The Key to Leadership: Seven Articles

3 Weaknesses That Hurt Your Leadership Effectiveness

One common denominator of weaknesses is that leaders are embarrassed to admit them. Read More

7 General Suggestions for Handling Stress in Life and Leadership

The world is stressful. And, as I view the world, it is not getting any easier. There seems to be little relief in sight. If anything, life seems more stressful today than even a few years ago. It may be getting worse – not better. Read More

7 Specific Suggestions for Dealing with Stress in Life and Leadership

Stress is very much a part of life. Having traveled to many cultures, however, I think we may sometimes “specialize” in stress in America. It almost seems we look for ways to bring more stress in our life. Read More

Don’t Make Important Decisions Late in the Day

Over the course of a regular day, everyone’s mental resources get taxed, research has consistently shown. Thus, as the day wears on, whether you like it or not, you become increasingly fatigued and consequently more likely to underperform on work tasks. Cognitive fatigue in a very common condition that results from sustained engagement that taxes your mental resources. This seems obvious, right? Yet the vast majority of people often overlook cognitive fatigue, despite the fact that it influences their choices and behaviors in profound ways. Read More

My Advice to Leaders: Leave Before You Have To Leave

Here’s some advice I’ve learned watching people in organizations over the years. I’ve seen it in government, business, and, sadly, far too often in the church. Some people stay too long. Read More

Pessimists Can't Lead: 7 Ways to Find Optimism

Don’t imagine you energize others by reminding them they fall short. Negative leaders bring up opportunities in ways that make people feel like losers. “You should have been doing this all along.” Read More

8 Ways Leaders Spend Their Time After Hours

Have you heard the old proverb, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,” or worse yet, heard it said about you? If so, you might be spending too much time at work and not enough time playing. Without time off from work, people can become both bored and boring. Read More