Power Plays

Accountability is a vital form of respect in leadership, promoting clarity and performance. It requires consistency, empathy, and the courage to set and enforce expectations, ultimately fostering a culture where discipline is seen as care, not control.

Shedeur Sanders' experience in the NFL Draft highlights the importance of perception, preparation, and leadership resilience. Despite his talent, missteps in process and public perception affected his draft position. Leaders must navigate power dynamics, manage their reputation, and learn from adversity to define their legacy.

Effective leadership requires belief in a vision, relentless hunger for improvement, and accountability for results. Leaders must engage with their teams, model desired behaviors, and make every role feel important to foster success and progress.

As a coach, I often use a simple yet powerful formula: Performance = Potential - Interference. It’s a straightforward way to remind ourselves that our ability to perform is not just about our skills or talents but about what stands in our way. Over my career, the biggest interference I’ve seen—whether in leaders, teams, or organizations—is self-doubt.

Leaders must embrace AI as a core business strategy to drive innovation, improve decision-making, and enhance efficiency. Starting with an understanding of current processes, assessing readiness, and planning for the future are key steps to leverage AI effectively and create value across the organization.

Effective leadership is demonstrated through attention to small details, such as providing quality bathroom supplies, which reflects values and builds trust. Cutting corners on minor expenses can lead to larger issues, while investing in employee satisfaction and proper tools fosters a positive culture and improves performance.

Leadership involves emotional costs, making difficult decisions that may hurt others, facing unpopularity for doing what's right, and often being misunderstood. True leadership is about making impactful choices, not protecting one's image. It's a journey for those willing to endure challenges for the sake of transformation.