Blog
“Clarity of purpose and speaking up about what will make the difference in our communities and businesses is critical. Uncommon Candor inspires us to keep giving the gift of straight talk – for ourselves and others.”—MARIO MORINO, author of Leap of Reason and founder, Venture Philanthropy Partners
Profiles in Candor: Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton – famous for her music, her enhanced curves and her over-the-top country girl persona – may seem like an unlikely feature for a business blog on candor. Yet I find her to be authentic and inspiring.…
Kindness Matters
In an Inc.com article titled “Science Says Kindness Can Make You a Better Leader,” journalist Todd Nordstrom makes a case for kindness. He lays out statistics to show that kindness is not only proven to increase personal happiness,…
Profiles in Candor: Mo Fathelbab
I have had the great pleasure of hearing Mo Fathelbab speak twice, most recently at the Gazelles ScaleUp Summit at the end of 2018. Following that event, I reached out to Mo for a one-on-one conversation on his…
The Value of Perspective
CBS 60 Minutes recently aired a feature on architect Chris Downey, who was left suddenly and completely blind following brain surgery to remove a tumor. While many people – architects or not – would consider this both devastating…
Recovery Friendly – A Fresh Perspective on Hiring
I have written before that one of the significant differences between good management and great leadership is how we develop our people. Great leaders see a whole person, not just the well-trained employee; they value people for their…
Profiles in Candor: President George H.W. Bush
On November 30, President George H.W. Bush died and our nation is grieving the loss of “America’s last great soldier-statesman, a 20th century founding father.” Those are the words of Jon Meacham, presidential historian, Bush biographer, and one…
Profiles in Candor: Stan Lee
Stan Lee passed away this month, and the world has lost not only a great artist, but also an important voice for equality and tolerance. Lee, known primarily for his creation and co-creation of Spider-Man and other superheroes,…
T.H.I.N.K.
In my book, Uncommon Candor: A Leader’s Guide to Straight Talk (ForbesBooks), I make a strong case for candor that is direct and truthful, but also respectful. Conversations that are “brutally honest” don’t fall into the category of…
Gazelles ScaleUp Summit – The Highlight Reel
Having just returned from the Gazelles ScaleUp Summit in Denver, I am reinvigorated by the exchange of experience and intelligence on leadership. There were strong themes bolstering the importance of focus and building relationships that resonated deeply with…