My hometown is a place where all four seasons are enjoyed. Temperatures are beginning to drop, the Friday night football game can be heard clearly from my back porch, and leaves are beginning to fall around my house. As the seasons change, it reminds me change should be embraced. Change is the place where new ideas begin, process improvements occur and teams grow. Effective leaders embrace the opportunity change presents. ─ Christy Beem ─ Ken Chapman & Associates, Inc.

By Ken Chapman Ken Chapman & Associates, Inc. From all appearances, performance reviews are a one-way street. The leader always appraises the employee. Even so, it is a beneficial procedure in which both leader and employee benefit. If you are among the fortunate leaders, you get an occasional appraisal from your leader, the person you report to. But what if the people you lead could reverse procedures and give you a performance review? What if they could measure for themselves how you measure up as a leader? I suppose there would be some surprises for many of us. But the truth is that employees are already measuring you and I. Not formally with a grade when it is over, but in bits and pieces—assessments all through the workday and often in work-break bull sessions. If you doubt that statement, remember that you measure your boss repeatedly when you respond to…

Hearing of his reported death, Mark Twain famously commented: Rumors of my demise are greatly exaggerated. Leaders know that “Saying it’s so, doesn’t make it so!” An opinion can be as unqualified as a rumor. And, an opinion can carry the gravitas of knowledge, experience and wisdom. Leaders know the difference. ─ Ken Chapman, Ph.D.

Leaders know the power of passion. Caring passionately whittles the world down to a more manageable size. It places the spotlight on what can be done, rather than on what cannot. Leaders make things happen. ─ Ken Chapman ─ Ken Chapman & Associates, Inc.

Christy Beem explores the ever-critical issue of how to keep an organization open to new ideas. An organization that has a huge welcome mat out for new ideas and leverages the diversity of thought from each stakeholder, no matter title, age, tenure,...

Leaders know what we plan for does not always happen and what we do not expect often does happen. A plan which accepts the need for a backup plan is a wise plan. ─ Ken Chapman, Ph.D.

When Admiral Mike Mullen became Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he recalls receiving this warning from his predecessor: “You’ll eat some very good food, but be prepared never to hear the truth again.” The higher the leader is in the organization, the more reluctant others are to risk the leader’s displeasure by voicing a dissenting opinion or sharing bad news. Leaders know the value of receiving candid and timely input. A leader’s success may well depend on how safe an employee feels speaking truth to power. ─ Deb Miller ─ Ken Chapman & Associates, Inc.

Leaders know you can stand tall without standing on someone. You can be a victor without having victims. Leaders value accountability, not casualties. ─ Ken Chapman ─ Ken Chapman & Associates, Inc

Leaders tell themselves the truth. Experience has taught them a dogged commitment to reality. Leaders know self-deception is the first step on the path to professional self-destruction. What it is, is what it is! ─ Ken Chapman ─ Ken Chapman & Associates, Inc.

Leaders recognize the value of trust and build it within their team at every opportunity. Their toolbox is equipped with candor, fairness, predictability, transparency, integrity and competence. Construction is continuous. It’s not possible to overbuild. ─ Deb Miller ─ Ken Chapman & Associates, Inc.