In our recent survey about senior leadership, we asked senior leaders the following question. "What do you wish you knew more about prior to being promoted to senior leadership?" 

Here are a few summary quotes of how they responded…

My wife Rachel and I have an 8- month old. During Rachel's  9 months of pregnancy, everyone kept saying to us – “everything is going to change.” Frankly, that "advice" wasn't helpful. It didn't help me understand how things would be different as a father and as a parent.

Meet Peter. 

He is a force to be reckoned with. 

He silently follows you around. Lurking. He watches you when you aren’t looking. He waits patiently. And then he strikes when you least expect him. 

Last week, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I shared some information on how to recognize people in the workplace. So, to continue on the theme of recognition, here is another video. 

The way that leaders recognize their people matters. Comments like "great work" and other general accolades almost never have a positive impact. In fact, they may unintentionally backfire.

Want to learn a more effective way to deliver recognition?  Watch here...

Thanksgiving is a time to express gratitude. As leaders, we can show our people that we are grateful for their contributions to the business by recognizing their efforts. Recognition is a core component of building team member commitment. But, most leaders struggle with how to effectively recognize their people. Watch this video to learn a simple framework on how to recognize people in a way that actually impacts business results.

Most leaders struggle with how to give team members feedback. Use this model to provide feedback in a way that will engender team member commitment.

As most Denver Broncos fans know, John Fox, the Broncos highly respected head coach, went into unexpected surgery this past Monday to replace an aortic valve in his heart. It's still unknown when Fox will return to the sidelines, but he will likely be out for quite some time. 

When was the last time someone told you what to do without explaining the reason behind their directive? What was your reaction? Did you unquestionably cooperate? 

The "100-year flood" hammered Boulder, Colorado. Between September 10th and September 15th, 17+ inches of rain poured down, including over 9 inches on September 12th alone. The torrent overwhelmed the steep terrain of the foothills and flat-landers to the east.

Are your future leaders prepared for roles that will directly impact business results? Are there people on your team you'd like to groom for future leadership positions but don't seem to have enough time to effectively mentor? Is your leadership bench primed with skilled leaders who will enable the business to navigate rapid growth?