In mid-February 2021 a winter storm blanketed – in every way possible – the State of Texas.  What made this storm unique among winter storms was the size and the scope of the winter storm’s impact. Cities across the state from the Gulf of Mexico, like Galveston Island, to North Texas saw snow and sub-freezing temperatures. Coal, gas,

Difference between Energy and Power

Over 30+ years I’ve been fortunate to have gained a broad base of experience in several different industries in both in the private and public sectors.  For better or worse, I also noted that each industry presented its own strategy for developing emerging leaders. Within the tremendous diversity of these experiences and the highs and lows

Emerging Leader? Start Here.

Keeping people engaged in-person certainly has its challenges.  And as more and more meetings are conducted online, the need to improve engagement during virtual meetings has never been greater.In an in-person environment, we can greet attendees at the door, shake their hand, engage in small talk, and put read-ahead material in their seat.  During the

How to Improve Engagement during Virtual Meetings

Disaster and Emergency DeclarationsImagine this … a global pandemic is impacting the entire country (USA).  You see news reports that several governors and the president “declares a national emergency.”The declaration is simply the government recognizing that there’s an emergency at-hand and are saying: “help is needed.”Not hyperbole either … it’s been our country’s procedure since

Disaster Declarations and Emergency Powers Simplified

Johnny Dangerous … cool name. Cool Hand Luke … cool name. Henry Herpes … not so cool name (especially if your real name is Henry). Names can matter.  If you’re ever going to be in the business of naming a crisis, this article is for you.5 quick Case Studies and then a solution.  Let’s begin.The Weather ChannelIn 2011,

What’s in a Name? Crisis Edition

If you opened this link based on the title alone, you either like butter or have time on your hands? Either way, glad you did because I have an interesting tidbit to help us improve our instructional outcomes. If you have a topic that benefits from your listener’s emotional connection, consider integrating more analogies and metaphors

Smooth like butter is life’s lubricant?

Read the news, trade journals, and industry ‘insights’ and you’ll find conclusions that mostly deal with 1st-level consequences and solutions.   Very few bother even imagining the existence of any 2nd-level consequences and solutions, much less, considering their impacts.Here’s a simple example: In 2011, over 40 exotic animals were set loose into the Zanesville, Ohio community by

Special Treatment and Equal Treatment are Different

Building and maintaining a high-performing team is a fickle thing.  A dominant voice, talented team members, and a catchy mission statement are not enough.

4 Key Ingredients Baked into High-Performing Teams

Shakespearean reference aside, the question doth does beg answers to the questions:WHY don’t team members accept the why and/or the objective(s) from the leader?WHY do team members actively or passively resist on occasion?Let’s look at some examples:Example #1Boss: Go move that piece of paper from one side of your desk to the other side of

Why Doth Thee Protest? 4 Steps to Overcome Resistance

Simple definition, okay? Instruction – telling people what to do or how to do it. Learning is mostly pedagogical, which means that learning is directed by the teacher. Coaching and Mentoring – supporting the student’s journey to finding their own answer. Learning is mostly andragogical, which means that learning is directed by the student. Are

Instruction or Coaching/Mentoring?