Sadly, it is common to hear a team member casually referred to as “lazy” when they don’t perform their work as expected. In fact, we even call ourselves lazy when we don’t meet our own goals and standards. However, lazy is a demoralizing lie. It’s a convenient and, candidly, abusive phrase that masks other behaviors and emotions that need real attention. By definition, lazy is unwilling to make an effort. In my coaching practice of leaders and executives, I have yet to meet s

Whenever we try to deflect blame or responsibility, we are wasting precious energy required for solutions. Ironically, when we take accountability, we take back our power, even if the immediate results are uncomfortable, making us feel temporarily powerless. One of the hardest experiences is disappointing someone whose opinion we value. Whether we do something wrong, or believe it will be perceived that way, the mere idea of receiving criticism or punishment can cause tremend

Statistics show us that most leaders believe they have accountability covered, but, in fact, are sadly mistaken. The common ideal of a culture of accountability can only be realized when you can hold yourself accountable as a leader first. Here are the essential principles all leaders need in order to be accountable. You might be accountable to your customers, but are you accountable to yourself? Do you regularly let yourself down or fail to live up to the standards you’ve se

Photo by Rekha Garton. ​“These are the times which try men’s souls.” Thomas Paine wrote about how we often experience suffering from our circumstances in 1776. Not much has changed. Research now proves that people actually seek out physical suffering to push the limits of what is possible. However, we also seek out emotional and mental suffering just as much. Unfortunately, those often don’t deliver the benefit of growth physical suffering can provide. The seduction suffering

Motivation and desire are nice to have when you need them. But what can you do when you need them and they’re in short supply? You can generate your own enthusiasm. You don’t have to wait to be inspired. Inspiration is in your hands. Like any other skill, you can learn to be motivated and full of desire on demand. Motivation fuels discipline, and discipline is what actually moves us forward. The problem for many of us is that instead of going within to charge up our enthusias