Most humans hate ambiguity, and as Nat King Cole once said, “That’s a natural fact.” While most would choose to avoid uncertainty, a select few embrace it. The problem occurs when those who don’t welcome ambiguity lack the information that they need to understand what’s going on-especially during times of rapid change. The absence ofRead more
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Why do some people conquer the dragon, but others succumb to it? Why can some overcome adversity when it devastates others? I wanted to know the answer, so in 1995, I decided to study heroes, people who had overcome significant adversity and emerged healthy and hardy–people who had taken care of others while they copedRead more
My local burger restaurant recently installed a state-of-the art Coke machine. A big screen displays about ten different options for ice, Coke, its various forms, lemonade, and Sprite. Customers can even opt to mix the different drinks in whatever formula they like. Leaders should offer several options for people to get what they want fromRead more
The Oxford American Dictionary describes mindset as “an established set of attitudes held by someone.” The definition implies stagnation–something that resists change. But great leaders know they can’t settle for any mental model that limits their potential. We develop a “mindset” from our mental models–those ingrained assumptions and generalizations we develop throughout life. These invisibleRead more
Recently, my seven-year-old granddaughter told me about an exciting day they had at her school. John Mabry, former St. Louis Cardinals player and current batting coach for the team, paid a visit to Julie’s second-grade class. I asked Julie what Mr. Mabry’s speech had been about, but she informed me he didn’t deliver a preparedRead more
