Nice Guys CAN Finish First and Lead a Great Team

Whether it is heard in athletics, business, or even academics, the notion that nice guys cannot lead or finish first has become commonplace. Too many people subscribe to the old saying, “nice guys always finish last.” As quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons, Matt Ryan has become known as a “nice guy,” and that has led […]

The Top 20 Team Building Outcomes Your People Will Value

 When considering a team building event, you should know and be prepared to discuss the outcomes that you most value and the take-aways you desire your team to enjoy following the event. There are virtually hundreds of team challenges and activities available that provide outcomes ranging from trust building, to improving accountability practices, to defining […]

The Three Types of Educators at Your School

 All leaders are educators, but there are three distinct types you will need to identify. Whether in schools, on courts, or in offices, everyone in a leadership position is in a role of developing people and becomes responsible for encouraging their growth.  In fact, the organization’s success is largely dependent on the leader’s ability to teach […]

Four Steps to Improve Negative Team Attitudes

Are there negative team attitudes that you need to improve in tyour organization? You have likely heard before that students, employees, or athletes “don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”  And while it is certainly a cliché, the truth is that it became a hackneyed phrase because it is […]

Team Vision, Missions, Tasks, and Times to Define Purpose and Goals

Your team needs to define both its vision and its mission to be successful. While they are often misunderstood and confused with one another, a VISION is what you want to be known for as an organization – it is the ideal imagined result you ultimately want your company to accomplish, and should be challenging  […]

Team Leadership is a lot Like Dehydrated Water

For years, I used to joke with my teams about a fantastic idea I had for a product… Dehydrated Water!  If only I could find an innovative way to package and market it, I suggested with a smirk, it was sure to become the next pet rock – and we could be swimming in pools […]

Technology Cannot Replace Student or Teacher Teamwork

The integration of technology into the hands of your students has likely been a topic of much discussion, but it will never replace the importance of teacher teamwork or the environment that a quality classroom provides. Whether by laptops, I-pads, smart-boards, or smart phones, your classroom has in all likelihood already been invaded by technology. […]

3 Lessons on Mental Gardening That Can Grow Your Team

My in-laws are probably the most avid and talented gardeners I know.  When my wife and I visit their home, I always find myself amazed at the beauty of their back yard. The perimeter of their well-manicured lawn is an oasis of beds filled with trees, shrubs, and flowers arranged to produce a symphony of […]

How to Replace Jealousy with Team Trust

 If you are currently part of a group that lacks team trust or is struggling with issues like petty jealousy or defensiveness, rest assured that there is hope. Any negative environment you are now experiencing can be improved by investing time in building or repairing relationships – but once you have acknowledged that there is […]