vision – Nathan Magnuson

Where Do We Go From Here?

What happens after a big win? For all the focus (and press) directed at planning and executing, what comes next? Whether your team has achieved a significant goal or is looking to get back on track after a shake-up, here are some basic ways to get everyone back on course.

What I Learned as a Failed Gang Leader

December 21, 2015 Personal Effectiveness

I didn’t start thinking much about leadership until I was a senior in college. But it’s crazy how many lessons I can draw from my younger years. Incidentally, one of them was my “gang activity.” I joined a gang when I was younger. Actually I sort of started one. Now…

The Reason We Take the Leap

October 6, 2014 Influence Inspiration Leadership Personal Effectiveness

Leadership comes with all sorts of headaches and complications. At some point, I’m sure every leader sits back and asks the question, “how did I acquire all this stress?” Sometimes the magnitude of responsibilities is so overwhelming that would-be leaders count the cost and pass up the opportunity altogether. There’s no…

Great Leaders SERVE

July 21, 2014 books Humility Influence Leadership Organizational Effectiveness Personal Effectiveness Values

I had the chance to travel to Greece and Bulgaria recently and give a series of leadership presentations to several university groups with a small team of business professionals. The sights, food and people were reward enough, but getting to share our leadership presentations with the future leaders of two…

Wanted: Optimists!

December 9, 2013 Character Expectations Influence Inspiration Leadership Personal Effectiveness

Is the glass half empty or half full? You’ve undoubtedly been asked this rhetorical question before. Apparently how you answer is supposed to quickly reveal whether you are an optimist or a pessimist – and perhaps a lot more about your inner worldview. I’m not sure what the “right” answer…

But What If I Can’t Delegate?

October 21, 2013 Communication Delegation Expectations Leadership Organizational Effectiveness Personal Effectiveness planning Strategic Thinking

“I don’t like to micro manage,” my friend lamented. “But even when I set clear expectations and deadlines, I find myself having to guide the entire process or else the ball gets dropped. Is that an employee issue or a leadership issue?” It’s hard enough to want to delegate in…

8 Critical Stages for Anyone Creating Change

May 20, 2013 Communication Culture Human Resources Leadership Organizational Effectiveness Strategic Thinking

It’s been said that the term “change management” is a misnomer because if you are trying to “manage” change, you’re already too far behind! Change must be led from the front. Because of that, when I first discovered John Kotter’s eight stage process for creating major change in a university…

The Problem with Good Ideas

February 11, 2013 Leadership Organizational Effectiveness Strategic Thinking

Are good ideas ruining the effectiveness of your team or organization? Yes, you read that correctly. Are good ideas keeping you from winning? At a time when creativity and innovation are at a premium, good ideas are actually more threatening than ever. As organizational leaders, we tend to worship good…