Keeping Remote Teams Engaged

THE group(s) we identify with influence who we are – our thinking and behavior. We are a reflection of the groups we identify with. In The Collective Edge, Colin Fisher explains that “Understanding human behavior means understanding group dynamics—the obvious and hidden ways in which our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are shaped by groups.” In addition, “Whether you want to change yourself, your work group, or the world, you need to work with the invisible forces of group dynamics instead of being mindlessly pushed around by them.” We tend to think in terms of individual actors rather than groups, especially when it comes to leadership. Whether things go right or wro…

IDEAS shared have the power to expand perspectives, change thinking, and move lives. Here are two ideas for the curious mind to engage with: I. Matt Cooke on surrender: “Surrender isn't giving up; it's letting go of the need to control what's never been yours to carry. There's power in releasing the grip. In trusting the process even when you can't see the outcome. You weren't meant to figure it all out; you were meant to feel your way through it. When you surrender, you create space. When you trust, you allow movement. That's where things shift, not through force, but through flow. So, if it feels uncertain right now, that's okay. You're not lost. You're just in the …

AS organizations navigate the complexities of the 21st century — marked by rapid technological advancements, evolving workforce demographics, and global socio-political shifts — the need for a fresh approach to leadership has never been more pressing. One of the most significant shifts in leadership thinking is the emphasis on inclusion as a core strategic imperative. Inclusion isn’t simply a fashionable term or corporate social responsibility checkbox; it’s a critical driver of long-term organizational success. Why inclusion is so important, and why now? Inclusion has become a focal point in organizational strategies because the world we live in is more interconnecte…

Here is a selection of Posts from September 2025 that you will want to check out: 9 Ways Great Leaders Communicate by @charlesstone 12 Characteristics of Humble Leaders I’ve Known by @Clawlessjr Samuel George: Lithium Rising: The Race for Critical Minerals via @jamesstrock Critical minerals are the new oil—and the global competition for the clean energy future is on. Six problem-solving mindsets for very uncertain times via @McKinsey The Case for Investing in Public Imagination by Craig Shapiro via @collabfund The Cambrian Implosion via @firstthingsmag by Matthew W. Maguire The contrivances and apparatus of the inorganic now assert themselves against the organic in alm…

HERE'S A LOOK at some of the best leadership books to be released in October 2025 curated just for you. Be sure to check out the other great titles being offered this month. A CEO for All Seasons: Mastering the Cycles of Leadership by Carolyn Dewar, Scott Keller, Vikram Malhotra and Kurt Strovink In the high-stakes world of corporate leadership, becoming a Fortune 500 CEO is an Everest-like ascent—with only the savviest managing to avoid falling off the mountain. In A CEO for All Seasons,you’ll find an essential climbing route that will take you through every stage. Unique in applying a number of sophisticated metrics to isolate the world’s top 200 CEOs, reduce them to…

IDEAS shared have the power to expand perspectives, change thinking, and move lives. Here are two ideas for the curious mind to engage with: I. Math teacher Dan Meyer on real-world problem solving: “What problem have you solved, ever, that was worth solving where you knew all the given information in advance? No problem worth solving is like that. In the real world, you have a surplus of information and you have to filter it, or you don’t have sufficient information and you have to go find some.” TED Talk: Math Class Needs A Makeover II. Bob Goff on focus: “We need to block our view of the things that hardly matter at all, stop returning to the patterns that do n…

IDEAS shared have the power to expand perspectives, change thinking, and move lives. Here are two ideas for the curious mind to engage with: I. Robert Dilenschneider on respect on: “ A starting point to develop and demonstrate respectfulness is to first respect yourself. You cannot respect others if you do not respect yourself. Paradoxically, gaining self-respect requires not looking to others for respect or validation. It is a quality that must come from within. Then, and only then, can it extend outwardly authentically.” Source: Respect: How to Change the World One Interaction at a Time II. Sébastien Page on debating with brilliant people: “‘Your idea is not yo…

IDEAS shared have the power to expand perspectives, change thinking, and move lives. Here are two ideas for the curious mind to engage with: I. Zelana Montminy on pausing: “Give yourself permission...to stop sprinting on fumes. To admit the pace is breaking you. To feel the ache beneath the momentum. To stop performing energy you don’t have. You don’t need another protocol. Another cold plunge. Another fix-it morning routine. You need a moment to breathe without performing your peace. This summer, let slowness be sacred. Let rest be whole, without the guilt. Let the world keep pushing. You get to pause. You get to be real, not relentless.” Source: Finding Focus: Own Y…

IDEAS shared have the power to expand perspectives, change thinking, and move lives. Here are two ideas for the curious mind to engage with: I. Jeffrey Pfeffer on authenticity: “The last thing a leader needs to be at crucial moments is ‘authentic’—at least if authentic means being both in touch with and exhibiting their true feelings. In fact, being authentic is pretty much the opposite of what leaders must do. Leaders do not need to be true to themselves. Rather, leaders need to be true to what the situation and what those around them want and need from them.” Source: Leadership BS: Fixing Workplaces and Careers One Truth at a Time II. Steven Goldbach and Geoff Tuf…

In our fast-changing world, fear-based leaders rise quickly—tightening their grip as chaos grows. But what if you could learn to predict their behavior, neutralize their impact, and protect what matters most? A new style of leader is in town, and it’s a blast from the past. Across tech, business, and the social sector, fear-based leadership is suddenly all the rage. This type of leadership started thousands of years ago, when some of the first humans to experience power dynamics decided to abuse it. It’s a “might makes right” approach — top down, hierarchical, and “my way is the highway.” Leaders like this model themselves after feudal lords, and if you’re around them, …

IDEAS shared have the power to expand perspectives, change thinking, and move lives. Here are two ideas for the curious mind to engage with: I. Robert A. Heinlein on the importance of knowing your history: “A generation which ignores history has no past —and no future.” Source: Time Enough for Love II. Rasmus Hougaard and Jacqueline Carter on AI objectivity: “We all like to think we’re wise. And in our own ways, we are. But we’re also all quite limited. A powerful way for leaders to leverage the potential of AI systems is to use it to challenge what they think they know and who they think they are. In leadership, it’s incredibly beneficial to people who are willin…

Here is a selection of Posts from October 2025 that you will want to check out: Why are difficult conversations still so… well, difficult? (And what to do about it) by @suzimcalpine The Power of the Ask by @KevinPaulScott Design for Different by @KevinPaulScott The Real Secret to Powerful Public Speaking by @DrNickMorgan 14 Thoughts about Building a Great Culture by @JonGordon11 Video (2:50): Moral Failure by @samchand The Crowding-Out Effect via Chasing Excellence The crowding-out principle can change how you think about building the life you want Serve To Lead Podcast: @jamesstrock interviews Philip K Howard Saving Can-Do: How to Revive the Spirit of America Lawyers …

HERE'S A LOOK at some of the best leadership books to be released in November 2025 curated just for you. Be sure to check out the other great titles being offered this month. De-Positioning: The Secret Brand Strategy for Creating Competitive Advantage by Todd Irwin What is the brand strategy Apple, Starbucks, and other market leaders have mastered for decades, yet never name? It’s not differentiation. It’s not purpose. It’s something far more powerful, and in today’s hyper-competitive business world, it’s the only strategy that consistently wins. It’s called De-Positioning, a method that turns your competitor’s strengths into liabilities while positioning your brand as…

IN a world of constant change, leaders face relentless pressure to deliver results. Yet the greatest leaders know that true success is not measured only by outcomes, but also by their ability to create conditions for others to thrive and achieve the extraordinary. Of course, everyone in your organization plays an important role. But there are the very select few who show a truly exceptional talent. They are the ones who have the potential to achieve extraordinary things, who push the whole team further, under the most pressing conditions. They are the ones who are not just satisfied with the status quo on a high level. They are going the furthest, taking the risks that p…

IDEAS shared have the power to expand perspectives, change thinking, and move lives. Here are two ideas for the curious mind to engage with: I. Nick Huber on responsibility: “This might hurt. This is likely hard to swallow. It isn’t anyone else’s fault. Your life today is a direct result of your own decisions and actions. Successful people understand this and take ownership in every situation. If you cultivate resilience, you have a significant competitive advantage over most people. If you are willing to do hard things, your tolerance for discomfort will become a superpower. If you swim against the current and try something new that might lead to a different resu…

THE groundwork for the modern cult of authenticity was laid in our era by philosophers like Rousseau and others of his mindset who followed him. Their idea that any constraints laid on us or attempts to conform us by society make us inauthentic. But the fact is, we find out who we are in relation to other people and the communities in which we interact. Our uninhibited self is rarely our best self. In Don’t Be Yourself: Why Authenticity Is Overrated (and What to Do Instead) published by Harvard Business Review Press, author Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic asks, “What if chasing authenticity was an actual trap—one that oversimplifies human complexity, disregards the necessity of …

THE most biodiverse place on Earth isn’t found deep in the Amazon rainforest or in the heart of the ocean. It’s at the edges–where forest meets water, where mountain slopes transition to valley floors, where different ecosystems intersect and create something neither could achieve alone. These “edge effects” generate extraordinary abundance through the dynamic interaction of different systems. The same principle applies to our organizations, yet most businesses are designed to minimize exactly these kinds of productive intersections. We organize into departments, create clear reporting lines, and establish distinct territories of responsibility. While this structure prov…

IDEAS shared have the power to expand perspectives, change thinking, and move lives. Here are two ideas for the curious mind to engage with: I. Anne-Laura Le Cunff on life as an experiment: “No matter how good your tool or deliberative your thought process, one thing never changes: There is no right choice. If you’re used to zero-sum thinking, that point of view may frustrate you. But it’s almost impossible to fail when you see everything as an experiment. In a life of experimentation, there is no wrong choice, either. A pact isn’t a destination. It’s a path you want to discover more about yourself and the world. Success and failure are fluid constructs, not fixed lab…

In a market where clients are under pressure to do more with less, they won’t gamble on generalists. The firms and advisors who thrive are those who carve out a niche and lead it. HEADLINES expressing how AI is reshaping knowledge work are everywhere. From legal research to tax prep, technology is automating the rote tasks that used to justify armies of junior staff. Clients are noticing. A 2025 Bloomberg survey of corporate general councils found that 61 percent expect to experiment with AI-powered tools this year, and more than half say they’re scrutinizing external providers to ensure “specialized value” that machines can’t replace. This is the crux for professional e…

THE new hyper-digital age will see a significant shift towards participation branding in what some regard as the Participation Age. As consumers increasingly rely on one another for feedback and input on what and where to buy products and services, the best brands invite consumers to participate in brand-building. This participation could involve a range of actions, from co-creation of product design to customer-led innovation efforts, user-generated ads and promotions, and people-powered influencer marketing programs. Notably, each of these actions has the potential to positively influence customer engagement. The participation branding approach co-creates value with cu…

IDEAS shared have the power to expand perspectives, change thinking, and move lives. Here are two ideas for the curious mind to engage with: I. Nick Bare on the value of running: “So, why run? It is versus you. You keep driving through the little pieces of pain that you’re experiencing in your legs. Those pieces go a long way to developing something inside of you. Your lungs burn when you first get started and you begin gasping for air as you attempt to move your legs faster than they can sustain. Running is humbling. Running teaches us discipline, focus, and the power of consistent action. Running builds confidence. And running creates opportunities for mental clarit…

IDEAS shared have the power to expand perspectives, change thinking, and move lives. Here are two ideas for the curious mind to engage with: I. Adam Galinsky on sharing praise: “When we are in a position of leadership, all our words and expressions—positive and negative—get amplified. Amplify your inspiring amplifications. How? By sharing your praise of others with their leaders. When you work with someone who really excelled at a task, you can let their boss know how much you appreciated their efforts. Taking the time to write a note of praise or gratitude to one’s supervisor further amplifies the value of their contributions.” Source: Inspire: The Universal Path for…

Here is a selection of Posts from November 2025 that you will want to check out: Warren Buffett Was Always a Brand Guy by Craig Shapiro @cshapiro Emotional moats are deeper than financial ones. Your Ceiling Becomes Their Starting Point: A Guide to Building Healthy Family Habits via Chasing Excellence. Why modeling health beats managing behavior — and how to actually do it. Motivation Is a Feeling. Discipline Is a Decision by @AlanSteinJr Top 10 Reasons Leaders Stop Leading: And How to Get Going Again by @DanReiland A Gratitude Question That Changed Everything via @TheDaily_Coach “What does it look like to be grateful in this?” It's the Most American Day of the Year by…

HERE'S A LOOK at some of the best leadership books to be released in December 2025 curated just for you. Be sure to check out the other great titles being offered this month. The Seismic Shift in You: The Seven Necessary Shifts to Create Connection and Drive Results by Michelle Johnston and Marshall Goldsmith In a world more connected than ever, why are we all feeling so disconnected? Leadership expert Dr. Michelle K. Johnston reveals the hidden crisis plaguing modern workplaces: an epidemic of disconnection that’s eroding team performance, personal satisfaction, and organizational success. The Seismic Shift in You offers a transformative approach to leadership that st…

IDEAS shared have the power to expand perspectives, change thinking, and move lives. Here are two ideas for the curious mind to engage with: I. Jordan Peterson on vision: “Don’t underestimate the power of vision and direction. These are irresistible forces, able to transform what might appear to be unconquerable obstacles into traversable pathways and expanding opportunities. Strengthen the individual. Start with yourself. Take care with yourself. Define who you are. Refine your personality. Choose your destination and articulate your Being. As the great nineteenth-century German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche so brilliantly noted, “He whose life has a why can bear a…