David is a leadership and organizational development specialist with advanced education in Leadership, Organizational Development, Health Science, and Education. His work has been featured in hundreds of articles spanning numerous publications and various topics such as leadership, economics, health, history, politics, theology, and consumer issues. For more content, be sure to check out the podcast titled "Leaders Last."
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Not long ago, I had a student struggling to pay attention and focus. I asked about their sleep habits. The student responded by stating that "one must be willing to sacrifice sleep in order to be successful." So, I inquired about the source of this misguided belief, and the student informed me that it had been shared in a leadership group on LinkedIn. Let me say that leadership advice that encourages sacrificing sleep is highly misguided. The...
The leadership industry is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world, with organizations of all sizes and sectors seeking to improve their leadership performance and achieve their goals. Despite this growing demand for leadership expertise, leaderologists - professionals who specialize in the study and practice of leadership - are relatively rare in the industry. In this article, we'll explore why leaderologists are so rare and why...
Leadership development has become a crucial aspect of the modern workforce, but it's a topic that is often overlooked. According to a study by McShane and Von Glinow (2013), only 30% of U.S. employees are highly engaged, 1/2 are somewhat or not engaged, and 1/5 have low engagement or are actively disengaged. This highlights the importance of effective leadership in the workplace.However, a study by Sinar et al. (2015) found that 85% of...
How a Trusted Advisor Can Guide Your Personal and Professional Development A mentorship is a powerful tool for personal and professional growth. A mentor is an experienced and trusted advisor who guides and supports the development of their mentee. This can include providing guidance on career development, offering advice on personal or professional challenges, and serving as a role model. Mentors may be found in various settings, including...
Coined by Robert K. Greenleaf, Servant Leadership (SL) is a hybrid of Strategic Leadership and Operational Leadership (Blanchard, 2018). This leadership style is known for flipping the hierarchy, sharing power, reducing or abandoning ego, and empowering people in the organization via supporting and developing the individuals that comprise the organization (Blanchard, 2018). SL has grown in popularity and has gained quite a...
Imagine an organization where workers do not need to be controlled or "managed." Instead, they can be set free. This is possible if the organization alters its approach to hiring. Remember that when you hire the weak, you get weak links. Traditional management principles tend to focus on controlling and managing people. This approach is usually not ideal for several reasons. For example, being "managed" usually makes the worker feel terrible....
A Guide to Addressing No-Call, No-Show Appointments in the World of Leadership Development No-call, no-show appointments can be a significant source of frustration for leadership development practitioners and other students who could have taken that appointment slot. Unfortunately, this issue is all too common in leadership development, and it can hurt everyone involved. In this article, we will explore why no-call and no-show appointments...
Leadership is a complex and multifaceted discipline that requires a nuanced understanding. Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions about leadership that can hinder the personal and professional development of individuals and organizations. This article will examine the top five most harmful and common misconceptions about leadership and explore ways to correct them. 1 - Management is Leadership One common misconception is that...
When it comes to building a successful team, there are a variety of approaches and advice you might come across. Common themes include setting clear goals, assigning roles and responsibilities, fostering open communication, promoting collaboration and continual professional development, and utilizing effective conflict resolution techniques. However, while these are all important factors, a few additional elements are often overlooked but...
Studies continue to demonstrate the benefits of having a corporate culture centered around things OTHER than wages and perks. Sure, these things are important, but they do not inspire and probably should not be the focus. Of course, things like trust and respect go a long way as well, but if we truly desire an inspirational and productive organization, we need something else. That special something revolves around three basic ideas....
