Upsize Your Leadership

05/31/2024

56 years ago tonight, I watched a lovely young lady walk down a church aisle to join me and a bridal party eager to receive her. With that radiant smile of hers, she slipped alongside me. And minutes later, arm in arm, the two of us retraced that aisle, embarking on a life together filled with blessings beyond number.

Three children and ten grandchildren later, neither of us is young any more. But she remains absolutely lovely, still greeting me every morning with that radiant smile. And her commitment to her family, to our marriage, and to her faith are constant, unwavering, and inspiring. I marvel daily at what an ideal life companion she has been.

Thanks, hon! You've brought irreplaceable joy to my life, to our family, and to countless friends who have drawn strength from your graciousness.

My only regret is not having 56 more years to spend with you. Your "I do" all those many years ago remains the most cherished thing that anyone has ever said to me.

04/06/2024

I just posted a podcast that sure to bring you some good laughs. With all the buzz about this month's solar eclipse, I decided to share two humorous stories from the total eclipse which I witnessed in Russia in 2009. In the wake of the April 8 eclipse, you'll no doubt hear lots of people sharing stories about what happened around them during the event. But none of their stories can top the two that I share in this podcast. Nor can they be any funnier.

https://traffic.megaphone.fm/CSN9324115881.mp3?updated=1712420881

03/08/2024

I've posted the second episode in my multipart podcast series on unreported aspects of the Ukrainian conflict which hinder an enduring peace settlement.

Based on my years of experience in both Russia and Ukraine, I examine the cultural "psyche" which prevails on both sides.

In this latest installment I show how the Russian invasion has unleashed a patriotic fervor in Ukraine that its people have never known before.

https://www.upsizeyourleadership.com/episodes/2407-ukraine-backstories-part2.htm

03/01/2024

As the conflict in Ukraine enters its third year, I've decided to address misconceptions about that war which I hear quite often -- even from commentators who are generally well-informed.

I'm beginning a series of podcast episodes which draw on my years of experience managing offices and staffs in both Russia and Ukraine. My duties had me working shoulder to shoulder with everyone from coal miners to cabinet members. What I quickly learned is that the relationship between Russia and Ukraine is highly complex, with layers of reality which few Americans are aware of
My purpose with these podcasts is not to argue for one side or the other in the political debate about further aid to Ukraine. Rather, my hope is to give listeners a more informed understanding on which to base their own conclusions.

https://www.upsizeyourleadership.com/episodes/2406-ukraine-backstories-part1.htm

02/21/2024

You can sum up the leader's role in three statements.
1. Rally people around a cause or agenda.
2. Motivate them to pursue it.
3. Mobilize them to achieve it.

I sometimes reduce this to this simple leadership mandate: Rally, Motivate, Mobilize!

My most recent podcast explores all three elements of this mandate and examines why leaders who are good motivators are not necessarily good at mobilization.

https://upsizeyourleadership.com/episodes/2405-rally-motivate-mobilize.htm

02/08/2024

People generally recognize that there is a difference between managing and leading. But when pressed to define the precise difference, they do not always have a ready answer. Their concept of leadership is a bit muddled.

In my latest podcast, I trace the historical process that led to frequent confusion of management with leadership. And I offer three questions which quickly delineate whether someone is genuinely a leader or someone who merely wears that title. https://www.upsizeyourleadership.com/episodes/2404-muddled-concepts-of-leadership.htm.

01/25/2024

You might not typically think of leaders as artists. But in fact, leadership is much more of an art than a science or a technology. And its similarity to art leads to striking ramifications for how we practice leadership. My latest podcast takes up some of these important practical implications.

https://www.upsizeyourleadership.com/episodes/2403-leadership-as-art.htm

01/12/2024

Leadership is such a complex topic that it has dozens of definitions on the internet. For me, leadership is the art of rallying people around a shared purpose, then motivating them and mobilizing them to achieve it.

In my latest podcast, I delve into two concepts which serve as anchor points in my definition: people and shared purpose. By staying grounded to these anchor points, you become a better leader. Learn how by checking out my latest episode at https://www.upsizeyourleadership.com/episodes/2402-leadership-anchor-points.htm to learn more about how these concepts can help you become a better leader.

01/05/2024

In every arena of human endeavor, unintended consequences can nullify or limit the benefits of otherwise great decisions. Fortunately, there are planning guidelines that can minimize the number of times that our leadership and management decisions trigger adverse unintended outcomes.

Check out this insightful podcast, where I share three planning guidelines to help avoid unintended consequences. Listen now to learn how you can make better decisions and lead your team to success.
https://www.upsizeyourleadership.com/episodes/2401-avoid-unintended-consequences.htm

01/02/2024

OVER 100 EPISODES AND COUNTING!! December marked a milestone for my podcast "Upsize Your Leadership." I posted episode number 100 just before Christmas. Of the millions of podcasts now online, did you know that fewer than 1% ever post more than 20 episodes? I'm therefore quite happy to celebrate hitting the 100 mark. The first episode of 2024 airs later this week. https://www.upsizeyourleadership.com

A podcast to enlarge your impact as a leader, wherever you lead, whatever your role.