Author: Rachel Hanson

Make sure your communication reflects your intent. If you're communicating four items of importance to your team, as a leader recently was planning to do, make sure you're clear on what's actually important. After I asked some curious questions and he did some writing, it was clear there was a 1a and a 1B. Number … Continue reading Clarity and communication

Figuring out your company's value proposition is an inside-out process if it's to be both sustainable and reach high levels of excellence. Far too many use an outside-in strategy. They survey the customer to see what they say they want and need, they look at industry trends...they look at all the external data they can … Continue reading Inside-out

Great leaders know how and when to wield a high level of energy, similar to a skilled warrior in battle. They know how to turn the room, raise the energy level, lower it, turn the tide in a certain direction. Not everyone has that ability. But the ability itself is not what’s impressive, it’s the … Continue reading When to wield

I dislike the phrase "we're all dispensable/replaceable." I believe it's often a misguided attempt at humility. The problem is it's in no way inspirational to you or your team. No one, especially those who work for you, wants to feel replaceable, like they're simply a cog in the machine. Communicating to someone that they're an … Continue reading Words matter

Having hard conversations is a skill. It starts with a willingness to be truer (read day 173). AND...mastery of this skill looks like an ability to have these conversations in a way that does not cause others to go triple D (defend, deny, destroy). Giving someone truth is half the battle. Giving it IN LOVE … Continue reading Truth in love

If you find that communication comes up as a problem team-wide or company-wide, it's likely that it's less of a communication problem and more of a trust problem. You likely see the survey results that rate communication poorly and wonder how you can possibly communicate more?! You email, you give speeches, you host town halls...and … Continue reading Survey says

You are not your stuff. Seems obvious, but we in the Western world consistently struggle with this. We accumulate more stuff as we age in an effort to better represent ourselves. Stuff becomes a stand-in for self. The bigger house, the faster car, the fancier title - all the better, because it signifies we're more … Continue reading Stuff and self

Progressing toward a big dream, a clear vision takes time. Baby steps can happen consistently, the arrival requires patience. Patience if you don't want to settle for a sub-par replacement for your vision. This played out real time with a client in our last couple of team practices. They have a big hire to make. … Continue reading Big dream (team)