“Oh, OK, I invented Post-Its,” Michele, the Lisa Kudrow character blurts out in the 1997 movie, “Romy & Michele’s High School Reunion.” She gets found out, of course, even if she slides through an explanation involving viscosity. But most people get caught with resume and experience enhancements. Recently, U.S. State Department official Mina Chang was discovered to have lied on her resume, and with some big lies, including a fake Time magazine cover. She has resigned.
Read MoreStraight answers. Truth. Not fibs. It’s what you want from a leader in the workplace, or anywhere.
Read MoreIn the era of fake news, denials of facts in the face of evidence, and a culture comfortably morphing from the acceptance of truthiness to outright lies, how do you create a workplace of honesty and transparency?
Read MoreMy father had more integrity than any person I’ve ever known. He never lied, never embellished, never sugarcoated, never cut corners, never deviated even a little from the truth, and never marched to anyone’s drum but his own. His favorite adage, which he lived by unerringly, was from Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice: “To thine own self be true, and it shall follow as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
Read MoreOver the last 40 years, I’ve held numerous positions—from executive director to chairs of boards—in which I’ve had the challenging and sometimes daunting task of leading other people. Although I had to learn it the hard way, by making the same mistakes over and over, I finally discovered one of the less recognized keys to being an effective leader. It is crucial to let people in on your weakness, forewarn them about your bad habits, invite them to call you on those failings, and take steps to counteract the negative effects you’re unintentionally producing.
Read MoreFor a long time I’ve been fascinated with words (written or spoken) that you’d expect to pack a punch, but end up falling short.
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