This month's Leadership Carnival contains expert contributions on the topics of:
Communications| Creativity/Inspiration | Culture | Development | Emotional Intelligence | Engagement | Ethics / Ethical Leadership | Productivity | Team Building
Communications
Effects of Poor Communication in the Workplace (with Solutions)
Many of today's biggest performance issues inside organizations stem from one root cause: a failure to communicate well. For leaders looking to strengthen culture, boost productivity, and retain talent, this practical guide explores the true cost of ineffective communication and how leaders can turn things around.
Where Do I Stand? Conversations With the Boss
We all want to know where we stand. But, if we wait for the boss to tell us, we could be waiting a very long time. I learned from a mistake I made early in my career, two critical tips for getting the feedback I longed for. As a boss - the person giving the feedback - I added to those two tips and found a formula that worked for all. Feedback anyone?
Creativity/Inspiration
A Family Story, A Leadership Lesson
Some leadership lessons don't come from boardrooms or books—they come from the people we love most. This is a story about skiing, family, legacy, and the unexpected ways courage can lead the way.
Culture
The Biggest Taboo in Our Culture
In one hand, an oat latte. In the other, a phone with social feeds full of doom-scroll posts about the end of the world. Are we safe or not? Being future-prepared means talking about the biggest taboo in our current culture...
Here's How to Measure Workplace Values
Leaders must work to instill workplace values, but a recent survey shows some companies are lagging behind
Development
When Your Calendar Becomes Your Enemy
by Bill Ringle
Ineffective meetings cripple tech leadership, innovation, and team performance, causing burnout. Solutions described such as disciplined meeting design, matching types to outcomes, thoughtful invites, and protecting focus time to develop leadership bench strength and innovation.
How Can't and Won't Shape Your Life
Your attitude not only shapes your self-esteem but also your relationships and career success. As motivational speaker Zig Ziglar said, "A bad attitude is like a flat tire. You can't go anywhere until you change it." What does your attitude say about you?
Fill Yourself Up So You Can Lead and Live
by Lisa Kohn
Lisa Kohn of Thoughtful Leaders™ Blog presents Fill yourself up so you can lead and live where she shares that when we nourish ourselves – mind, body, heart, and spirit – and love ourselves, we have the strength to handle challenges, the energy to keep going, the wisdom to pause when that's the next best action, and the buffer we need when people and or circumstances frustrate us. It's kind of amazing how something so simple, yet not always easy to do, can yield such a return on our investment.
A Culture of Connection Is Essential for Today's Leaders: A Conversation with TCU's Chancellor Victor J. Boschini, Jr.
TCU's Chancellor Victor J. Boschini, Jr. believes that fostering human connection is essential to success as a leader, and his approach offers important lessons for leaders in any industry. This article explores Boschini's leadership philosophy and the remarkable results.
Emotional Intelligence
Managing a Polarized Workforce Without Abandoning Your Principles
by Dana Theus
Workplace dynamics feel different lately, don't they? Divisions that once seemed confined to news headlines or social media feeds are now palpable in our meetings, impacting collaboration and strategy. Suddenly, "managing a polarized workforce" feels like a skill most leaders should possess, but many of us don't. Many leaders are discovering that their go-to conflict management style doesn't work in today's situation. The good news is difficult topics that tend to polarize people are also good opportunities for leaders to hone their personal skills and personal power to create leadership impact.
Engagement
Tough Times Call for Graceful Leadership
In today's tense and turbulent workplace, strong leadership isn't just about driving results—it's about helping others carry the emotional weight that comes with the work. In this article, Julie explores the concept of grace-based leadership—what it is, why it matters now more than ever, and how small, intentional choices can create space for humanity without compromising accountability for result. Grace isn't soft—it's strategic strength for hard times.
How to Keep Your Team Focused and Engaged When Life and Work Get Loud
by Sara Canaday
Distractions are everywhere and leaders are struggling to rise above the noise. By bringing clarity and purpose to team objectives and communicating them in a way that resonates, you can help your team stay focused, even when the world around them is competing for their attention.
Ethics / Ethical Leadership
What's Ethical Isn't Always What's Easy
What would you do if your boss asked you to break the law? Years ago, I faced that very dilemma—and lost my job for doing the right thing. Let's explore practical frameworks, cultural pressures, and how to lead with integrity when the stakes are high.
Productivity
Stop Throwing New Managers Into The Deep End
by Bernd Geropp
Hiring a manager is a big investment. When it goes wrong, it doesn't just waste time and money it affects the whole team. Therefore, we need an effective onboarding process for managers. In this post we take a look at what typically goes wrong and how we can fix it.
How to Run a Monthly Financial Review without Putting People to Sleep
by Jon Verbeck
A monthly financial review is one of the most powerful tools you have. Done right, it gives you a clear snapshot of where your business stands, where it's heading, and what adjustments you need to make.... Here's how to run a financial review that's efficient, insightful, and yes—worth staying awake for.
5 Ways to Discover and Deepen What Makes You Happy
If you know how to experience happiness daily, you accomplish more and your mood spreads to those around you. Use these five steps to create and live your happiness plan.
10 Things to Learn About Your Team to Maximize Performance
The C-suite leader has to prioritize gaining leadership information on their direct reports. This means learning many facets of their values and behaviors so that they know how to best interact with each individual and get them to work collaboratively.
3 Steps to Effectively Implementing Systems and Helping Your Team to PLAN, PRODUCE, and PERFECT Quality
by Sean Glaze
One of the most powerful ways to create sustainable success is by systemizing your operations. But where do you start? How do you move from chaos to clarity, from scattered efforts to a finely-tuned process? It all comes down to the 3 Steps to Effectively Implementing Systems and Helping Your Team to PLAN, PRODUCE, and PERFECT for Consistent Quality.
Team Building
Psychological Safety Isn't Just A Buzzword; It's The Foundation Of High-Performing Teams
In the dynamic world of modern work, innovation and adaptability rely on a vital factor: psychological safety. When individuals feel confident sharing their ideas, voicing concerns, or acknowledging mistakes without the risk of criticism, remarkable things unfold.