A few years back, I recognized a team member who had just conducted an outstandingly successful training course. The attendees not only...

A wise man once said, "If your only dental care is going to the dentist twice a year, your teeth will still fall out." Meaning it takes...

Leaders, I have an essential question for you. It has to do with a concept that determines your success in and out of the workplace,...

Have you ever heard of a "hostage student"? A hostage student is usually an employee whose supervisor has mandated to attend a training class against their will. Such students tend to say the bare minimum during the course, hoping to get through the training without participating. Typically, hostage students don't look in the mirror and ask themselves why their employer felt it was necessary to take the class in the first place. Instead, they assume their coworker's shortcomi

Welcome to the second part of my two-part series on the importance of responsibility and accountability for all leaders. As we discussed...

Many supervisors are in leadership positions because they were high performers in their previous roles. However, to be brutally honest,...

The best boss I ever had gave me excellent advice on how to be a successful leader. She said, "Jot down everything your worst boss ever did to tick you off, now do the exact opposite. I bet it does not cost any money to do, and it falls under a leader's job description." When I conduct focus group discussions on an effective leader's qualities, I often think about that boss. Below is a summary of my most recent virtual focus group discussion on the four worst types of bosse

Last week, I presented to a professional association in North Dakota. I had previously presented to this group, so the president of the association was familiar with me and my realistic speaking style. During my introduction, he told the group to prepare themselves for a bunch of uncommon common-sense ideas. He then handed me the microphone and said, "Folks, you wait till John talks about the 'the Yellow Pad.' It's worth the price of admission alone." Over the years, many pe