Articles

Leaders, Let’s face it: Leadership today isn’t about corner offices or charismatic speeches any longer. It’s about getting people moving in the right direction, together, and for the long haul. Sounds simple. However, I am pretty sure that you know that it is not. Hogan Assessments and the Direction, Alignment, Commitment framework cut to the core of leadership: Revealing who you are, how you lead, and how to drive real alignment and commitment across teams. The Center for Creative Leadership’s Direction, Alignment, Commitment framework (DAC) Based on decades of global research and development with real leaders like yourself, DAC captures what leadership actually produces when it's working. Let’s unpack it. Fast and practical. Direction: Where are we going, and why? Think of direction as the shared vision. Not a glossy poster in the hallway, but a real sense of common purpose that resonates across your team. It's the answer to: What are we trying to [...]

Leaders, What sets high-performing teams consistently apart from the rest? Is there a special ingredient that makes them click? And more importantly: how can leaders at all levels foster and accelerate this kind of team excellence? The truth is: extraordinary teams are built, not born. And yes, there is a method to the magic. Let’s dive into what makes these teams special, and how you can foster their success. According to Jon Katzenbach and Douglas Smith in „The Wisdom of Teams“, high-performing teams aren’t just well-oiled machines; they are driven by a deeper sense of purpose and a shared accountability that fuels results. They: Set ambitious and meaningful goals Work with efficiency, mutual respect, and commitment Combine complementary skills, often interchangeable Rely on managers who lead by example Are deeply customer-oriented. These traits alone, though, don’t create magic. The real difference? Passion and ownership. These teams believe in their mission. They want to win together. They solve problems quickly, thrive in complexity, and [...]

Leaders, When was the last time someone on your team felt safe enough to challenge you? And how did you respond? Do your people feel heard, or just managed? Are you leading with empathy, or just expecting it from others? In a fast-paced, results-driven world, empathy might seem optional; nice to have but secondary to performance metrics. Yet, research shows that it is one of the most powerful tools leaders have. Empathy directly drives results and shapes the quality of workplace relationships. Empathy means understanding what others are going through, and responding with care and clarity. For leaders, it means more than just being kind or considerate. It is the capacity to recognize what others are experiencing emotionally and mentally, and to respond in a way that respects that perspective, without losing sight of goals and accountability. According to a 2021 study by Catalyst, leaders who demonstrate empathy are perceived as [...]

Leaders, Acting with integrity is often simple in theory, but very difficult in real-world leadership because it demands courage under pressure, self-awareness under stress, and long-term thinking in a short-term world. Let’s explore why acting with integrity can be truly challenging in organizations. To be clear: Integrity is not a bonus trait for leaders. It is the foundation, the bedrock, if you will, of any organization that wants to survive, let alone thrive, in today’s world. Yet, it is also one of the first things many leaders quietly compromise. It rarely happens all at once. Integrity doesn’t explode, it erodes. It starts with small betrayals: avoiding conflict to stay "liked by others“, withholding honest feedback to avoid discomfort, or staying silent when values are under attack. Each time a leader ducks a hard moment, they trade trust for short-term safety. Over time, those small trades destroy the very teams they were trying to protect. One of the most dangerous [...]

Leaders, As artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly transforms our workplaces, you and your organizations face a unique challenge: how to embrace AI’s efficiency without losing the human essence that defines great teams and organizations. Let me introduce the "House of Change" model, rooted in change management psychology, to you. It offers a powerful framework to navigate this evolving landscape. The House of Change consists of four rooms: Contentment, Denial, Confusion, and Renewal. You and your teams move through these rooms during any significant transformation. Everyone at their own pace and in their own time. Understanding this journey can help you balance innovation with empathy, strategy with soul.   1. Contentment: Overcoming Complacency with AI Many teams start here, where comfort with current processes can create a blind spot. In the context of AI, this might look like over-reliance on the status quo or skepticism about AI’s potential. As a leader, gently challenge this space: spark [...]