Monthly Archives: March 2014

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4 Actions You Can Take To Be Viewed As A Bad Leader

The first thought that pops into my head when I think of a bad leader is Michael Scott from The Office. I know he’s not necessarily a bad leader but his actions place him into that category.

Michael was always well meaning, or at least his character came across that way. However, everything he did left his employees feeling low and down.

His actions made his team view him as a bad leader.

Vacation at employees expense

Image by Ken Teegardin

Michael Scott isn’t the only bad leader out there in TV land. There’s plenty more. And their actions tell you they need help!

Sadly, we see too many people placed into leadership who follow in their footsteps. They make the same mistakes over and over again.

Let’s see what 4 actions will lead others to see you as a bad leader.  Read more...

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You Can’t Rush Trust

Four years ago, I engaged in a relationship with a new client that held incredible promise. I completed a full insurance proposal to address additional insurance needs and presented the options for diversifying his accounts. If we were able to place these policies, it would represent the largest single transaction in my 10-year history. As I made the presentation, everything went perfectly and the options looked great.

The client didn’t take any of them.

Not a reduced option. Not a different option. None.

For a long time, I thought my efforts had been a huge waste of time.

Still, I maintained a relationship with the client and continued to help them with other, albeit smaller services. About two years later, I got a promising call.

“Matt, can you look into this for us again?”  Read more...

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The Books My Blog Readers Are Reading

A few months ago I wrote a post detailing the 12 books I thought you should add to your reading list. The post drew a lot of discussion, especially around the topic of what my blog readers were reading.

The list was fascinating. The reading lists of my readers included books I’ve read, books I’ve wanted to read, and books I’d never heard of before.

Books my readers recommended

I couldn’t let this great resource go to waste. Reading through the book recommendations, I knew I had to put together a post to share the great books you guys recommended. After all, you, my readers, had a hand in putting together a fantastic reading list.

Rebecca Jo Cannon recommended Lone Survivor:The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10 by Marcus Luttrell.  Read more...

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Are You Eating Last?

There have been many people who were called leaders yet they never truly led. They were only out for themselves and no one else.

Not their team. Not their coworkers. And sadly not even their family. The only one who mattered was covering their own butt, numero uno.

But, in his new book, Leaders Eat Last, Simon Sinek turns this leadership method on it’s head, and then kicks it hard to the curb.

The greatest question you’ll need to answer from Leaders Eat Last is “Am I eating last?”

Simon Sinek's latest bookSinek really reinforced the notion that leadership is less about the leader and more about the leader watching out for the team. Leaders go above and beyond to keep their teams together rather than tearing the team apart through layoffs and petty office politics.  Read more...