The challenges of being a rising leader are unique.

Reader, Burnout isn’t where anyone intends to end up. No one sets out thinking, “I’m going to work so hard that I bring myself to the brink of burnout.” But it happens all the time. It’s never fun teetering on the edge yourself—and sometimes even harder to watch someone else get there. We usually respond to burnout with good-intentioned ideas about wellness programs, flexible schedules, or reminders to “take care of yourself.” A simple solution to a complex issue. This week and next, I want...

Reader, Have you ever described a team member as an "underperformer"? I have, usually in response to that nagging sense something isn’t working. I’ve also been described this way before—ironically, during a season when I felt like I was thriving. It’s a complex issue that can derail even the best of teams. Hard to define. Harder to solve. And once the seeds of doubt are planted, they’re hard to uproot. Let’s explore a few perspectives on why it happens and how to respond. You’re not...

Reader, Books, podcasts, and studies on developing people are everywhere. They cover everything from productivity hacks to coaching models, from culture shifts to personal growth plans. But they rarely start with the simplest—and maybe most important—question: What are we developing people for? If you’re involved in helping people grow—whether that’s a peer, your first team, or an entire organization—the aim of your development shapes everything that follows. What’s the aim of your...

Reader, This week, we're shifting to emails that focus more on perspective, perception, and direction than practical action. And our question: How much effort should a team member give their work? All or nothing?Whatever it takes?Enough to make it good enough? Rarely do all team members agree on the right answer at any given moment. Making assumptions. I used to see it as a negative when a team member didn’t give their all—when they scrutinized their time, did the bare minimum, or held back...

Reader, When you make a case for something you believe in, you may be missing the one step that matters most. How do I know? I’ve made this mistake many times—both as a rising leader and as a CEO. It starts with a simple assumption that’s so easy to make: It’s a good idea. It was December 2001, and I was hired to launch a unique volunteer campaign—just months after 9/11. We needed revenue badly and had found a way to create a true win-win for our investors. In fact, it was a brilliant...

Reader, Have you ever wondered why leadership development only gets you so far? You reach a new level—and suddenly, what got you here won’t get you any farther. There’s a reason why most leadership growth doesn’t scale or deliver the outcomes it promises. The 3 ingredients for scalable leadership growth. For your leadership to grow with you—as your responsibilities and complexity increase—it must equip you to: Develop yourself. You’re always going to encounter new challenges. You need a clear...

Reader, Few things are more frustrating than putting energy into a decision, only to have it reversed by someone above you. Or watching a team member spend time crafting a plan, only to realize they missed the mark. When decisions go wrong, it’s easy to fall into unhelpful patterns: Bringing every decision to your boss—Why bother if my call won’t be trusted? Making decisions in silos—I don’t want to be micromanaged, so I’ll just do it alone. Making all the decisions yourself—I don't have time...

Reader, Does it ever feel easier to do it yourself? To work alone? If so, you're in good company. Most leaders feel this pull at times. If you've been developing yourself as a leader for a while, you know yourself—so you know what you need to do to succeed. You are unique and your individual contribution is valuable. Why is it so important to be unique? The US is one of the most individualistic cultures in the world—and it influences us more than we realize. Wherever you live, you’ll see this...

Reader, Ever have one of those wake-up-call moments—the kind that stops you in your tracks? These moments often grow us the most. In my first executive-level position, I was used to getting things done, but leading? That was new territory. Racing through the moments. In the weeks leading up to our big program, I was anything but calm—racing from one thing to the next as if my pants were on fire. I arrived at my weekly check-in so frantic I barely noticed my surroundings. The pressure was on,...