Lauren’s Blog

“Lauren, I’ve often heard you say there is a difference between managers and leaders in a tone that discounts managers. But aren’t managers necessary in every working environment?” This was a question sent to me recently in response to one of my posts....

Last week, I discussed how to recognize the signs that you might not be holding yourself accountable. I got quite a volume of responses in my email! Folks, accountability is a bit like the secret ingredient in my husband’s favorite BBQ sauce recipe. It makes...

I had an audience member approach me after I exited the stage this past weekend. She asked a question I’ve never been asked before. She said, “You said poor accountability is primarily a leadership problem. How do I know if I am falling short in my own...

I think it was Nelson Mandela who said, "A person who will perpetuate the lie of another, or by their silence endorse it, can not be trusted to tell the truth themselves." https://vimeo.com/1098613141?share=copy#t=0 My father was not quite as eloquent as Nelson...

Leadership is a series of little things entrusted to us. And the uncomfortable reality is that we are judged just as much on how we handle the little things as we are on how we handle the big things. The Colonel often told me, "If I can't trust you in the little...

One of the most valuable things a leader can do to improve their significance is to take inventory of themselves. It’s often also one of the most uncomfortable things to do. One crucial factor in taking that inventory is assessing our circle of influence. Dad used...

Have you ever seen someone interviewed, whether a CEO or politician, who was unwilling to answer anything but soft-serve questions? Or, more often, dance around a question without answering it at all. That is not a characteristic of someone who is or will be a...