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Author: Jeff Mcmanus

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Blog, Leadership

Over the past eight months of moving into a new job, state, and community, I’ve beenreminded of just how difficult—and rewarding—change can be. Harvard BusinessReview notes that transition in today’s workplace is tougher than ever. Promotions, rolechanges, or entirely new ventures demand hyper-collaboration and constant speed,leaving even the best-prepared professionals struggling to find their footing. Fortunately, I spend much of my time around plants—planting, transplanting, pruning.Their process for surviving and thriving offers powerful lessons. If you’ve ever...

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Blog, Leadership

Humor is one of those things that’s tough to explain without ruining it. As E.B. White wisely put it, “Humor can be dissected, as a frog can, but the thing dies in the process.” So, let’s skip the science and talk about the real value of bringing humor to work. A recent survey found that 84% of executives believe those with a good sense of humor do better work. While humor won’t erase challenges, sharing a laugh makes the workday feel...

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Blog, Leadership

“Strong relationships are built on difficult conversations.” – Simon Sinek Last week, we explored the real costs of workplace conflict—financial, collaborative, and personal. While both leaders and employees share the responsibility to address conflict, it’s the leader’s role to set the tone and model conflict resolution effectively. The good news? With a few key strategies, leaders can handle conflict productively and use it as a chance to grow. What NOT to do: Many leaders default to avoiding conflict, which only makes things worse....

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Blog, Leadership

Conflict among and with those you lead is inevitable. According to the Conflict Resolution Center, leaders spend at least 30-40% of their day trying to resolve conflict. Here are some examples: Last week, I offered an online seminar on conflict management in the workplace – specifically around the difficult conversations that start/stop the conflict. Titled, Stop Dodging, Start Dialoguing: Mastering Difficult Workplace Conversations, the goal of the online seminar was to encourage constructive dialogue and introduce strategies...

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Blog, Leadership

Last week, we explored the value of the Growth Mindset. Now, let’s talk about how to build momentum—and keep it going. Gill Penchina, a business leader and investor, once said: “Momentum begets momentum, and the best way to start is to start.” In physics, momentum is power in motion. Think of a bowling ball versus a softball. Same speed, different force. The bowling ball carries more weight—more momentum—because of its mass. The same principle applies to leadership and personal growth. Take Chris Nikic....

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Blog, Leadership

I’m in the growth business. Whether it’s plants, people, or potential—I love watching things grow. Last month, I shared the story of Chris Nikic. Born with Down Syndrome, Chris didn’t let labels limit him. At 18, he made a simple decision: get 1% better every day. That decision led him to complete one of the world’s toughest endurance tests—the Ironman®. Chris wasn’t chasing trophies. He just wanted to Be Better. That’s the heart of what Dr. Carol Dweck calls the Growth Mindset....

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Blog, Leadership

“Behavior is contagious. Bad behavior spreads faster.” ~ Adam Grant, Organizational Psychiatrist Last week, I led a webinar called Professionalism Matters: Raising the Bar on Workplace Behavior. Because we’ve all been there when someone in our workplace, on our team, gets away with something bad. They may not steal or lie or cheat, but their behavior tells you they easily could. They might be rude, show up late, are inconsistent in the quality of their work, gossip, or display poor decision making...

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Blog, Leadership

In all organizations we’re used to thinking in terms of local and district managers, directors,foremen, supervisors, and crews. There's usually one person calling the shots. But what ifleadership wasn’t a position—it was a mindset? What if everyone on your team felt responsible,empowered, and engaged? That’s the heart of the leaderful mindset. Leaderful organizations don't wait for one person to make every decision. Instead, theyencourage everyone to think like a leader—taking ownership, offering ideas, and making thingsbetter right where...

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Blog, Leadership

Let’s be real—leadership isn’t about big words or fancy titles. It’s about getting peoplemoving in the same direction to get a job done right. Leadership is the grease thatkeeps the machine running. So, here’s the big question: What kind of leader are you? Are you The Real Deal?Back in the 1960s, people started using the phrase “The Real Deal” to describesomeone who was the genuine article—no fakes, no fluff. It meant you could trust themto be who...

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Blog, Leadership

We may not be riding horses, herding cattle, or settling new frontiers anymore—but life can still feel like the Wild West. Long days, tough jobs, dealing with people, and just trying to make ends meet can feel like a daily dust-up. Back in the day, the pioneering people didn’t have HR departments or rulebooks. What they did have was something better: a personal code. They called it The Code of the West, a simple, unwritten set of values that helped folks...

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