A New York Times/CBS News poll from more than decade ago, publicized that 63% of people interviewed believe you “can't be too careful” dealing with most people. According to more recent Maritz Research poll, only 7% of employees trust senior leaders to look out for their best interests and 25% do not trust management to make the right decisions in times of uncertainty.
Trust in business leaders is already low and still falling.
Read MoreNancy Duarte's mission is to turn presentations into a powerful communication medium. She is the CEO of Duarte Design, the company that helped Al Gore create the dynamic presentation he used in the movie, An Inconvenient Truth. They have also been instrumental in the compelling presentations from water.org.
Read MoreStrong leaders have long known that leading doesn't start with actions, or even thoughts. Instead, it starts with what leaders believe. Covey calls these beliefs our moral compass. Peter Senge calls them mental models. They are the lens through which we view the world. They influence how we perceive and respond to all that happens.
These beliefs are not corporate values we aspire to, but instead the principles that determine what we think, say, and do. I often think of Enron, and their corporate values of communication, respect, integrity, and excellence. For them and many others, their values represent things that they were have the most difficult time doing.
So what do great leaders believe? What mental models guide them? Here are five principles I consistently see great leaders believe in and act on.
Read MoreI'm reading a great book, Finding Your Zone, by Michael Lardon. Dr. Lardon's work focuses mostly on athletes, however the wisdom he shares is as relevant in the office and at home.
Create energy by transforming desire to will...
Read More"This is your life. Do what you love, and do it often" is how Holstee's mission statement starts. These words fill me with passion and inspiration. How many mission statements do that? Most mission statements describe, but never inspire. They use words like "be the best at..." or "being a leader in the..." They explain the what, not the why. Holstee's mission is different. It answers the question of "why?" powerfully.
Read MoreAre you stuck in a rut? Check out Matt Cutts' 3 minute TED talk on the power of 30 day challenges.
Read MoreWhy do we love superheroes–Ironman, Spiderman, Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and more? Why are movies about heroes some of the highest grossing of all time?
For many, the hero represents our greatest hope for ourselves. They introduce us to a mythic journey every hero takes from ordinary to extraordinary.
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