Leadership Freak

MARCH 7, 2024

Bold people resist being managed. Insecure people are conformists. Doubt produces caution. It’s easy to manage insecure people. Do you really want to enable boldness? Do you want people solving problems on their… Continue reading →

Resistance 253

Resistance Management Leadership Development Development 253

Leadership Freak

AUGUST 6, 2012

Resist the [.]. “I let them stew in their failure for a while.” Peter Jenson Ph.D. A team Jenson worked with suffered a disappointing loss. He let them sleep on it. I’ve been mulling over Jenson’s strategy.

Resistance 208

Resistance Sports How To Consultative 208

Leadership Freak

JULY 10, 2016

Underhanded resistance happens when people say yes, but really mean no. Resistance is expected, normal, even healthy. Underhanded resistance distracts and destroys. Leaders chase ghosts, when they don’t see underhanded resistance. Most people say they want… Continue reading →

Resistance 100

Resistance Succession Leadership Development Development 100

Leadership Freak

JULY 11, 2016

The danger of underhanded resistance is you don’t see it coming. Skillful leaders know polite foot dragging, agreement without follow through, and recurring “confusion” are underhanded resistance. Malicious or innocent: Underhanded resistance is always malicious, even when it smiles.

Resistance 100

Resistance Politics Objective Motivation 100

Leadership Freak

FEBRUARY 8, 2021

If everyone likes it, why bother? Change is never enjoyed by everyone. Leaders think too much about ‘what’ and not enough about ‘how’ when making change. Failure: John Kotter suggests 8 reasons transformation… Continue reading →

Kotter 189

Kotter Resistance 189

Leadership Freak

SEPTEMBER 9, 2015

Resistance is the point… Continue reading → There are a million reasons to stay the same, when you feel pressure to change. In my opinion change is great as long as someone else is doing it.

Resistance 100

Resistance 100

Leadership Freak

JUNE 2, 2023

Leaders often ask about ‘holding people accountable’ What they sometimes mean is, “How can I pressure resistance into compliance and still be a nice person?” Accountability increases resistance when it’s coercion wrapped in… Continue reading →

Compliance 210

Compliance Resistance Leadership Development Development 210

Leadership Freak

AUGUST 6, 2012

Resist the [.]. “I let them stew in their failure for a while.” Peter Jenson Ph.D. A team Jenson worked with suffered a disappointing loss. He let them sleep on it. I’ve been mulling over Jenson’s strategy.

Resistance 135

Resistance Sports How To Consultative 135

Leadership Freak

MARCH 4, 2021

You don’t find strength while snoozing in a hammock or snacking at the movies. Expand potential by doing things that require energy and strength. Strength rises when you do hard things. No challenge… Continue reading →

Energy 245

Energy Resistance Power 245

Leadership Freak

AUGUST 27, 2014

One of my embarrassing leadership blunders was allowing passion and vision to blind me to the interests of others. You either agreed with me or you were a roadblock. My strategy was to… Continue reading → Humility Influence Motivation Taking others higher Leadership Leadership Development'

Resistance 236

Resistance Power Influence Motivation 236

Leadership Freak

SEPTEMBER 22, 2017

Great feedback often surprises recipients. They don’t see themselves clearly. Frankly, none of us do. Your feedback was rejected. Gut check: If we open our hearts at all, it’s to people… Continue reading →

Resistance 159

Resistance 159

Leadership Freak

OCTOBER 13, 2012

“In a chronically leaking boat, energy devoted to changing vessels is more productive than energy devoted to patching leaks.” Warren Buffett Talking about change is easy, acceptable, even exciting. Talking and executing are two different things. Change becomes real when we have to change our own attitudes and behaviors, not until.

Resistance 235

Resistance Energy Execution Productivity 235

Leadership Freak

AUGUST 11, 2022

Resistance to change produces stability. We’re like bear cubs clinging to trees when it comes to the way we think. You can’t climb a new tree until you come down from the one… Continue reading →

Resistance 219

Resistance Leadership Development Development Leadership 219

Leadership Freak

MAY 8, 2023

You give power to things you resist. Uncertainty is as certain as a sunrise. Vitality is uncommon. Vitality is energy to thrive in difficulty. 4 Ways leaders instill vitality: #1. Use uncertainty. Ignoring… Continue reading →

Uncertainty 163

Uncertainty Resistance Energy Power 163

Leadership Freak

JANUARY 18, 2023

You resist statements. Life changes after you change the way you think. Questions explode assumptions. But curiosity penetrates defiance. Stupid questions: Stupid questions invite dimwit answers. Why did you hit your sister?” anticipates… Continue reading →

Resistance 181

Resistance How To 181

Leadership Freak

APRIL 21, 2017

Arrogance can’t see a need for development. Ask egotistical managers if they run great meetings. Insert any management skill.) Of course they do! There’s no point in telling them they don’t. Pride invites… Continue reading →

Resistance 145

Resistance Development How To Course 145

Leadership Freak

NOVEMBER 23, 2021

Sailors don’t resist the wind. The worst stress comes from resisting… Continue reading → You can’t deal with the storm until you acknowledge the wind. Fretting over things beyond your control is impotence stressing over incompetence.

Stress 163

Stress Resistance How To Environment 163

Leadership Freak

JUNE 14, 2021

But when leaders make the plan, they encounter skepticism, reluctance or resistance. Those who make the plan make the plan work. Tight fisted leaders – those who control all the plans – have… Continue reading →

Planning 234

Planning Resistance Delegation 234

Leadership Freak

JULY 28, 2015

The line between bold and foolish is often determined by success or failure. Fearful organizations are full of people who know why it’s better to stay the same. Remarkable success requires boldness, but bold leaders… Continue reading →

Resistance 100

Resistance Succession Organization Leadership Development 100

Leadership Freak

MARCH 23, 2022

New ideas always encounter resistance. Success requires initiative. Leaders act without permission. There’s too much permission-asking in organizations. You’ve been asking permission all your life. It began when you were a kid. How… Continue reading →

Resistance 186

Resistance Organization Succession Leadership Development 186

Leadership Freak

AUGUST 24, 2022

Constructive feedback elevates resistance. Defensive employees feel threatened. Pressure increases suspicion. You cause pain when you challenge defensive employees. Move forward anyway. 7 dangers of defensiveness: Lack of ownership. Defensiveness refuses to be… Continue reading →

Construction 163

Construction Resistance 163

Leadership Freak

MARCH 10, 2017

They keep falling short. But you want them to reach the next level. Establish an affirming context for growth. A transformative growth point: Years ago I was asked to work with a manager… Continue reading →

Resistance 152

Resistance How To Management Succession 152

Leadership Freak

JULY 22, 2020

It offends me when “good” ideas are resisted and rejected. Anyone who explains what won’t work before considering how it might work is a resistant, naysaying, uncommitted footdragger. But what if the opposite… Continue reading →

Resistance 156

Resistance Succession Leadership Development Development 156

Leadership Freak

MAY 5, 2021

Plastic tubes and suet cages offer little resistance. A bear demolished our bird feeders. Sunflower seeds and suet are easy prey. My wife ordered new tubes and safely stored all the metal parts… Continue reading →

Influence 192

Influence Resistance Positioning 192

Leadership Freak

JANUARY 28, 2021

We resist leaders we don’t like – but if we like each… Continue reading → Leaders who need to be liked are lawn chairs blown in hurricanes. Leaders who don’t care if they’re liked are jerk-holes.

Resistance 189

Resistance How To Influence 189

Leadership Freak

APRIL 9, 2020

“Holding people accountable” feels oppressive – like pressuring reluctant people to do something they resist. Insecurity, lack of clarity, and lack of follow-up make accountability frustrating. Frustration turns accountability into punishment. Develop… Continue reading →

Stress 178

Stress Resistance Follow-up Development 178

Leadership Freak

DECEMBER 5, 2019

I hate it when leaders respond to concerns or resistance with, “Just shut up and do it.” But sometimes NIKE is right, Just do it. Just shut up and do it: Discomfort is… Continue reading →

Resistance 186

Resistance Commitment Succession Leadership Development 186

Leadership Freak

JUNE 3, 2020

Repetition creates the path of least resistance like rivers eventually wear channels in stone. Frustrated leaders complain about having the same conversation. We’ve talked about this problem over and over.” Pattern reflection: Tell… Continue reading →

Resistance 163

Resistance How To Succession Leadership Development 163

Leadership Freak

JUNE 21, 2018

Meaningful purpose energizes the purposeless status quo into resistance and opposition. It might be passive resistance. The goals of resistance and opposition… Continue reading → It might be active opposition. But the goals are the same.

Resistance 135

Resistance Goal 135

Leadership Freak

MARCH 19, 2018

I can’t resist compiling a ‘complete’ list of… Continue reading → Thanks to readers who correct, clarify, and expand on the ideas presented here on Leadership Freak. Several readers expanded the ideas in this morning’s post.

Resistance 212

Resistance Leadership 212

Leadership Freak

SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

The path of least resistance is a long path to mediocrity. All leaders press through resistance. If there’s no resistance you’re not reaching high enough. Don’t play dead if it really matters. 4… Continue reading → Courage Leadership Development'

Resistance 208

Resistance Leadership Development Development Leadership 208

Leadership Freak

JULY 27, 2018

Curiosity as resistance: Perfectly intelligent people feign ignorance as an act of subversive resistance. Not all questions express genuine curiosity. #1. When I don’t want to do something, I ask my boss lots… Continue reading →

Resistance 121

Resistance Succession Leadership Development Development 121

Leadership Freak

NOVEMBER 6, 2017

Their real question is, “How do I pressure resistant people into doing what I want… Continue reading → Lousy leaders enjoy swinging the stick of accountablilty. Ineffective leaders might ask, “How do I hold people accountable?”

Resistance 190

Resistance Leadership Development Development Leadership 190

Leadership Freak

OCTOBER 27, 2012

Successful leaders lean into resistance, adversity, failure, and criticism. Leaning away from resistance is a sure way to be blown down by resistance. Lean against: Change encounters resistance. Strong winds blow you down when you lean back. Not: Welcome and learn from the stormy parts of leading. Don’t reject them.

Resistance 206

Resistance How To Succession Leadership Development 206

Leadership Freak

SEPTEMBER 2, 2019

Anger – Openness: Stop resisting anger. Negative impulses are useful when they produce positive results. Redirect negative impulses toward positive actions. Great achievements emerge when negative impulses trigger positive responses. #1. Use it… Continue reading →

Positioning 115

Positioning Resistance Succession Leadership Development 115

Leadership Freak

MAY 30, 2017

Facing obstacles: Doers and Dreamers face resistance, obstacles, and failure differently. One of my biggest regrets as a leader is misunderstanding the unique viewpoints of Doers, Dreamers, and Feelers. Doers push through. Dreamers… Continue reading →

Resistance 169

Resistance Succession Leadership Development Development 169

Leadership Freak

JULY 19, 2013

It swings on reluctant hinges called resistance. Failure to push through resistance explains why you’re stuck. The door to personal achievement never opens kindly. You came to a doorway and sat down. You started asking: What will people think of me? What if I flop? What if results don’t match aspirations? Rule of thumb: The […].

Resistance 218

Resistance Leadership Development Succession Development 218