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How to tell if you are focused on your top priorities – check your calendar

I am writing a blog series about becoming a strong leader in the post-pandemic world. Last December, I declared that leaders must set clear priorities for success in the post-pandemic world. In April, I shared a proven leadership tool, the Eisenhower Decision Matrix, to set clear priorities in demanding roles. In the last two months, I described a powerful tool that helps leaders set clear priorities and focus their daily efforts. For this blog, the last in this series, I will explain how your calendar will confirm that you have set your priorities appropriately.

Is it hard to tell if your focus is on your priorities?

The short answer is no. The best way to tell if you are appropriately focused is to check your calendar to discover how you invest your time. If your priorities show up on your daily schedule, then you are focused on them. If not, then you are distracted by other things. Yes, different activities can easily distract leaders. It happens to all of us. When checking your calendar, three other symptoms may indicate you need to change how you invest your time.

Symptom #1 – your calendar is overpacked

What do you see on your calendar each day? Is it overpacked with endless meetings? How about double-booked? Triple-booked? Do you have time scheduled to get your actual work done, or will you work late every day to complete your tasks?

I believe that having an overpacked schedule is not healthy or effective. I have witnessed many leaders hamper their performance due to their overpacked schedules. You can’t be at two or more places simultaneously.

Similarly, joining multiple virtual meetings simultaneously is not a good idea. Your divided attention is not helpful or respectful to the other participants. If this is you, trim your schedule so that you have only one meeting to attend or task to perform at a time. More focus will increase your effectiveness.

Be careful not to overpack your calendar.

Symptom #2 – your calendar has no white space

Do you have time for any breaks (white space) in your schedule? If your calendar is full of back-to-back meetings with no breaks in between, you may be setting yourself up for failure. If one of your scheduled meetings goes long, it may cause a domino effect on the rest of your day. The next thing you know, you will be late the rest of the day, which is unacceptable. Not to mention that you will be exhausted later in the day. Take daily breaks to transition from one meeting or task to the next. With this approach, you will show up on time and ready for action, not late and exhausted.

Breaks during the workday are healthy for you.

Symptom #3 – you maintain multiple calendars

I believe the best approach to calendars is to have one, not more. Put all the activities that require your attention on the same calendar to get an accurate view of your schedule. Some leaders I know are reluctant to put personal items on their professional calendars, so they have to monitor more than one. Multiple calendars create more work, maintenance, and confusion. Please keep it simple and use one calendar. If you are worried about privacy, you can easily mark something on your calendar so others cannot see the details.

One final observation about your calendar

If you are not careful, other activities will dominate your schedule, not your top priorities. Making sure that your priorities show up on your calendar takes effort. That means you must invest your time to manage your daily schedule or have someone else do it for you. Both these methods work well, as long as someone puts in the work to keep you focused on your top priorities. Trust me, this investment is worth it. Don’t let a crazy calendar full of distractions rule your world.

What gets scheduled gets done.
Michael Hyatt

ATW! will make you a better leader

I hope you join me on this journey to raise the next generation of leaders. The world desperately needs more great leaders—women and men who lead confidently, clearly, and creatively. It’s time to become the leader your world needs. Let’s go All The Way!

All The Way Leadership!

The daily big 3 is a useful tool to help leaders focus on their top priorities

I am writing a blog series about becoming a strong leader in the post-pandemic world. Last December, I discussed how leaders can address the fact that many organizations have fewer people and resources to do the job. I declared that leaders must set clear priorities for success in the post-pandemic world. In April, I shared a proven leadership tool, the Eisenhower Decision Matrix, to set clear priorities in demanding roles. Last month, I described a powerful tool that helps leaders set clear priorities. In this blog, I will highlight another helpful tool for modern leaders to focus their daily efforts. It is called the Daily Big 3.

Setting daily priorities for leaders

Leaders have too many tasks and never enough time to finish everything. The most successful leaders deal with this dilemma by setting clear priorities for their teams and themselves. One such leader is Michael Hyatt. Many of you may not have heard of him before. Michael S. Hyatt is a modern-day productivity and leadership guru whom I trust. One thing I like about Michael’s Full Focus system is its practicality. His system includes a method that helps leaders set clear daily priorities. He refers to these top priority tasks as the daily big 3.

What is the daily big 3?

The daily Big 3 concept is not hard to comprehend. Your daily big 3 are your three most important tasks and associated actions. Nothing more, nothing less. Your daily big 3 enable you to set intentions and create a focus for the day. I fully realize that many leaders have an extensive list of things they must complete daily. Your daily to-do list may be a mile long. Therein lies the problem. How do you choose what gets priority of effort for the day? Another way to think about this concept. If you accomplish these three things, the day is a success. If you don’t, it is not.

How do you determine your daily big 3?

For some leaders, determining your daily three is not tricky. You look at what you have planned for the day and pick the three most important tasks to complete. For others, it may be a real struggle. Choosing your daily big three is particularly challenging when your schedule is full of endless meetings, unrealistic deadlines, and an infinite list of things you must complete. I recommend spending some time analyzing your activities to pick your daily big 3. All tasks are not equally important. The same goes for meetings. Some are routine, while others are vitally critical.

Write down your daily big 3

I recommend recording your daily big three somewhere so that you can reference it throughout the day. Michael Hyatt’s Full Focus Planner has space for writing down your daily big 3. So it is clear—you do not need a Full Focus Planner to use this tool. You can use whatever planner or system works best for you. Some leaders may prefer a digital format, while others like analog. I use a hybrid approach with both digital and analog tools. In general, I prefer analog. Writing things down helps me remember them later. Perhaps you have the same propensity for analog.

Three thoughts about using this tool

I have used Michael Hyatt’s Full Focus system for several years. Based on my experience here are three thoughts about using this tool.

You do not have to pick three—there is no rule that says you have to pick three activities each day. That number is recommended. If you have less, no worries. I am against picking more than three. If you cannot narrow your focus to three or fewer priority tasks in a single day, then you likely have bigger problems to resolve.
You can include personal items – Most tasks I select are work-related. However, I often include a non-work item in my daily big 3. Life is not about only work. Don’t forget about the rest of your life when setting your daily big 3.
You don’t have to rank them—some people like to rank order their daily priorities. I usually don’t. Yes, some days, a clear #1 priority ranks high above the rest. For me, that is the exception, not the rule.

How do you use this powerful leadership tool?

Using this tool is relatively straightforward. Select your daily big three when preparing for the day, whether the night before or in the morning. Usually, I review my daily priorities when I start work. Next, I will check my progress against my priorities at midday to see how it is going. If none are complete, I may adjust my afternoon schedule to have time for my top priorities. At the end of the workday, I will check my daily big three to see if I have accomplished them. If not, I will complete them that evening or roll them over to the next day. This tool may seem like a lot of work. The investment is worth it. The most significant benefit this leadership tool gives me is focus. If I get sidetracked, the daily big three helps me get back on track and focus on what is essential for the day.

What is the hardest part of selecting your daily big 3?

If this tool is so effective, you may wonder why more leaders don’t leverage it. There are three reasons why. First, some leaders do not know about the daily big three. Second, many leaders have a mile-long to-do list. The idea of picking the top three things to do every day is daunting. Third, and most importantly, selecting your daily big three takes time and effort. It is a daily discipline. Trust me, it is worth it.

In the next blog, I will discuss a simple way to determine if you have clear priorities.

What about you? Do you know how to set clear priorities? Leverage the Eisenhower Decision Matrix and weekly preview to perform this critical function. Next, install the habit of picking your daily big three before you start your work day. In the next blog, I will discuss a simple way to determine if you have clear priorities.

You’ll never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.
John Maxwell

ATW! will make you a better leader

I hope you join me on this journey to raise the next generation of leaders. The world is in desperate need of more great leaders. Women and men who lead with confidence, clarity, and creativity. It’s time to become the leader that your world needs. Let’s go All The Way!

All The Way Leadership!

Remembering an American hero this Memorial Day for paying the ultimate price

This weekend, we honor the fallen by commemorating Memorial Day. It is one of the most important American holidays. Many know someone who paid the ultimate price to keep us free. If you served in the military over the past few decades, you are likely aware of an empty chair at a family table somewhere this weekend. With that thought in mind, I am honoring an American hero I knew who sacrificed his life several years ago. Every Memorial Day, I remember Humayun Khan and pray that he will forever rest in peace.

Captain Khan’s tombstone in Arlington Cemetary.

An American hero and his family face controversy

A few years ago, there was a lot of talk about Captain Humayun Khan, an American hero. His father’s comments at the 2016 Democratic National Convention created a tidal wave of media coverage. People took sides. The press stirred the pot. Instead of his death bringing Americans together, it divided us even more. I was concerned that the most important part of the story was getting lost in all the noise. So, I will share the details of Captain Khan’s heroic actions.

Political ad from 2016 that included the Khan family

I knew Humayun Khan when he was a student

He was enrolled in the University of Virginia Army ROTC program while I was an instructor there from 1999 to 2001. I remember Humayun as a fine young man. He was pretty serious, focused on success, and responsive to training. He performed well as an ROTC cadet. To be frank – he did not stand out from his peers. He fit in and showed great leadership potential like all his classmates did when they graduated from UVA and received their commissions. I did not think much about him until years later, when I learned that he was killed in action while serving in Iraq. Like everyone who knew him, I took the news hard. I could only imagine what his family was going through. I can think of no greater challenge in life than losing a child. It must be devastating. My sympathies to the Khan family.

*Khizr and Ghazala Khan announced the Humayun Khan Memorial Scholarship Fund at UVA.*

Captain Khan was a brave American hero when it mattered most

It is worth discussing Captain Khan’s heroic actions when he made the ultimate sacrifice. Here is a brief description:

On June 8, 2004, Khan was inspecting a guard post when a suspicious taxicab began approaching too quickly. Ordering his subordinates away from the vehicle, Khan ran forward 10–15 steps and was killed by a suicide car bomb fitted with an improvised explosive device. The car detonated before it could reach the gates or the nearby mess hall where hundreds of soldiers were eating breakfast. Khan was also posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Plaque for Captain Khan that hangs on the Rotunda at UVA.

Several years ago, I participated in Veteran’s Day activities at a local elementary school. At that event, I shared the story of Captain Khan with the students. I explained the circumstances of his death and described three reasons why I believe he is a true American hero. It seems appropriate to share them this Memorial Day.

Captain Khan’s actions demonstrate three hero-like qualities

Captain Khan put others first. He ordered his troops to take cover to be safe while he assessed the situation. He thought about them before he thought about himself.
Captain Khan possessed the courage to face danger head-on. He did not shy away from it. It is not natural for us to put ourselves in harm’s way. In this case, he saved the lives of many by sacrificing his own.
Captain Khan built a legacy for others to emulate. His story of courage, bravery, and sacrifice should inspire us to greatness. I want to be better when I think of Khan and his sacrifice. I hope it does the same for you.

A real American Hero

I do not expect many of us ever to face a similar situation—Lord knows that I hope none of us ever do—but it is reassuring to know that we have heroes like Khan. Heroes do exist. They don’t wear capes, fly an invisible jet, or come from another planet. Rather, they are everyday people—like you and me. The difference is that they do extraordinary things when called into action.

In a twist of fate, my family used to live in the same house that the Khans owned when their son died. After we moved in, I met his family, and we exchanged letters multiple times. I will share that part of the story at another time. This blog post is about honoring a hero, Captain Humayun Khan, so I will end here.

There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
John 15:13

All the Way Leadership!

A proven leadership tool to set clear priorities in the modern world

I am writing a blog series about becoming a strong leader in the post-pandemic world. Last December, I discussed how leaders can address the fact that many organizations have fewer people and resources to do the job. I declared that leaders must set clear priorities for success in the post-pandemic world. In this blog, I will share a proven leadership tool, the Eisenhower Decision Matrix, to set clear priorities in the demanding modern world. Some of you may already be aware of this tool, which is a good thing.

Setting priorities for leaders is not new

Leaders have too many tasks and never enough time to finish everything. This phenomenon is nothing new. Since the dawn of time, leaders have faced the age-old questions of what to focus on and how to invest their resources. Time is the most important a leader possesses. You cannot create more time. Leaders have to juggle many tasks, activities, crises, etc. The most successful leaders deal with this dilemma by setting clear priorities for their teams and themselves. One such leader is Dwight D. Eisenhower. He was known for getting stuff done.

Portrait of General Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1947.

Who was Dwight D. Eisenhower?

General Dwight D. Eisenhower was a great US Army General. According to Wikipedia, Eisenhower was an American Army general and statesman who served as the 34th President of the United States from 1953 to 1961. During World War II, he was a five-star general in the United States Army and served as Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces in Europe. He was responsible for planning and supervising the invasion of North Africa in Operation Torch in 1942–43 and the successful invasion of France and Germany in 1944–45 from the Western Front. You would be hard-pressed to find anyone with more leadership experience.

Presidential portrait of Dwight D. Eisenhower.

What is the Eisenhower Decision Matrix?

How was President Eisenhower able to accomplish so much as a leader? He used several tools to increase his effectiveness. Let’s start by describing this tool, the Eisenhower matrix, in case you do not know about it. I asked my research assistant, ChatGPT, for a description. It is found below with some minor editing by me and another AI tool for editing. It is a solid summary.

The Eisenhower Decision Matrix, or the Eisenhower Box, is a simple tool for prioritizing tasks based on urgency and importance. It’s named after Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th President of the United States, who was known for his incredible ability to sustain high productivity. The matrix divides tasks into four quadrants based on two criteria: urgency and importance:

Urgent and Important (Do First): These tasks need immediate attention and carry significant consequences if not completed soon. They are typically crisis-management situations or deadlines.
Important, Not Urgent (Schedule): These tasks are important for long-term goals and success but do not require immediate action. Planning, relationship building, and self-improvement often fall into this category. Prioritizing these tasks can lead to lasting benefits.
Urgent, Not Important (Delegate): These tasks require immediate attention but do not necessarily contribute significantly to long-term objectives. These can often be delegated to others or handled quickly to save time for more important tasks.
Not Urgent and Not Important (Eliminate): These are the least critical tasks that offer little to no value and should be minimized or eliminated. They often include distractions or busy work.

This matrix aims to help individuals and teams focus on activities that contribute to long-term success, manage time more efficiently, and increase productivity. It encourages users to spend more time in the “Important, Not Urgent” quadrant, thus planning and preventing crises rather than reacting to them.

How do you use this proven leadership tool?

The best way to maximize this tool is to triage your tasks using the Eisenhower Matrix. List all the tasks you and your team need to accomplish and put them into the matrix. Each task will go into one of the four categories listed below. You may want to include your team members and leaders in this exercise so that they have a say in setting the priorities. Here is a link to go deeper with this tool: https://www.eisenhower.me/eisenhower-matrix/.

Important + Urgent = Do first.
Important + Not Urgent = Decide by scheduling it.
Not Important + Urgent = Delegate to others.
Not Important or Urgent = Delete the task from your list.

This decision matrix is a helpful tool for prioritizing tasks.

What is the hardest part of the Eisenhower Decision Matrix?

If this tool is so effective, you may wonder why more leaders don’t leverage it. Triaging activities into the matrix is not difficult for most leaders. The hard part is executing your decisions based on the matrix results. For example, many leaders struggle with delegating tasks to others. If you do, then the matrix will be challenging. Similarly, some leaders are reluctant to delete or eliminate any tasks that come their way. I challenge you to avoid this trap. Don’t waste your or your teams’ resources on tasks that do not need to be done. It is not worth it.

Grind culture leads to clutter and chaos over time.

In the next blog, I will discuss another tool to set priorities

What about you? Do you know how to set clear priorities for your teams? Leverage the Eisenhower Decision Matrix to perform this critical function. In the next blog, I will talk about another tool that will help you set clear personal priorities and help put you on the path to success this year. I will challenge you to be even more ruthless when setting priorities so that you can lead successfully in the post-pandemic world.

I have two kinds of problems: the urgent and the important. The urgent are not important, and the important are never urgent.
In a 1954 speech former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was quoting Dr J. Roscoe Miller, president of Northwestern University

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Three more takeaways from my episode on the Kind Leadership podcast

Last month, I was invited to participate in a podcast recording with one of my good colleagues, Gino DeGregori. Gino is the host of the Kind Leadership Podcast. He is on a quest to redefine leadership through the lens of empathy, compassion, and integrity. I enjoyed the conversation immensely and wholeheartedly agree with Gino that we need more kind leaders worldwide. In my last blog, I shared a link to the podcast for anyone who wants to hear it and three key takeaways from our discussion. This time, I am highlighting three more takeaways from the podcast. I hope you enjoy this special edition of All The Leadership!

Takeaway #1 – kind leaders know how to handle crucial conversations

As a leader, you will face difficult times and even crises. How you act during these tough times matters a lot. People will remember what you were like when the pressure was on. Here are three strategies for how to handle these situations.

Always treat all people with dignity and respect, especially during a difficult time. Demeaning a fellow human being in the workplace is never okay. Please don’t do it!
Keep your cool. There is no need to yell or let loose on someone. No one likes jerks.
Learn how to handle crucial conversations – take a class, read a book, and prepare beforehand.

The more senior you are, the more important this skill becomes. You want to be at your best when it matters the most. I am amazed at how many seasoned leaders I have worked with who did not properly prepare for crucial conversations. They tried to wing it, but it rarely turned out well. Kind leaders handle difficult times and crises well. Mean leaders don’t. The opposite happens – they get meaner, which makes everyone miserable. Don’t be a mean leader. It does not work.

Read this book if you don’t know how to handle a crucial conversation.

Takeaway #2 – kind leaders bring positive energy

Kind leadership has a direct positive impact on both culture and employee engagement. The best-performing organization I have worked in had kind leaders who created positive company cultures. Kind leaders bring positive energy—you can feel it. Consider what it is like when any leader enters the room or joins a call. Does the energy go up? If so, it is likely a kind leader. It is not the same with mean leaders. They bring negative energy, and people don’t want to spend time in their presence.

People do not enjoy being in meetings with mean leaders.

Kind and nice leaders are not the same thing

During the podcast, I mentioned that I appreciate that Gino named his show The Kind Leader, not the nice leader. I believe there are many misconceptions about kind leadership. Some people think that to be a kind leader, you must be nice to everyone, highly emotive, soft, and squishy. Yikes. That sounds horrible to me, and it is not what kind leadership is about.

Some leaders are known to be both kind and tough.

Kind leaders can be tough

I served with many tough leaders in the Army, such as paratroopers, rangers, and special forces soldiers. These leaders were badasses. Some mistakingly believe these leaders are constantly yelling and screaming at their followers because of the intense requirements of these units. The opposite is true. The toughest leaders I knew were also the kindest leaders. Was there yelling and screaming? Yes – on a rare occasion. Usually, that method was used only in certain training scenarios or for safety reasons. The norm was kind leadership.

This style of leadership is not the norm in the military.

Takeaway #3 – Three tips for aspiring leaders

I supported the excellent Booz Allen Intern program for years. Every summer, I spent time with aspiring college students, which was a real reminder that younger generations don’t think like me. Many times, they would ask about becoming a leader. I will offer the same advice I gave them regarding aspiring leaders.

Master your craft – If you want to become a great leader, start learning about it now. Don’t wait until you are put into a leadership role. There are a ton of resources available these days. Take advantage of them. It will set you apart from the rest of the crowd.
Become the best version of yourself—invest some time figuring yourself out. Things like—what is your personality, what are your strengths, what are your weaknesses. I believe that the most challenging person to lead is yourself. Why should anyone follow you if you cannot lead yourself?
Get real experience – the thing you lack the most as a new leader is leadership experience. Go out of your way to get a broad set of experiences and find a good mentor to help show you the right way.

Some days the hardest person to lead is the one in the mirror.

Why I started All The Way Leadership!

It is not often that I get asked why I created All The Way Leadership! I launched the company and this blog five years ago for three reasons.

I believe we are in the middle of a global leadership crisis. We lack the leaders to deal with many of the world’s major challenges today. That needs to change.
Many companies and organizations lack the time and resources to invest in leadership training, a particularly vexing challenge for small companies.
Several peers lacked a fundamental understanding of leadership and regularly made basic mistakes. No one ever explained the basic principles of leadership that I learned in the military early in my career.

I was privileged to start my career serving my country as a US Army Officer in the 82nd Airborne Division. While there, I learned a lot from world-class leaders. Much of the content I create for All The Way Leadership! is from my military experience.

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Three key takeaways from my recent conversation on the Kind Leadership podcast

Earlier this month, I was invited to participate in a podcast recording with one of my good colleagues, Gino DeGregori. Gino is the host of the Kind Leadership Podcast. He is on a quest to redefine leadership through the lens of empathy, compassion, and integrity. I enjoyed the conversation immensely and wholeheartedly agree with Gino that we need more kind leaders worldwide. In this blog, I am sharing a link to the podcast for anyone who wants to hear it. I am also sharing three key takeaways from our discussion. I hope you enjoy this special edition of All The Leadership!

Gino usually releases a new podcast each week.

Takeaway #1 – Kind leaders fulfill the 5 C’s of leadership

Kind leaders lead with empathy. That means they can see the world from others’ perspectives. When it comes to empathy in leadership, I believe it is essential for any leader to ask themselves a simple question: What do the people I am leading need from me to be successful? The short answer is that they want the same things you do in a leader. I call it the 5 C’s of leadership. It is somewhat like a leadership model I learned while serving in the US Army.

Competency – you know how to lead. You know what you are doing.
Confidence – you possess the right expertise and experience.
Communication – you can clearly articulate your thoughts and ideas to others.
Creativity – you know how to craft strategy, develop plans, and make decisions.
Character – you are a good person and a kind leader.

Nelson Mandela changed South Africa under his leadership. — Nelson Mandela changed South Africa through his kind leadership.

Takeaway #2 – Kind leaders demonstrate individual integrated integrity

Integrity and trust are two values that I hold dear and have spent a fair amount of time thinking about. In fact, for All The Way Leadership! I created a concept that I call Individual Integrated Integrity. It is a way for a leader to think about integrity and trust. This framework addresses three hard truths that leaders face regarding their integrity.

Team members pay special attention to the leader’s individual integrity.
They track who the leader is, what the leader says, and what the leader does.
The team will not trust the leader if these three integrity attributes do not align.

Your team members ask, “Can I trust this leader?” Trust is vital for a leader. Without it, you are dead in the water. One quick way to increase your impact as a leader is to show you have integrated individual integrity.

Takeaway #3 – Kind leaders have a growth mindset

Let me say that adopting a growth mindset can be a challenge for leaders like me. When you get a few decades into your career, it is easy to fall into the trap of thinking you are done. You think, “I am who I am, I know what I know, and I am going to do what I do. No need for me to grow.” It is better to keep learning and growing. Adopting a growth mindset has made me more resilient, versatile, and relevant. I have worked with many senior leaders who became ineffective because they stopped growing. The world changed, and they did not. As a result, they are no longer relevant. Their followers are waiting for them to retire.

The passion for stretching yourself and sticking to it, even (or especially) when it’s not going well, is the hallmark of the growth mindset.
Carol Dweck

Three strategies to cultivate a growth mindset in your team’s culture

Be the example – seek growth opportunities as a leader. Read books, listen to podcasts, attend training sessions, and encourage your team members to do the same.
Talk about it—create a growth mindset mantra for your team. One of my teams’ mantras was, “We do hard.” We were starting a new program and guessed everything would be hard. It was, and our mantra helped keep us motivated.
Keep your cool. As a leader, you set the room’s temperature. When you experience setbacks, don’t lose your cool. Deal with the obstacle and get going again.

The last strategy is particularly challenging. As a leader, you get to deal with the good, the bad, and the ugly. When ugly shows up, you want to scream and shout. Don’t do it. Getting worked up will not solve your problems. It may have the opposite effect. Word will get out that you lost your cool, which harms your reputation.

One of my favorite podcasts is The Diary of a CEO – a fresh perspective.

ATW! will make you a better leader

I hope you join me on this journey to raise the next generation of leaders. The world desperately needs more great leaders—women and men who lead with confidence, clarity, and creativity. It’s time to become the leader your world needs. Let’s go All The Way!

All The Way Leadership!

The legacy of MLK continues to grow years after his most famous speech

Martin Luther King, Jr. remains a personal hero of mine. I believe MLK is one of the greatest leaders America ever produced. His name belongs among other American titans like Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, and Ike Eisenhower. Here are five reasons why his legacy continues to grow years after his most famous speech.

1. MLK leveraged his strengths to the advantage of others

Martin Luther King, Jr. did not have much power at all as a leader. He was an African-American man living in the segregated South. Whites and blacks were not equal. He was not a wealthy man either. MLK did possess several strengths that he leveraged to the advantage of others. First and foremost, he was a man of deep faith. Trained as a Baptist minister after completing college, MLK based his worldview on his Christian faith. He often quoted scripture when speaking and writing to justify the righteousness of the civil rights cause. Brilliant – preach the truth to the racists who claimed to be Christians. Little did they know at the time how foolish they looked in retrospect.

Fools find no pleasure in understanding
but delight in airing their own opinions.
Proverbs 18:2

2. He fought the battle with ideas

Martin Luther King, Jr. was a smart man. He passed the entrance exam for Morehouse College at age 15. He graduated with a degree four years later. MLK completed seminary, earned a Master’s degree, and received his Ph.D. by age 26. Impressive academic credentials that would serve him well over the years. If you read his writings or listen to his speeches they are both inspirational and logical. It is hard to pull apart his positions or argue against them. Many tried – most failed. MLK decided to fight his battles with ideas and non-violence. Genius moves on his part. His enemies, critics, and antagonists were not sure how to respond. They did not realize that he fought from higher ground and held the advantage, rather than the other way around.

3. MLK learned big ideas from others

Martin Luther King, Jr. was a Christian, and he was willing to learn from others. His non-violent approach to the civil rights struggle was rooted in his faith and modeled after Gandhi’s actions when battling the British Empire. According to a trusted internet source, from the early days of the Montgomery bus boycott Martin Luther King, Jr., referred to India’s Mahatma Gandhi as “the guiding light of our technique of nonviolent social change”. MLK realized the odds were stacked against him. He decided to learn from another leader who faced a similar situation and won. Ingenious idea – it worked. In the end, both were victorious.

4. He spoke with clarity and purpose

Martin Luther King, Jr., is arguably one of the greatest orators in American history. When MLK spoke, he inspired others to act. The words he said, and the ideas he offered still reverberate across the world today. He was clear and spoke with purpose. It is a divine talent that few possess. Imagine for a moment the pressure MLK must have felt as he stood before hundreds of thousands on the National Mall. The “I Have a Dream speech” he gave that day is considered to be one of the best speeches ever. Right up there with Lincoln’s Gettysburg address. MLK’s most famous speech inspires me to be a better person and dream of the world he described.

One of the best speeches in American history.

5. MLK chose the harder path

Martin Luther King, Jr. paid the ultimate price for the civil rights cause. He was assassinated on April 4th, 1968. What a tragic loss for America, and the world. His early death is strikingly similar to President Lincoln’s. Both were gunned down by madmen. Both decided to take the harder path and paid the price. Lincoln and MLK both took America to a new mountaintop, a better place. I am grateful for both of them. I especially admire MLK’s decision to take the high road, the harder path. His life greatly impacted mine. I was born only a few short months before he died, and I cannot imagine what the world would be like without him. I am reminded of his impact whenever I hear the song “Pride (In the Name of Love)” by U2. A song they wrote in tribute to him.

We still have a long way to climb

America and the rest of the world still have a long way to go when it comes to equality and civil rights. In fact, I think one could argue that we have taken a few steps backward this past decade. That needs to change. Let’s move forward to the next mountaintop. To go backward would sully the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. A man whose legacy continues to grow with each passing year.

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Leaders must set clear priorities for success in the post-pandemic world

I am writing a blog series about becoming a strong leader in the post-pandemic world. First, I asked, Are you ready to be a strong leader in the post-pandemic world? Next, I continued the conversation by listing many bold predictions that did not come to fruition in the post-pandemic world. In October, I discussed three big work-related changes that all leaders need to understand to be successful in the post-pandemic world. In this blog, I will focus on how leaders can address big change number one – fewer people and resources to get the job done. The bottom line is that leaders must set clear priorities for success in the post-pandemic world.

Many organizations have fewer people

As I wrote in a previous blog, many industries reduced their workforce during the pandemic. Some that were hit hard, like travel, hospitality, and entertainment, rebounded and are on a positive trajectory in the post-pandemic world. Others have not faired so well. If you are wondering which industry laid off the most people this year, the answer is technology, according to my research assistant, ChatGPT. Here is what my assistant said when asked what sector laid off the most people in 2023.

“In the past year, the technology sector experienced many layoffs. Many tech companies, including major players like Cisco, Evernote, Oracle, Zendesk, LinkedIn, Microsoft, Cognizant, and Amazon, announced substantial layoffs. These layoffs affected various departments and were often attributed to cost reductions, restructuring plans, and a need to adapt to changing market conditions. The layoffs ranged from a few hundred employees in some companies to larger percentages of the workforce in others.”

Laying off employees is nothing new for many industries. The change this time around is the scale of the lay-offs. For example, the technology sector laid off over 100K employees in 2022. Numbers for this year are not final, but many believe it will be another large number. What does that mean for leaders? You will not have as many people in many industries to do the job as before. Sometimes, your team may be severely short-staffed, which can be challenging.

Some organizations have fewer resources

Not only did organizations reduce their workforce, but some also decreased their resources. What does that mean? Smaller investments, reduced offices, decreased benefits, lower budgets, less travel, and other ways to save money by cutting expenses. Don’t be surprised if fewer resources are available than before, which will limit your options. For example, if you use consultants to augment your workforce, you may be less able to leverage them as you did before the pandemic. I know many companies have “tightened their belts,” which makes leading in the post-pandemic world more challenging. However, lean times can sometimes lead to innovative solutions.

Leaders will need to set clear priorities

Given this new reality of fewer people and resources, leaders must set clear priorities to succeed in the post-pandemic world. Why? As a leader, you cannot waste your team members’ time on activities that don’t matter much or expend resources on low-return items. Gone are the days when you quickly produce better results by throwing more people at the problem. Neither can you afford to blow your budget early in the year and hope to get more resources later. No, wise leaders will set clear priorities so that the things that matter most get done first by their team members and themselves.

Strong leaders invest their own time in top-priorities

Let’s not forget that leaders must also set clear priorities for themselves. How you invest your time is hugely important. Please don’t waste it sitting in endless status meetings or low-impact activities. No – you need to focus on the top priorities. Over the years, I have witnessed many leaders who do not understand how to invest their time. They let others dictate how they spend their days without considering it. How can you spot a leader wasting their time on low-impact activities? Look at their calendars. It will tell you all you need to know. We will talk more about calendar management for leaders later this year in case it is one of your obstacles.

In the next blog, I will discuss a tool to set priorities.

What about you? Do you know how to set clear priorities for your teams and yourself? Do you have the tools you need to perform this critical function? If not, don’t worry. In the following few blogs, I will talk about tools that will help you set clear priorities and help put you on the path to success this year. Even if you already know how to set priorities, read the following few blogs. I will challenge you to be even more ruthless when setting priorities so that you can lead successfully in the post-pandemic world.

The most precious resource we have is time.
Steve Jobs

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The most important lesson this veteran learned serving with Army Paratroopers

A few years ago I was asked at work to share my perspective as an Army veteran. The presentation I gave described the most important lesson I learned serving with paratroopers. It received a lot of positive feedback. Therefore, I thought it would be useful to share the content here.

This video includes the presentation I gave at work.

My family is full of paratroopers

I spent over a decade serving as an Officer in the US Army. I learned a lot in the Army, especially during my first tour with the 82nd Airborne Division. The division was created in World War I. It is a famous unit with a storied history. It also has a special place in my family’s heritage. My father served in the 82nd Airborne after graduating from West Point. It was his first duty assignment as an Infantry Officer. He reported to Fort Bragg in 1956.

My father served multiple tours at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

I followed in my father’s footsteps

Many years later I followed in my father’s footsteps. I joined the 82nd in 1991 as an Infantry Officer. My first assignment was as a rifle platoon leader in Bravo Company, 1/325 Airborne Infantry Regiment. After that role, I transferred to the Signal Corps and joined the 82nd Signal Battalion. I served as a Signal Node Platoon Leader and Division Assault Command Post Platoon Leader. Yes – I was a platoon leader three different times. I finished my time at Bragg as a Company Executive Officer.

Photo from my promotion ceremony circa 1994.

Leaders jump first then other paratroopers follow

Lesson one – leaders go out the door first. The 82nd has a unique culture, full of traditions that have been created over the years. One tradition regarding their leaders is that they jump first during airborne operations. This tradition started back in WWII. What does that mean – leaders jump first. The most senior leader of any airborne operation will go out the door first, before anyone else. For example, if the Commander of the 82d (a two-star general) is part of a jump, he will jump first followed by the rest of the paratroopers.

Leaders jump first to show their commitment to the mission.

This tradition dates back to World War II

During WWII legendary commanders like Matthew Ridgway and James Gavin jumped and fought alongside their paratroopers. No cushy office for them. This act is not one of privilege, but rather of leadership in action. This tradition visibly shows all the paratroopers in the plane that you are willing to lead them by going first. The 82nd expects danger when they jump into combat. Its leaders are expected to face this danger first. This tradition demonstrates that the leaders are willing to do what they are asking their followers to do. It is a powerful way to show others that I am with you and fully committed, just like you.

General James Gavin getting ready to jump before Normandy.

A personal example of this lesson from my time with paratroopers

I learned this lesson firsthand while serving as the Division Assault CP Platoon Leader. My platoon’s mission was to support the Division Command Group with communications capabilities. We jumped in the radio equipment that the Division Commander and other senior leaders used on the drop zone during airborne operations. Many times we jumped from the same plane as the Commander. He would go out the door first, followed by his Aide, and then members of my platoon. For larger airborne operations that involved many planes, my platoon would be split into small groups and jump from several different aircraft. We would be one of the first to leave the plane so that we could land near the command group members.

Mike Steele - 82nd Airborne Division Commander. He served with my father in Vietnam. — Mike Steele – 82nd Airborne Division Commander that I supported. Great man. He served with my father in Vietnam.

Jumping into Puerto Rico was an adventure

I remember one mission where jumping first was somewhat troubling to me. For this operation, we were jumping into Puerto Rico. The drop zone was not big so we jumped from C-130s. The Division Commander was on the first airplane. I was on the second plane and would be the first jumper from that aircraft. Everything en route went fine. As we approached Puerto Rico, the Jumpmaster gave me the command to “stand in the door”. That means I am positioned in the door, waiting for the jump light to turn green. When it does, you jump.

A paratrooper jumping out of a perfectly good airplane.

Waiting can feel like an eternity

Usually, you stand in the door for less than 30 seconds. As you stand in the door of a C-130 you can see out of the aircraft. When I looked out I noticed a potential problem – all water, no land. I am a good swimmer, but I certainly did not want to experience a water landing. I peered at the jump light – it was still red. Thank God. I watched and waited, hoping that the light would not turn green until we were over land. I kept waiting for what seemed like an eternity.

Jumping at night can be particularly frightening.

Paratroopers jump when the light finally turns green

Eventually, I saw the land, then the drop zone. Next came the green light, and I jumped, followed by my fellow paratroopers. What I learned later was that the jumpmasters decided to put the first jumpers in the door earlier than normal because there was real concern that all the jumpers would not be able to exit the aircraft in time because the drop zone was so small. They did not want any paratrooper to miss the drop zone and have to ride all the way back to Fort Bragg.

Paratroopers with the 82nd Airborne jump from C-130 Hercules aircraft during a mass-tactical airborne training exercise which included over a thousand paratroopers. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Michael J. MacLeod) — 82nd paratroopers jump from C-130 Hercules aircraft during a mass-tactical airborne training exercise which included over a thousand paratroopers. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Michael J. MacLeod)

Reflecting on the lesson I learned during this operation

After the operation was complete I thought to myself what would have happened if the light had turned green while we were still over water. I knew the answer – I would have jumped. I would have done what paratroopers have been trained to do for decades. The light turns green, and then you jump. I could not turn to the paratrooper behind me and say why don’t you go first, it looks kind of dangerous with all that water.

Jumping into an airfield can also be dangerous – lots of pavement.

Leading from the rear is not an option

No – I had been trained as a leader in the 82d that you jump first, and deal with whatever happens next. You lead from the front, not from the rear. That lesson has served me well in many other situations. Sometimes when I find myself in a somewhat scary situation I think of my days in the 82nd, and what it taught me as a leader. You go out the door first.

The reality is that the only way change comes is when you lead by example.
Anne Wojcicki

Are you ready to go out the door first?

What about you? Are you ready to go out the door first? Are you fully committed to the mission of the team you lead? I hope so. If you are committed and competent others will follow you. If for no other reason than to see what happens. Not that kind of leader? Don’t be surprised if your team members are reluctant to follow you. None of us like working for someone who does not lead by example. Don’t be that guy. Instead, be the kind of leader who goes out the door first.

The place for a general in battle is where he can see the battle and get the odor of it in his nostrils. There is no substitute for the general being seen.
General James Gavin, 82nd Airborne Division Commander during WWII

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What big changes at work do all leaders need to understand in the post-pandemic world?

I am writing a blog series about becoming a strong leader in the post-pandemic world. First I asked, Are you ready to be a strong leader in the post-pandemic world? In my last blog, I continued the conversation by listing many bold predictions that did not come to fruition in the post-pandemic world. For this blog, I will discuss three big work-related changes that all leaders need to understand to be successful in the post-pandemic world.

Work-related changes according to ChatGPT

First, let me have my new research assistant, ChatGPT, list the big work-related changes that came true during the pandemic. I checked the results and they seemed accurate to me.

Remote Work: One of the most notable changes has been the widespread adoption of remote work. Many companies transitioned to remote work models to comply with social distancing measures. Even as the pandemic has subsided in some areas, remote work remains prevalent, as businesses recognize its benefits in terms of flexibility, reduced overhead costs, and access to a broader talent pool.
Digital Transformation: The pandemic accelerated digital transformation efforts across industries. Companies invested in technologies and tools to support remote work, enhance online customer experiences, and streamline internal operations. E-commerce, online services, and digital communication platforms saw significant growth.
Hybrid Work Models: Many organizations have adopted hybrid work models, allowing employees to split their time between working remotely and in the office. This approach provides flexibility while maintaining some in-person collaboration.
Emphasis on Health and Safety: Workplace safety and hygiene became paramount. Companies implemented new health protocols, redesigned office layouts, and invested in sanitation measures to ensure the well-being of employees.
Expanded Use of Collaboration Tools: Collaboration and communication tools like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Slack saw a surge in usage. These tools have become essential for virtual meetings, project management, and team collaboration.
Rethinking Office Space: Some companies downsized or reimagined their office spaces to accommodate fewer employees at any given time, create more collaborative areas, and prioritize safety measures.

ChatGPT concluded that these changes have reshaped the work environment, emphasizing adaptability, technology, and employee well-being. Many of these trends are likely to continue shaping the future of work as businesses evolve and respond to ongoing challenges and opportunities. I agree with my new research assistant.

Working from home became the new normal for many people.

Three pandemic work-related changes

ChatGPT listed 15 big changes, but that is way too many for this blog. Rather I am going to focus on three big pandemic work-related changes. They are listed and briefly described below. I believe leaders must realize these changes happened and are probably here to stay. I could be completely wrong in my prediction, but I recommend you do not ignore the following three changes.

Many companies reduced their workforce – the pandemic hit most industries hard. In response companies in those sectors most affected like travel, hospitality, and entertainment were forced to reduce their workforce. It was a tough time for many.
More people worked from home – due to COVID restrictions, organizations were not allowed to have their employees in the office. Many companies pivoted, allowing their staff to work from home full-time. It was a first for me, perhaps you too.
Productivity tools were enhanced – we saw a boom in productivity tools like Zoom, MS Office, and others during the pandemic. With so many people working from home, high-tech companies rolled out new features, capabilities, and functionality.

Video meetings are much more common these days.

Three post-pandemic work-related challenges

These changes are not inherently bad. Many people would agree that changes #2 and #3 are good things. However, these shifts created correlated challenges in the post-pandemic world that leaders will need to address. Below are the related challenges.

Fewer people and resources to get the job done. Some organizations are back to full strength, but many have not fully recovered. They are still short-staffed.
More video engagement and group collaboration. With so many people still working from home video communications has become the new norm for many organizations. Video technology is much better now, but there are still challenges.
More opportunities to automate routine work. It is amazing all the automation that is available to organizations and their leaders to leverage these days. Automation can be a double-edged sword if not handled with forethought about impacts. I do not see this challenge going away any time soon with the rapid rise of AI in the workplace.

Things simply are not the same as pre-pandemic, and strong leaders will make adjustments accordingly. I believe that brighter days are ahead for many leaders and their organizations as they navigate the post-pandemic world.

I will cover all three challenges in detail

In the next several blog posts I will do a deep dive into each of these challenges, along with sharing tools and tips for how to handle the impacts they caused. We have a lot to unpack. As always I look forward to the conversation and hearing others’ perspectives about how to be a strong leader in the post-pandemic world.

Change is the province of leaders. It is the work of leaders to inspire people to do things differently, to struggle against uncertain odds, and to persevere toward a misty image of a better future.
James M. Kouzes, The Leadership Challenge: How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organizations

ATW! will make you a better leader

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