Know the Job Before You Take It
The press secretary’s job is a pressure cooker. If you take it on, you’d better know how to handle it.
Filed under
Leadership
Power and Influence Are Part of the Job
Good work is mandatory but not enough. Reading notes on Pfeffer's Power, and why competence has to travel with influence.
Self-Belief Is a Leadership Requirement
Leadership isn't a popularity contest. Listen, stress-test the facts, then be willing to make the call the room doesn't like.
All About Crises
The first damage report after a hurricane is almost always wrong. Lessons from Admiral McRaven's Conquering Crisis, starting with that one.
Nobody Thinks They Work in a Silo
Almost no one thinks they work in a silo. Most of us do. What McChrystal's Team of Teams teaches about fixing it.
The CEO's Most Valuable Tool Is Another Human
AI is making the Chief of Staff more valuable, not less. Speed is easy to buy. Judgment, influence, and political awareness aren't.
Aim to Put Yourself Out of a Job
Four rules for leading a team, ending with the one that matters most: always be preparing someone to replace you.
Free Riders
Some executives shed responsibility as they climb, but the organization keeps score.
The Conversation You Haven’t Earned Yet
Lived experience outranks theory. Some conversations, you don't get a seat at the table until you've paid the price of admission.
Pirates
When two finalists are equal on paper, ask which one is a pirate: goal-driven, comfortable with risk, willing to find the unconventional answer.
The Train Never Stops
Empathy goes a long way. But empathy must be met with the burden of command, because the team depends on you.
Power Is the Product
Toxic organizations are not failing businesses. They are functioning vehicles — built, consciously or not, to serve the ego and power needs of the people who run them. Profit is the cover story.