On Leading Well

Category: Books & Quotes

  • Leaders Still Need To Do Stuff – Part 2

    Sitting in a meeting this week, my good friend Chip observed: “Every grand vision eventually degenerates into real work.”

  • You Are What You Read


    Leaders are readers… because leaders must be continual learners. For years I have made it a practice to ask others whom I respect what they are reading, then pick up the best books and glean from them. There is much wisdom to be wrought from others’ insights and experiences. Here is my 2009 Leadership Reading List. These authors have shaped my thinking on how to live well, love well, and lead well.

  • Let Your Message Come Through

    The ability to clearly communicate sets excellent leaders apart from the others. One way to ensure poor communication is by medicating people with boring, run-on, predictable presentations.

    You’ve got something important to say. How do you say what you mean and increase retention of what was said?

    Here are a few tips:

    • The greatest teacher the world has ever known used three time-proven methods. He told stories, asked questions, and practiced what he preached.

    • Give me a word picture, or a great image. Unless you’re training someone for a very specific task, avoid powerpoints with lots of small bullets.

    • Read this FastCompany article on good presentations.

    • Make it Stick. Consider reading Made To Stick by Chip & Dan Heath. They help us communicate SUCCESsfully by exploring six qualities that make ideas easily memorable. Keep things:
    1. Simple
    2. Unexpected
    3. Concrete
    4. Credible
    5. Emotional
    6. Stories

    I think I can remember those.