Missy Franklin: The Cincinnatus of the Olympics (a guest post from Greg Marcus)
My favorite character from Latin class was Cincinnatus – he was a farmer who became Dictator to lead the Roman army against invaders, and then returned to his farming life after the war. The fame and glory did not prevent him from continuing to be who he wanted to be,...
The Reluctant Leader: Why Confidence Matters
Sometimes people find themselves in positions of leadership before their self-confidence has caught up with them, and are reluctant to lead. Helping reluctant leaders to see themselves as the leaders they are, can make them more powerful. Here’s a story of why...
Saturday Salutation: The Cairns of Strangers
This week, my husband and I scrambled up the boulders of Mt. of the Holy Cross one of Colorado’s spectacular 14ers. The trek was a beautiful journey of cairns, challenge and connection. The most tangible beauty came from the dramatic 360 views on this clear,...
Leadership, Influence and Self-Deception
In the context of the conversation on “influence,” my friend, Lisa Kohn turned me on to The Arbinger Institute’s work on Leadership and Self-Deception. Not a new book (first published in 2000), but quite useful in this context. The main idea, in any leadership role,...
Everybody into the Pool: Influencing from the Inside
In almost any large organization, there are the folks doing the work that touches customers, and there are the supporting players influencing vital work to make that easier. Except when they don’t. Or, it’s perceived that way. Today, as we stop the music,...
Questions of Influence: Asking Questions that Inspire Results
How can we best ignite change and inspire growth, when we don’t have control? Later this month, I am bringing about 100 folks together to chat about influence. We will create space to share our stories. And take an honest look at how we roll. “Because...
Saturday Salutation: Postcard from the United Nations Youth Assembly
This quote set the tone for the 11th Annual Youth Assembly at the United Nations sponsored by the Friendship Ambassadors Foundation, which I attended this week. The focus was on youth empowerment, and how social networking can be used to create change. “This is...
Portrait of Charisma: Something About Larry
As we have been working through our “Charisma Project,” I have been on the look out for signs of great charisma in every day life, and realized it’s time for me to talk about Larry. Larry Owensel is a professional dancer and personal trainer, and...
