Kevin Eikenberry
OCTOBER 7, 2013
'We have all sat through many presentations in our professional lives. Unfortunately far too many of them are, shall we say, “less-than-awesome”. Unfortunately, we see some of the causes for failures over and over. In other words the wrong things get repeated by those who aren’t thinking, or don’t know any better. With that in […].
Leadership Freak
OCTOBER 14, 2013
'The danger of disrespect is disconnection. You cannot connect with someone you don’t respect. The power of respect is loyalty. Leaders receive respect because of position, but lose it because of behavior. Earning it back requires sweat and patience. 10 Ways to lose respect: Act like you know when you don’t. Keep a bus handy […].
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Leadership Freak
OCTOBER 28, 2013
'Leave a comment on today’s post for a chance to win one of one hundred copies of, The Heart of Leadership. Leadership is a matter of character before skill. In other words, it’s about who you are. Fakers are exposed, eventually. Fake leaders – those with skills but lacking character – inevitably sink. Skills […].
Leadership Freak
OCTOBER 4, 2013
'Image source She said, “Violating gender stereo types,” in response to, “What unique challenges do women in leadership experience.” I asked the question at the beginning of a presentation for a Woman’s Business Consortium. Assertiveness: When a woman is assertive she’s bossy and resented. She’s bitchy. But, when a man is assertive he’s powerful and […].
Speaker: Kaitlin Ruby Carroll
Retaining top talent in 2025 means rethinking benefits. In a competitive job market, fertility benefits are more than just offerings - they are a commitment to your team’s well-being. Gain critical insights into the latest fertility benefits strategies that can help position your organization as an industry leader. Our expert will explore the unique advantages and challenges of each model, share success stories from top organizations, and offer practical strategies to make benefits decisions tha
Leadership Freak
OCTOBER 23, 2013
'Jerks expect respect but don’t extend it. The gap between respect extended and respect expected is the jerk quotient for leaders. Peons earn respect. But, the power chair is enough for jerks. Rude: Jerks throw their weight around. Rudeness, privileges, temper flairs, and special exceptions are normal. “Important” leaders – who are jerks – walk on […].
Leadership Freak
OCTOBER 9, 2013
'Intimidation requires position or perceived power but influence is a function of connection. Distance and threat are the tools of bullies. Intimidators reach down from power towers and squeeze peons with fear. Intimidators lose power when they connect. Leaders gain influence when they connect. Influence answers fear and draws near. Transparency: Connection requires transparency.
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Leadership Freak
OCTOBER 30, 2013
'The same people sitting around the same table produce the same results. It’s dumb to think otherwise. It’s even dumber to expect the people who caused the problem to solve it. The future is the past without intervention. Working harder, if you’re already working hard, won’t change much. Efficiency is never the path to exponential […].
Leadership Freak
OCTOBER 31, 2013
'You’ll never be the best. “Strategy is not about being the best, but about being unique.” Jerome De Flander, author of, The Execution Shortcut. Unique value is the best. Finding unique: Look for the one word that best describes your unique value. Ask new customers for the best word that describes their experience with your […].
Leadership Freak
OCTOBER 5, 2013
'Decisiveness is a strength and weakness. I often hear complaints about bosses who can’t make decisions. Then there’s the leader who makes all the decisions. In both cases the results are the same. Decisions made in isolation make others feel they don’t matter. They complain, “What’s the use?” Surprisingly, leaders who can’t make decisions produce […].
Leadership Freak
OCTOBER 19, 2013
'Optimists are more successful than pessimists. Helpless pessimists can’t lead. They know things won’t change and loving saying, “It doesn’t matter.” Real leaders change things. The first change is you. 5 reason for pessimism: Feeling controlled by circumstances and others. Life happens to pessimists. Believing achievement is like falling off a log.
Speaker: Jeremy York
2024 has tested every organization, and 2025 promises no less - the warning signs are everywhere. If you’re relying on superficial approaches to diversity, you might find yourself scrambling to catch up. Thought diversity - the fuel for new ideas, fresh perspectives, and disruptive innovation - is more than a buzzword. It's a survival strategy. And if you’re not building it into your workplace culture right now , you’re heading for trouble.
Leadership Freak
OCTOBER 12, 2013
'Leaders, who think they’re “special,” treat themselves better than others. They invert the Golden Rule and stand aloof. After all, the rules don’t apply to “Golden Leaders.” Power and authority distort perspective. Special leaders: Expect others to collaborate while they dictate. Arrive unprepared for meetings. Expect others to listen while they don’t.
Leadership Freak
OCTOBER 29, 2013
'The real problem is people who point out problems from a distance. They sit aloof explaining what’s wrong. Worse yet, they know what others should do, or not do, while they do nothing, except point out what’s wrong. The real problem is listening to uninvited problem solvers who don’t have skin in the game. Knowing what […].
Leadership Freak
OCTOBER 2, 2013
'I hate wasting time in conversations that bounce around and never arrive. Talk – for the sake of talk – is for Saturday morning coffee with friends. But, successful leaders itch for next steps and paths to better. Impatience is practically a virtue for leaders who get things done. Lousy conversations bounce like butterflies on sunny […].
Leadership Freak
OCTOBER 8, 2013
'I’ll never forget the day an honest soul said, “I think you like to intimidate people.” I wanted to yell, “No I don’t!” Stop pretending you’re a pussy cat. You intimidate, even if you don’t intend to. Successful leaders connect. You can’t connect with someone you intimidate. Pussy cats and tigers: You think you’re a […].
Speaker: Radhika Samant and Todd Wuestenberg
Employee recognition has often been deemed a "feel-good" initiative, tied closely to rewards. While we understand its importance, we tend to associate recognition with intangible outcomes like engagement and sentiment, rather than direct impacts on retention and high performance. In today’s workplace, the true ROI of recognition lies in its ability to regenerate tangible, business-driven results.
Leadership Freak
OCTOBER 16, 2013
'A reader asks, “Any advice on how to cultivate candor?” First steps toward candor are dangerous, even explosive. It could blow up in your face. People will say, “You can’t bring that up.” Cultivating candor: Remember lack of candor empowers manipulators, preserves the status quo, invites gossip, and undermines trust. Engage others. Tell teams you’re […].
Leadership Freak
OCTOBER 7, 2013
'Gollum, in The Hobbit, referred to himself as “My Precious.” Preciousness turns leaders into self-consumed beasts. The only one: Direct reports don’t understand the pressures squeezing you. The board doesn’t appreciate tensions between short-term profits and long-term success. Your boss doesn’t realize you’re plate was full last year! Employees reject the big picture.
Leadership Freak
OCTOBER 18, 2013
'A Facebook follower says, “I’d love to see a Leadership Freak blog post that addresses what healthy conflict looks like.” Organizations pivot on conflict. Conflict strengthens or weakens relationships and organizations. All healthy conflict has a “for.” For or against: Conflict often begins by fighting against something. Listen for expressions like: I don’t like.
Kevin Eikenberry
OCTOBER 16, 2013
'John Wayne was one of the biggest film stars ever. And his legacy has been hindering leaders for a long time. Unwittingly, in many of his movies, John Wayne “proves” that you can succeed alone. All you need is the biggest will, the most stamina, and the fastest gun. John Wayne taught (well, perhaps reinforced) […].
Speaker: Miriam Connaughton and Donald Knight
As organizations scale, keeping employees connected, engaged, and productive can seem like a monumental task. But what if AI could help you do all of this and more? AI has the power to help, but the key is implementing it in a way that enhances, rather than replaces, human connection. Join us for an exploration into how industry trailblazers are using AI to transform employee experience at scale while addressing both the potential and the pitfalls.
Kevin Eikenberry
OCTOBER 30, 2013
'Achievers at the highest level have several things in common. Today, I want to talk about one of those traits, one that, when practiced as a leader, has a multiplier effect. Let me start with some examples. Stephen King has written 49 books – all of them bestsellers. Here is part of his secret to […].
Leadership Freak
OCTOBER 3, 2013
'Treating everyone the same when they aren’t the same isn’t fair it’s mediocrity. It’s not fair – it’s dumb – to treat a thirty year old the same as a three year old. Fair or Mediocre: A newly formed team decided to take turns running their meetings. It sounds fair but does it lead to […].
Kevin Eikenberry
OCTOBER 11, 2013
'Meaning. it is something we all desire in life. And today’s quotation from business author Jim Collins points in a direction I agree with and that has big implications for us as individuals and as leaders. Questions to Ponder - Do I agree with this quotation? - What is most meaningful about […].
Leadership Freak
OCTOBER 25, 2013
'Public confrontation slams you in the face, sooner or later. The boss wants answers. “What happened and what are you doing about it?” Everyone tenses and waits. Colleagues feel sympathy and relief. Everyone knows they could be next. Two defining moments: Public success and fiery confrontation are the two defining moments of leadership. Success tests humility. […].
Speaker: Brian Richardson
With a staggering 92% of CEOs prioritizing skill development, and 84% struggling with transformation, mastering upskilling is now more critical than ever. Drawing on extensive research and collaboration with hundreds of leading organizations, discover key hurdles and innovative best practices in workforce upskilling. You'll walk away with a deep understanding of how to build a culture of continuous learning, expert insights into assessing the current skills of your employees, and a strategic too
Leadership Freak
OCTOBER 22, 2013
'Mom always hated it when the boys fought. There were three of us, until the last two came along, much later. I was the oldest. Sometimes we hated each other. Tensions erupted when mom and dad were gone and I was left in charge. My younger brother hit me over the head with a broom, […].
Leadership Freak
OCTOBER 15, 2013
'People who want things just-so drive others crazy. Things seldom measure up. Media Man: There’s a media guy on our team who wants things done a certain way. He’s fanatical. On mornings when I’m giving presentations, I set my laptop on a small table, attach the cables, test the connection, and walk away. But that’s […].
Leadership Freak
OCTOBER 11, 2013
'No one wants to waste time doing things that don’t matter. But, what’s meaningful to one is insignificant to another. Some find details meaningful, for example, while others find them insignificant and frustrating. People feel they matter when they do things that matter to them. You assign projects; they assign meaning. Help people engage in […].
Kevin Eikenberry
OCTOBER 21, 2013
'I wish I had a dime for every time I have experienced this story. I’ve just finished giving a workshop or a keynote, and someone walks up to me with a question. It is seldom a question asked in front of the group, but rather separately on the side, alone. “I’ve got […].
Speaker: Tim Buteyn, President of ThinkingKap Learning Solutions
Join this brand new webinar with Tim Buteyn to learn how you can master the art of remote onboarding! By the end of this session, you'll understand how to: Craft a Tailored Onboarding Checklist 📝 Develop a comprehensive, customized checklist that ensures every new hire has a smooth transition into your company, no matter where they are in the world.
Leadership Freak
OCTOBER 17, 2013
'A Facebook follower says, “I’d like to see a Leadership Freak post that addresses the dangers of being honest about burnout.” The three dangers of being honest about burnout are losing: Respect. Opportunity. Employment. How to tell if you should tell. Don’t tell if: You haven’t already done something to solve the issue. Your organization […].
Leadership Freak
OCTOBER 21, 2013
'Image source Doubt, contrary to popular opinion is useful. Leaders with doubts are wiser than those with none. Doubt asks, “What could go wrong?” Self-doubt says, “I could be wrong.” Only fools have no doubts. Don’t feel bad if you have doubts. Confidence without doubt destroys leaders and organizations. Confidence without doubt: Closes ears. Minimizes […].
Leadership Freak
OCTOBER 10, 2013
'Dead teams are dead and buried long before they admit it. They yearn for life. But, in the end, they just suck air until someone puts them out of their misery. Raise your hand if you’ve been part of a team that was dead but wouldn’t admit it. Dead teams waste resources, lower morale, and […].
Leadership Freak
OCTOBER 24, 2013
'Compassion is for the weak. Old school management expects results at all costs. No excuses. “I know it’s tough. That’s why they call it work. Just get it done. Now get out of my office!” Old school managers get opportunities, promotions, and pay raises. Why shouldn’t they? They deliver results. Results validate your worth, more […].
Speaker: Andrea Wuchiski
In an era where a workforce spans multiple generations, HR managers and Total Rewards leaders face the unique challenge of designing benefits packages that cater to diverse employee needs. This session will delve into how comprehensive fertility benefits can bridge generational gaps, support employees’ health, and enhance workplace satisfaction. Join us for an insightful session that highlights the strategic importance of fertility benefits in today’s competitive job market.
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