverse aspects of life.
4 Ways to Convert Values into Behaviors – by Mary Ila Ward
Set Expectations Based on Values: Design your employee development and evaluation tools around your values and specify observable behaviors that are needed in order to meet and/or exceed expectations. If you are having trouble getting behaviors down or understanding how to put behavior into language, Brown’s reference list of behaviors may help you.
Turning Life’s Trials into Triumphs – by John Spence
Life doesn’t get easier or more forgiving. We grow stronger and more resilient. But how do you do that? Here are three practical techniques to help you deal with the challenges and tribulations that you may be facing.
What’s More Important, Perception or Reality? – by Frank Sonnenberg
Your character is in your hands. Your reputation is in the hands of others.
This is not the End – by Marcella Bremer
With a new year, we make new resolutions. What are yours? Why is change not easy? Let’s start with inspiration from the book This Is Not the End by philosopher Jan Drost.
21 Inspiring Quotes About Being Coachable to Make You More Effective – by Sean Glaze
Being coachable is the key to continuous improvement.
Whatever level of success you have achieved, it is likely because you have BEEN coachable in the past… and benefitted from that learning and development.
But where you are now – what you will be dealing with in the future – requires that you (and your team) be able to unlearn and relearn and move beyond complacency.
Finding Solutions to Burnout – by Brenda Yoho
Burnout is not a sign of weakness; rather, it’s a testament to the passion and dedication we bring to our roles. It’s a signal that we’ve been pushing ourselves to our limits in pursuit of excellence. Acknowledge this moment not as a setback but as an opportunity for growth and self-discovery. The relentless pursuit of positivity in leadership circles often leaves individuals feeling unseen, invalidated, or even deficient when faced with challenges or expressing genuine concerns.
AI Needs EI: It’s About the People – by Priscilla Archangel
AI technology will improve in the future, and we’ll all be able to increasingly use it in a variety of ways. But the uniqueness of emotional intelligence remains unparalleled in fostering genuine human connections. Organizations must integrate EI to effectively manage AI applications. Even in the realm of technology, it is still all about the people.
How do you defeat the power of apology: Explanations or excuses? – by Diana Peterson-More
We all make mistakes. According to the University of Texas, at least three, and usually 5 to 7 an hour. This post explores how the power of a simple apology does the trick, and by adding an explanation, it’s frequently read as an excuse. And excuses are like putting a “but” in the middle of a sentence. It negates the preceding comment.
