Benton+Bradford Blog

Outside perspective matters. We love to claim our titles. I see them frequently on social media bios — entrepreneur, spouse,

In our house with two school-aged sons, my wife and I experience the kind of stress that stems from deep

In Part 1 of The Power of Stepping Up or Stepping Back, we explored how great leaders discern the right

Recently, I had the honor of speaking at a presidents’ meeting for one of our major client companies. The invitation

Last week, I was in a meeting of leaders at an organization with which I am engaged as an executive

Leadership is often associated with strategy, vision, and decision-making. But at its core, effective leadership is about connection. Few practices

From my perspective as a coach and business leader, one thing is clear: this year has been a test of

As leaders ascend the professional ladder, it’s easy to believe that the same traits and skills that brought them success

As the lines between our professional and personal lives are increasingly blurred, true leadership transcends workplace walls. We are often

Paraphrasing Maya Angelou, people may not remember what you said, but they’ll remember how you made them feel. This sentiment

As leaders, our words hold significant power. The right language can inspire, motivate, and guide our teams through various challenges

It’s a common enough story. A dedicated employee gets promoted for doing great work. Perhaps the move takes them from

“I don’t have time.” Busy executives and leaders often say some variation of that when I ask whether they are

In every sector of every industry, businesses are encountering changes and challenges. That’s why it’s more critical than ever for

In Season Three of “The Office,” Michael Scott visits the Dunder-Mifflin headquarters to interview for a corporate role. In response

At home with my two young sons, we often talk about big feelings. When children experience certain feelings for the

Who is responsible for the customer experience in your organization? If you think it’s only team members in client or

We often hear the phrase “You can’t do it alone.” On some days, if you’re full of caffeine and enthusiasm,

Many managers are surprised to learn that curiosity is an essential trait for being an effective people leader. Think about

“Why didn’t you tell me?” A team member stood in his manager’s office asking this question. He had just learned

We’ve heard a lot about organizational agility in recent years, as the ability of a business to adapt, survive, and

Everyone watches out for “red flags,” the indicators of organizations or individuals that make for an unpleasant work experience. But

It’s easy to lead when conditions are great. Business is booming, salaries are competitive, and bonuses are generous. Executives praise

Lessons from a Forty-Year Friendship   It doesn’t have to be lonely at the top. And it shouldn’t be. For

Everyone knows a manager who excelled at all the technical aspects of their job and was promoted based on that

Employees require more feedback. Constituent demands are greater. Organizations are adapting to new versions of normal. Employees are tackling additional

Six months into a year, leaders should recalibrate and identify areas of focus for the second half of the year.

Many leaders find delivering feedback challenging and they fail to provide insights that can improve employee performance. But feedback designed

Like many Americans, I watched the socially distanced Inauguration 2021 festivities with interest. But unlike many Americans, I observed this