Scott Cochrane – A Leader's Journey

Leaders spend a great deal of time and effort addressing issues of under-performance on their team. But in most cases, the issue that should really be dealt with is that of Mis-Performance, not under-performance.
Mis-performance is the all-too common problem that sees members of a team deliver less than optimal results not through lack of effort, but through misplaced effort. And where this is misplaced effort you will soon have a full blown results meltdown...

Have you ever encountered a “Watch Me Swim” leader?
This is the person who insists on letting you know about every accomplishment they’ve achieved, no matter how small or insignificant. The attitude is very similar to the child splashing around the swimming pool, desperate for the grown-ups to notice...

In a world that has attached a strange nobility to the notion of being busy, effective leaders stand out by avoiding the “I’m so busy” trap.
One of the most effective leaders I’ve ever known was highly productive, and yet operated at a pace that was somehow both urgent and yet unhurried....

The idea of the “fearless leader” owes more to myth than it does to leadership reality. The goal is not to be fearless, the goal is to be courageous.
There’s a world of difference.
A fascinating conversation I had with a professional athlete painted a vivid picture of this. During my college days, I supported myself by working as a sports writer. Once, while covering a pro boxing match, I asked the younger challenger how he managed...