A lot has been written about capitalizing on ones strengths, but owning ones weaknesses is equally important. Phoebe Nixon explores why in her guest post.

Leadership and entrepreneurial insights from Tom Hill, founder of Fuzion Force Entertainment Academy.

Max Joseph's short film Dicks was the inspiration for this post. We explore the question as to whether being a dick influences ones success as a leader.

Commitment is important.  However, even more important is making certain we commit to the right things.  Kim Haagensen's story teaches an important lesson about commitment.

With so many people out there frustrated with their jobs, I wonder if it is the job or just work in general that people dislike?

Lay offs stink, but if you get laid off there is a right and wrong way to deal with the job loss.  First and foremost maintain your dignity.  This post tells the story of a loyal employee who lost his job after fifteen years.  How he left sets a great example for others.

There is a clear link between innovation and leadership.  Explore the connection and learn how to influence the creative culture of your organization.

As we enter the new year, we start the year with the best of intentions.  We are like the frogs on the log.  We decide to do something and make it our new year’s resolution.  We proclaim it to our friends and family.  “This is the year that I will:”

Meet Charles Hunt the "Unbreakable" TEDxCharlotte speaker.  Charles has an amazing story of overcoming the odds and a message to everyone who has ever felt down, but not out.

Learning to give and receive feedback effectively is one of the most powerful skills a leader can learn.  The feedback piggy bank is an easy concept to grasp, but one that takes practice to implement.

Know it alls make the worst leaders.  The best leaders ask great questions.

Why hiring an executive coach is like hiring a personal trainer for your brain.

Having a development plan is an important step towards achieving career success, but too many people rely on their bosses and the company to develop the plan.  Take matters into your own hands and own your development plan.

Companies and their needs evolve, they get acquired, they move their offices, they shift their business models and all too often their employees end up as casualties.  Career transition is nothing to be ashamed of.  It has become incredibly commonplace. 
 

Three Leadership lessons from an art and innovation workshop at the McColl Center.  Originally published in the Charlotte Agenda.

As leaders it is the small actions that can have large impacts. Think about the last time you greeted your employees or customers in the office lobby or at the front door to your retail outlet. If you have never tried it, go for it. That small gesture will have a lasting positive impact. Learn how the actions of one school leader model the behaviors of a great leader.

The key to being a great actor is to be yourself.  Acting is not about impersonation, it is about originality.  The same concept holds true in the business world.  As a leader, the most important attribute you can bring to your job is your authenticity.  There is no one else like you in the world and that is what makes each of us special and different.  Too many people spend their working lives trying to be like someone else or adjusting their personality and approach to “fit in”. 

Valuing talent is the key to achieving sustainable results. With the right team in place an organization’s opportunities can be boundless. A focus on talent must start with the CEO, as she or he needs to show their commitment to hiring, retaining and developing their people even in the face of market headwinds.

The toughest interview question I ever faced was frustrating at the time, but turned into one of my greatest career learnings.  

Rather than seeing the top leadership role as being the person to provide the answers, he saw his responsibility as asking the right questions.  Too many leaders today think that leadership is about having the right answer and showing how smart you are, when in fact leadership is about bringing out the best in others.