Leadership
Are You a “Go First” Leader?
Over the past few weeks, I’ve blogged about material from my new book, Leadershift: 11 Essential Changes Every Leader Must Embrace. We’re nearing the end of that process, so I want to talk about one of the more challenging shifts some leaders face. It’s the Cost Shift—moving from the perks of leadership to the price…
Read MoreMark Cole: 11 Reasons Why You Will Be a Better Leader This Year
There’s a hunger for leadership in the world today like never before. People have looked to Hollywood, sports figures and politics, all in hopes that leadership will show itself. We’ve all been disappointed in places of business, or faith, or Wall Street. And this has generated confusion about what leadership really means. This hunger produces…
Read MoreBecome a Leader Others Want to Follow
Today, my newest book, Leadershift: 11 Essential Changes Every Leader Must Embrace, finally hits shelves in stores. Thank you to everyone who pre-ordered a copy of the book or helped get the word out through social media. We’re expecting a great launch, and it’s made possible by your help and excitement. I’m also excited for…
Read MoreMark Cole: The Huddle – A Leadership Lesson From Football
I’m a huge football fan and the Super Bowl is in my town this Sunday. To say that I am excited would be an understatement! Organizations have been pouring in from all over the world all week for this one event. This week alone will bring in over $1 billion for the city of Atlanta.…
Read MoreDeveloping Credibility as a Leader
I recently spent an afternoon with Carly Fiorina discussing how leadership values and tools can make a difference in communities around the world. Carly and I are two sides of the leadership coin—I’m an encouraging leader who helps people discover (or rediscover) values of leadership, while Carly is an empowering leader who provides practical tools…
Read MoreMark Cole: Recruiting the Most Important Member of the Team
Dear Leader: You can’t make it on your own. That’s not a putdown—it’s a reality. The bigger your goals, the more help you’re going to need in reaching them. John Maxwell says, “The definition of a nightmare is a big dream and a bad team.” That’s why I believe the most important member of any…
Read MoreIf You Want to Grow, Cultivate a Teachable Spirit
We’re now well into 2019 and I love the optimism that people have about their goals. There’s still plenty of talk about making those resolutions stick. Social media posts abound of people hitting the gym or making other changes to their daily routine in order to make this year different from last. I love this…
Read MoreMark Cole: Busy is a Four-Letter Word
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, right? That time of year when people are busier than ever preparing for family visits, fighting crowds at the mall, wrapping presents, finishing projects, and setting goals, all while trying to bake fruitcakes for neighbors. Our lives are busy with so much still to be done. And…
Read MoreBe a Giver
We’re nearing Christmas, and everywhere you look, there are advertisements encouraging you to think about the people on your gift list. Whether it’s your spouse, your children, a parent or a co-worker, there’s a lot of emphasis placed on giving just the right gift. As a result, people are cheerfully—and busily—shopping to put a smile…
Read MoreMark Cole: How to Grow Your Influence
If your life in any way connects with other people, you are an influencer. My good friend Tim Elmore shared an amazing statistic with me several years ago that I’ve never forgotten. Sociologists tell us that even the most introverted individual will influence 10,000 people during his or her lifetime. Everyone influences someone! That means the question we…
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