If you’ve been in organizational leadership long enough to climb the ranks of greater responsibility and pressure, you’ve also known difficult transitions. You’ve likely endured career-threatening setbacks, and maybe even disastrous leadership mistakes or failures. But I can tell you this from my personal experience,...
Early in my career at Federated Department Stores it was my dream to lead large teams. But then my bosses told me that I was an introvert, and that I did not possess a leadership personality. They said I should focus my energy and talent...
Today, as organizations build talent for the future via the organizational talent pipeline, they need to ensure the development of executive presence. Why? Because as people move into higher-level positions as senior execs, they become the face of your organization. They shape your corporate DNA....
Do you have the background and experience, but still lack the confidence to lead? Do you keep comparing yourself to others or trying to imitate them, because you doubt your own abilities? You may want to reach your ultimate potential, but you’re scared that you’ll...
Last fall I was offered a wonderful opportunity to provide leadership training in Tokyo. But I also decided to take some time off and spend three glorious weeks touring Japan. Here are a few leadership insights gathered along my journey through this ancient, tranquil land....
Years ago, when I started my executive coaching practice, one of my first clients was a picture of negativity. Every time we talked he expressed his lack of esteem and fatalistic attitude. I tried to convince him to reframe his outlook and use more positive...
Listen to the podcast [audio mp3="https://illustraconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/podcast_10072015_Accelerate_New_Heights.mp3"][/audio] Skill development is a huge area of opportunity. Just as organizations profit by promoting talent from within, you as an individual leader can reap tremendous rewards when you invest in developing your leadership from the inside. The main reason leaders aren’t...
Listen to the podcast [audio wav="https://illustraconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/PODCAST_04142015_PERMA.wav"][/audio] Recently I had the honor of meeting Dr. Martin Seligman, author of Learned Optimism. He was speaking on his unique concept of psychological well-being, which he refers to by the acronym PERMA. The PERMA model he developed identifies five of the...
Listen to the podcast [audio mp3="https://illustraconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/PODCAST_03222015_Are_You_A_Leader.mp3"][/audio] Too many of our leaders think that dealing with headaches is the name of the game, and their whole mindset is based on reacting to problems. I want you to think differently and make your developmental growth and that of those...
Try igniting a fire without any oxygen and you’ll see what it’s like to try to rally the team for greater productivity and performance without leadership confidence. You won’t have any persuasive power because leadership confidence is the contagious charisma that incites and ignites the...