The Brazen Leader

Empathy is a crucial skill for effective leadership, but it's often misunderstood. In this insightful video, you'll learn how to handle empathy the right way as a leader. Discover proven strategies to develop genuine empathy, actively listen to your team, and create a culture of compassion in your organization. Mastering empathetic leadership can unlock improved employee engagement, trus...

 The "quiet quitting" trend is spreading as employees across industries detach and do the bare minimum at work. Discover the driving factors behind this phenomenon and its impact on productivity, morale, and your bottom line. Get actionable strategies to identify quiet quitters, re-engage them, prevent staffing issues, and cultivate a thriving workplace culture that inspires and retains...

The future of work is hybrid - with a mix of remote days and in-office collaboration. As the world emerges from the pandemic, companies are rethinking the traditional 9-5 office model and embracing hybrid workplace flexibility. In this video, we explore the hybrid work trends shaping 2024 and beyond. From the return to office to enabling virtual teamwork with the right collaboration tools, the fut...

The Critical Leadership Elements You're Likely Missing !!!!! As a leader, you know the importance of inspiring your team, making tough decisions, and driving your organization forward. But what if there were 3 key leadership qualities that you're overlooking - yet they could make all the difference in your success? In this eye-opening video, you'll discover the trio of critical lead...

Effective communication is essential in any work environment, but communicating successfully can be challenging, especially when dealing with complex information or difficult situations. In this video, we'll explore the differences between simple and complex communication and offer strategies for navigating the unique challenges that come with each. Whether you're communicating with coll...

In the fast-paced corporate world, leaders often set high standards for their employees in pursuit of excellence.  However, what happens when those expectations become unrealistic? Join us in this eye-opening discussion as we explore "The Pitfalls of High Standards for Corporate Leaders." We delve into the potential consequences when leaders demand too much from their employees, such as...

Is your company struggling to achieve goals and find yourself falling short of your aspirations?  If so, you're not alone! Many people struggle with staying motivated and following through on their commitments. But what if there was a simple yet powerful tool that could help you stay on track and achieve your goals?  In this video, we explore the concept of accountability nudges – small, gent...

Are you looking for ways to improve employee engagement and morale in your workplace? Celebrating employee wins is a simple yet powerful strategy that can have a huge impact on your team's productivity and motivation. Recognizing and rewarding your employees' achievements not only shows them that their hard work is valued, but it also creates a positive work culture where everyone feels...

This episode of Ask Me Anything was actually asked twice; once by a client of mine, and again on LinkedIn. The gist of the question is: Should performance reviews be used as a method for layoffs? The answer is, of course, “it depends.” Or more accurately, both yes and no. I’ll explain.  Performance reviews should be a memorialization of a year’s worth of performance conversations. The culmination...

That's right, a shirt. And no, I'm not changing careers now to sell clothing... When I was active duty Air Force, my last position/assignment was that of a First Sergeant. In the USAF, unlike the Army, this title is a position, not a specific rank. I was a Senior Non-Commissioned Officer, acting functionally (among other things) as the Commander's #2 -- his chief liaison to the enti...

So, do you grow your own leaders from within, or hire someone new with – presumably – the leadership skills you need are unable to find inside your organization?  What do you tell yourself to justify not developing those skills from within your organization?  How about these?  See if any sound familiar... "I don't have anyone ready to 'step-up.'" "Leadership developme...

When companies face financial difficulties (especially when layoffs are involved), it’s common for CEOs to announce that they will cut their own pay as a way to demonstrate their commitment to the company's financial well-being and to show some warped sense of solidarity with employees who may be facing pay their own cuts or job loss.  I call bullshit. It’s solely symbolic, does nothing, and...

Layoffs are becoming all too common today; Some 300 companies have laid off over 100,000 employees in 2023 alone – and those are just the ones that made the news. Tech companies make the headlines, but they aren’t alone, with diverse industries such as Boeing aerospace and Aetnahealth joining in, for example. Layoffs are often seen as a necessary measure to stay afloat during difficult times. Yeah...

First, let me be clear: the vast majority of non-sales employees, from receptionist to Senior Vice President, don’t necessarily work for the money alone.   That’s not to say that money’s not important – Zig Ziglar is fond of saying that “Anyone that tells you ‘money doesn’t matter,’ well, they’ll lie about other things as well.”  Money always matters, it’s just not always the most significant moti...

"Is there a difference between giving feedback or giving criticism as a leader? Seems like the same thing to me." The differences seem subtle, but in reality, they're pretty damned big. And from a results perspective, the differences are huge. Huge differences. Most have to do with intent and desired outcome. Criticism, in its simplest form, is for the giver, not the recipient. To c...

Courageous Leadership. I’m not talking about hand-to-hand, gun-to-gun, charge the hill type of courage. No, bravery in battle is not the same thing as courageous leadership. And make no mistake about it—leaders need courage to be successful. Nobody wants to follow a coward. It’s that simple. And yes, cowardice is the opposite of courage, no matter how much that word hurts. Courage means strength o...

EQ (Emotional Intelligence) is a good thing, right? Goodness knows, all the books, articles and blogs certainly say it is. I half expect to read about Emotional Intelligence ending world hunger, or staving off a devastating hurricane. I say let’s get a grip, people. EQ isn’t a do-all-be-all cure to everything that ails us. It’s a personality-based behavior trait with fairly dubious detection metho...

Change is simple; just close your eyes, hold your breath, and wait. It happens . Effective change management, on the other hand, takes some skill. From my view of the world, 3 things are necessary for senior executives to successfully drive positive change: Belief and commitment . You gotta believe -- really believe -- that what you are doing is right and appropriate, using a variety of litmus tes...

Recently, I mentioned the concept of tracer rounds in a LinkedIn post. I received a surprising handful of emails asking to flesh that out a bit, so abracadabra, here we are. I think the concept of tracer rounds fits today’s decision-making model perfectly. Ready, aim, fire Even though it was used in the movie Ben Hur (along with that other period gaffe, the red sports car), the phrase Ready, Aim,...

Ok, as Forrest Gump so adroitly quoted his mother, “Stupid is as stupid does,” and I certainly don’t mean to call anyone reading this “stupid,” per se, but leading in challenging times isn’t hugely different from day-to-day leadership. But, it’s not the same, either. Some priorities shift. We know for certain that burying our head in the sand and pretending that nothing is going on is positively i...

I didn’t have enough time. If only I had more… That’s not my job. Someone else will do it. I don’t know how. I don’t think the boss said/meant that. The list is endless. The bottom line… It’s not my fault! And therein lies the crux of the problem: Accountability isn’t about blame, it’s about ownership. Leadership Accountability is personal, individual responsibility for the results of your decisio...

Some CEOs make a lot of money. Their Vice Presidents don't usually make as much, and the directors, managers, and other leadership positions still further down the organizational food-chain make even less. I know, I know... you're thinking "Well duh, Kevin; did you come up with that 'blinding flash of the obvious' on your own, or did you have help?" My question here i...

High performers. Key Employees. High Potentials.  Those who carry their own weight with ease, and generally go far beyond the basic requirements of their position, role, or responsibilities. Here are some quick tips on how you can keep top performers satisfied: 1. Recognize them . High performers know who they are, and they really do know that they contribute substantially more than most others. T...

Teamwork is overrated.  Teamwork is misaligned, misinterpreted, misused and misunderstood. Synergistic Leadership means we can listen, derive real meaning, and understand the position of our colleagues, even if/when we disagree. It means we’ll do whatever is possible to make certain we understand, and to develop and use a process for managing through the conflicts we will most assuredly enjoy. Und...

Managing the 3 types of mal-intention employees   Link: BrazenLeader.com