When you watch enough good movies about heroes pushed into a corner but coming out victorious because they had a good plan, you start to wonder how you, too, can become a strategic leader. I know I’ve pictured myself as Captain America a few times. I wondered if I could get the Avengers out of trouble with only a good plan. Am I worthy? As a good leader, you must have asked yourself the same. Whether new in management or a veteran, being a leader means your team or employees look for answers and strategies. They need you to be the guy who always has a plan. As an employee,…

I never thought I would embody the ‘it’s lonely at the top‘ stereotype. But it’s because I thought I would have no friends—I still did—so I thought it did not matter. That is until I realized I was alone in all aspects of leadership. I never thought I would need a second in command. You know that there are some problems other employees will never be able to understand. There are some challenges unique to leadership roles. Worst of all, they are problems you cannot share with the rest of the team because again…they are leadership challenges. With time, maintaining your energy can become challenging. Not only do all leadership…

Who is the best leader? The following example will show you why balancing empathy and authority is necessary for good leadership.  The first kind of leader follows a cutthroat style. He turns the heat up, expects no mistakes, or else there will be consequences, does not take any excuses, no matter how valid, and is only focused on getting things done for the company. To him, employees are and should be replaceable. The second kind of leader is considerate and nice. He accepts all mistakes, takes excuses despite validity, and is focused on making sure that employees are happy. He never puts an employee in uncomfortable situations and agrees to…

If you have ever had problems with being and building confidence in others, I am envious. Confidence is one of those things that you will need throughout life. Whether you are pitching a meeting or lying through your teeth. In addition, as you step into a leadership role, you must instill confidence in your team. There are two things to unpack here. First, as a new leader, your team may have little to no confidence in you. It’s alright, though. Why wouldn’t they be skeptical of someone who just earned their first team leader or managerial position? Second thing—servant leaders can sometimes be seen as ‘weak’ or ‘not authoritative enough’…

Years of employment have exposed me to a lot of things. I like to dwell on the good stuff, or at least I try to. But it’s hard to forget all the bad, too. In fact, more than 50% of people lose jobs because of bad bosses, not bad employment. Another 37% think about leaving because of managers. Basically, everyone has a story to tell about bad bosses and toxic employment. You probably have the same experience. But now, it’s different. You are on the fence, wondering if you are the problem or if it’s just them. It’s good that you are asking yourself this question. You can never go…

There came a time when I stopped being an employee—at least, that’s what it felt like when I was promoted to management. My plan was to be a good manager; nobody really plans for less. My goal was to help the team I managed with no problems. I had never considered dealing with a different employee. Actually, any employee can feel a little difficult from time to time, depending on the situation. But there are some that you can’t help but feel are out to get you. As I learned, managing a difficult employee is one of those things about management you can never escape. It could be someone who’s…