Dan McCarthy

JULY 24, 2012

There are a gazillion sites and books full of leadership quotes, so I’ve never been too inspired to duplicate what’s already out there. However, I did enjoy combing through all of those sites and picking out what I thought to be the 25 best leadership development quotes. Use these to introduce your next leadership development program, build the business case for leadership development, inspire your coaching clients, motivate your employees, or just inspire yourself to develop further as a leader

Leadership Development 143

Leadership Development Manager 143

Leadership Freak

SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

I ask G.J. Hart, when he was CEO of Texas Roadhouse, if he could spot emerging leaders. He didn’t rule out talent, education, or leadership presence, but he replied, “I can usually tell if they have the humility to make it.” Hart’s statement so deeply impacted me that I wrote about humility in, “The Character Based Leader.” [.].

Education 111

Education Leadership Development 111

Kevin Eikenberry

MARCH 26, 2012

I caught myself humming a tune from my past the other day. It’s an old Tom T. Hall song titled “I Like Beer.” Just to give you a flavor, here is the second half of the chorus. “Whiskey’s too rough, champagne costs too much, and vodka put my mouth in gear. This [.].

109

109

Leadership Freak

DECEMBER 1, 2012

Talk isn’t always cheap. Words change lives and organizations. However, when it comes to authenticity, talk is nearly meaningless. Authenticity, like trust, feedback, and empowerment are words tossed around in leadership circles likes nuts at a squirrel buffet. Words apart from practice make you feel you know when you don’t. Using the term “authentic” doesn’t make you [.].

Benefits 111

Benefits Leadership Development 111

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

Benefits

Leadership Freak

SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

Not doing is one side of finding success. Never let the bottom line be the bottom line. Never pretend things are ok when they aren’t. Never let what you’ve never done be the reason not to try. Never get ahead by resenting those who get ahead. Never let those who aren’t doing something prevent you [.].

Manager 108

Manager Leadership Development 108

Leadership Freak

OCTOBER 22, 2012

The challenges of leadership are inside leaders. Stop blaming organizations and others for your shortfalls and failures. Take the bull by the horns. You are the bull. The 12 Toughest Challenges of Leadership: Humility during success. Confidence during setbacks. Stepping back so others can step up. Putting plans into action – Follow through. Experience shows [.].

Organizational Development 108

Organizational Development Leadership Development 108

Leadership Freak

OCTOBER 17, 2012

“The arrogance of success is to think that what you did yesterday will be sufficient for tomorrow.” William Pollard Organizations fail because leaders fail and leaders fail because they: Stop learning. Don’t build the team. Can’t collaborate. Won’t adapt. Won’t delegate. Assume. Blame. Lack focus. Don’t communicate. Don’t plan. Adapted from contributions on Facebook (10/16/12).

Organizational Development 105

Organizational Development Leadership Development 105

Leadership Freak

AUGUST 24, 2012

I asked Professor Henry Mintzberg, author of 140 articles and 13 books, “If you waved a magic wand over businesses, what would you change?” He said, “I’d get rid of all MBA’s.” He explained, “We’d lose some good people but in the whole it would be a positive move.” Mintzberg’s quiet voice disarms but he [.].

Organizational Development 105

Organizational Development Manager Leadership Development 105

Leadership Freak

JUNE 29, 2012

Leaders who lift get further than those who push down. Performace improves when people feel encouraged and declines when they’re discouraged or hopeless. You don’t have to beat up high-performers – they do it to themselves – lift them instead. All successful leaders encourage; they fill people with hope. The added responsibility of encouraging others may [.].

Leadership Development 105

Leadership Development Manager 105

Kevin Eikenberry

JANUARY 9, 2012

Do you want to get more done, reach more of your goals, and make a bigger difference? If so, the morning is when that can all begin! However you came to read these words, I’m confident you are interested in greater productivity, achievement and success. Perhaps you want that for yourself, or perhaps you want [.].

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104

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.

Diversity

Kevin Eikenberry

FEBRUARY 14, 2012

Yesterday I was thinking about observation and judgement, and how it relates to effective communication and coaching. It reminded me of a particular incident that took place a few years back – an incident I had previously written about on the blog for my book Remarkable Leadership. We were driving somewhere as a family and [.].

103

103

Leadership Freak

APRIL 26, 2012

** People who change the world are like everyone else except they do something. They are moms, dads, men, women, young, old, rich, or poor. Some are educated – some not. Race isn’t the issue, either. People who change the world all begin at the same point – the point where you may be today. [.].

Education 103

Education Organizational Development Leadership Development 103

Leadership Freak

SEPTEMBER 28, 2012

The first thing you need to know is: Success is a result not an end in itself. Five organizational strategies: Always create more harmony than discord. Build up more than you tear down, much more. Long-term views build stability. Short-term views produce quick results. Make life easier for those over you. Three relationship strategies: Friends [.].

Leadership Development 102

Leadership Development 102

Leadership Freak

MARCH 10, 2012

** You make a difference by inspiring others to make a difference. Here’s how: 1. Stop fixing. If your passion for excellence and success drives you to constantly fix people, stop it. Problem centered fixers invite self-protective restraint in others. 2. Compassion wins. The pursuit of personal gain and glory doesn’t inspire, it threatens. Inspiration occurs when [.].

Leadership Development 102

Leadership Development 102

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.

Retention

Leadership Freak

FEBRUARY 7, 2012

All the interesting things you say make you uninteresting to others. A rare few enthrall listeners. Don’t think of yourself as one. You know too much and have too much to say. Passion sets your tongue on fire. You can’t wait to create enthusiasm, solve problems, and share transformative insights. In a busy world brevity [.].

Leadership Development 102

Leadership Development 102

Leadership Freak

NOVEMBER 1, 2012

Mistakes that don’t hurt don’t matter. The worst mistakes are the ones that hurt others. The trouble with leadership is your mistakes always hurt others. The top 5 mistakes of unsuccessful leaders: Not being open to criticism. Trying to hide mistakes. Not making decisions. Failing to explain objectives. Telling people how to do things rather [.].

Leadership Development 101

Leadership Development Manager 101

Leadership Freak

JULY 19, 2012

Image source David Lewis, co-author of The Pin Drop Principle, told me he was exposed to poor leadership when he was in his early twenties. “Back then everything was a race and all that mattered was the numbers. In that context customers are statistics.” Lewis explained. It’s been over a month since our conversation and [.].

Leadership Development 100

Leadership Development 100

Leadership Freak

JANUARY 27, 2012

** Living with others in mind is healthy, noble, and useful except when insecurity drives you. Insecure leaders: Defend when they should explore. Take things personally. Blame higher ups for tough decisions. Don’t trust others because they don’t trust themselves. Can’t say no. Threaten, intimidate, and coerce. Shut down input from others because feedback is [.].

Leadership Development 100

Leadership Development 100

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.

Scaling

Leadership Freak

DECEMBER 31, 2012

I usually sleep the New Year in and watch the ball drop on the news. New Year’s Eve is an imaginary line in the sand but, I must confess, its power is real. New Year’s inspires us to begin again. Step into the future or settle for the past. Three keys to courageously begin again: [.].

Leadership Development 98

Leadership Development 98

Leadership Freak

OCTOBER 13, 2012

“In a chronically leaking boat, energy devoted to changing vessels is more productive than energy devoted to patching leaks.” Warren Buffett Talking about change is easy, acceptable, even exciting. Talking and executing are two different things. Change becomes real when we have to change our own attitudes and behaviors, not until. The wrong picture: Change movements [.].

Energy 98

Energy Organizational Development Leadership Development 98

Leadership Freak

OCTOBER 29, 2012

The past is the future, apart from courage and perseverance. Success is persistently taking the next step. Taking the next step takes courage. “You will never do anything in this world without courage” Aristotle “In the realm of ideas everything depends on enthusiasm… in the real world all rests on perseverance.” Goethe The [.].

Leadership Development 98

Leadership Development 98

Kevin Eikenberry

AUGUST 13, 2012

“I made a mistake.” “I was wrong.” “I’m sorry.” “I’m not sure.” “I don’t know.” “Would you help me?” “Could you help me understand? I’m not sure I get it.” “What do you think?” “What do you suggest?” “What would you do?” No one likes to show their ignorance, or admit they are wrong.

98

98

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 2, 2012

More lying happens in meetings than any other place in your organization. Most lies are lies of silence. In meetings, silence isn’t consent, its cowardice, self-interest, manipulation, or political expediency. Honesty, more than anything else, transforms meetings. Truth-telling ends useless meetings. When there’s more honesty in the “meeting after the meeting,” excellence is a myth.

Manager 97

Manager Leadership Development 97

Leadership Freak

APRIL 23, 2012

** You can’t lead with an empty tank. 16 energy drainers: Incomplete tasks. Responsibility without authority. Proving you’re right rather than seeking best solutions. Following urgencies rather than priorities. Pretending you’re something you aren’t. Feeling alone and disconnected. Procrastination. Go do that dirty deed before it does you in. Negative people and complainers.

Energy 97

Energy Organizational Development Leadership Development Manager 97

Leadership Freak

OCTOBER 5, 2012

12 Behaviors that always hold leaders back: Avoiding. Avoiding is the path to mediocrity. Copying others and loosing you. Copying others is useful when it aligns with your strengths. When it doesn’t align, it creates stress, pressure, frustration, and failure. Over thinking and under acting; stressing preparation over execution. Most organizations plan well and execute poorly. [.].

Leadership Development 96

Leadership Development Manager 96

Leadership Freak

SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

Most people I’ve asked say they’ve worked for a micro-manager. Their frustration shows when they talk about the person who drained joy from their career and under-utilized their skills. You’re a micro-manager if you: Over-estimate your skills and under-estimate the skills of the team. Feel misunderstood and unappreciated. Hear too many questions. See yourself as doers [.].

Manager 96

Manager Leadership Development 96

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.

Onboarding

Leadership Freak

JANUARY 9, 2012

** Successful leaders exhibit these 30 qualities, behaviors, and skills. Item one is first because it’s most important. The rest are listed randomly. You’re ready to lead when you: Know yourself and live in alignment with that knowledge. Follow well. Fully adhere to organizational values. Practice influence rather than coercion. Listen to the wisdom and experience of [.].

Leadership Development 96

Leadership Development 96

Leadership Freak

NOVEMBER 11, 2012

Image source Every morning I put my fingers on the keyboard not knowing what will come out. An hour or two later, I post 300 word or less on this blog. (Technically its fewer not less.) Writing is thinking and often I think differently when the hour’s over. Yesterday it happened again when I typed, [.].

Manager 96

Manager Leadership Development 96

Kevin Eikenberry

AUGUST 27, 2012

Engagement is a very trendy word, and while it is so powerful, because of its (over)use, people are making it harder to understand and think about than is necessary. In fact, it is writers, speakers and consultants (yep, people like me) who are adding to the confusion by injecting complexity where it isn’t needed. So [.].

96

96

Leadership Freak

NOVEMBER 26, 2012

Show me a leader who is happy with everything and I’ll show you a loser. The gift of young leaders is unhappiness. The tragedy of old leaders is contentment. Unhappiness and discontent ignite passion for change. Warning: Slime pits of ingratitude lie just beyond unhappiness. Nothing de-motivates like churlish ungratefulness. On the other hand, gratitude [.].

Organizational Development 96

Organizational Development Manager Leadership Development 96

Implementing new tools or business processes in your organization? Lemon Learning put together a practical 3 part guide to prevent the pitfalls of change management. Drive a successful change management project from diagnosis through to measurement.

Change Management