Focused Listening

Focused listening is a key component to being a Level Five leader. At today’s modern pace, often with the intention of multitasking, information can be lost. Conversations end up needing to be repeated. Meetings are held, but is everyone truly “present?” In a hybrid, remote/in-person world that many are now in, these issues can be … Read more

Take More Ownership of Time

Having trouble finding time? In 2016, a weekends-off initiative was unveiled at J.P. Morgan called “Pencils Down.” The media was quick to highlight the move by the financial giant as a radical step: “The initiative…is unusual in a high-powered corner of Wall Street where 100-hour weeks are considered by some as a badge of honor … Read more

Disciplined Leadership: Begin Empowering Through Better Meetings

This is part of a series of blogs on the theme of ‘Disciplined Leadership.’ In the hybrid in-person/remote we currently live in, we are now expecting people to deliver results without them necessarily sitting around a table with us. It’s more important now than ever that we have a meeting discipline, which helps to empower … Read more

The Power of the First Impression

A few years ago, I had the pleasure of talking with Bill Higgs as part of his ‘Culture Code Champions‘ podcast. We talked about several things — my history at West Point, what Level Five leadership and culture mean, and how to better manage teams. One subject that stood out was a story from Bill … Read more

Podcast Episode 14: Trust And Empower, with Lt. Col. (Ret.) Jack Matthews

In this podcast episode, my guest is Lt. Col. (Ret.) Jack Matthews. Jack spent time in the Army, in corporate life at Intel, and in a civilian capacity at the Air Force. The launching point for our conversation is one of The Big Six Leadership Principles®: “Trust and Empower.” We discuss how to begin building … Read more