Entries by Christopher Kolenda

What Jerry Taught me about Personal versus Personalized

If you are willing to go into the arena, you never know who you might meet and their impact on your life and business. Jerry showed me that being personal was so much more than personalizing. Synthetic connections give you a seductive promise: you can engage with prospects en masse in a seemingly intimate way, generating more […]

3 Types of Leaders you need to know: Are you a WHAT, HOW, or WHY leader?

Only one type of leader creates sustainable growth and inspires people to contribute their best to the team’s success. The WHAT Leader WHATs do what the boss tells them to do. They get a task or mission from the boss, organize their team, and get the job done according to the company’s standard operating procedures. […]

It’s time to ditch best practices: When someone comes up with better practices, you get left behind.

You need better practices, and these come with innovation which is only possible in an Inspiring Culture. Alan Weiss is right — it’s time to ditch best practices. You need better practices, and these come with innovation which is only possible in an Inspiring Culture. Best practices are seductive. After all, who doesn’t want the best for […]

What Ancient Greeks and Romans Teach us about Leadership in Volatile Times

As the pandemic recedes, we’re not moving into a new normal but an a-Normal: the opposite of normal. Volatility and uncertainty will dominate, and the most principled and agile will emerge stronger. The ancient Greeks and Romans have essential insights on the kinds of leaders who succeed in these situations. Why listen to the ancient […]

How Inhaling your own Fumes Damages your Decision Making: Plus ways to Bring in the Fresh Air

Personal climate change subtly undermines your decision-making, sending you into drift as you inhale your own fumes and enjoy the aroma. Personal climate change subtly undermines your decision-making, sending you into drift as you inhale your own fumes and enjoy the aroma. Until you allow in the fresh air, you will think the increasingly toxic […]

Russian Blood Doping Scandal 2022: A Leadership Lesson from the Ice

Like many Russian ice-skaters, your top performers have something extra (hopefully not performance-enhancing drugs). What are you doing to cultivate them so that you build bench strength and prepare them for greater responsibilities, without burning them out? Like many Russian ice-skaters, your top performers have something extra (hopefully not performance-enhancing drugs). What are you doing […]

Why Victory Over your Adversaries might not Taste so Sweet: Putin Miscalculated Badly

Undoubtedly, there are whispers in the halls of power about Putin’s future. Putin miscalculated badly. His Army is getting hammered, financial sanctions are crippling, the Russian economy is cratering, and his own people are protesting in the streets. I hope the Biden administration is putting some thinking into managing success. There’s an urge in these […]