THE LEADERSHIP BLOG
Reflections on Leadership, Clarity, and Growth
Derek’s blog is where he shares reflections on leadership as it is lived: practical insights, real moments, and ideas leaders can return to when they need perspective. Many ideas shared here connect directly to Derek’s books, speaking topics, workshops, and the Lead on 3 framework. Readers often use these reflections as a place to pause, reset, and refocus.
Be More Interruptible
I've had moments when Ellie or Mia interrupted me while I was working and, even if I didn't say anything, my body language probably communicated exactly what I was thinking: Can't you see I'm busy? Most leaders know that feeling. You're focused, moving fast, and finally getting something done when someone appears.
You Can't Train From a Distance
Imagine a basketball coach trying to develop players without ever watching them play. No practices. No games. No film. No conversations about what happened. Just occasional instructions from a distance followed by an expectation that everyone should improve. It would be ridiculous in sports, yet leaders sometimes try to develop employees in a surprisingly similar way.
When Helping Becomes the Problem
A leader once described a problem to me that I hear in different forms all the time. “I keep being asked to help. And the problem is...I always do.” At first, that doesn't sound like much of a leadership problem. Helping people is good. Being responsive is good. Supporting your team is part of the job. The problem is when helping quietly becomes rescuing.
Performance Management Shouldn't Feel Like Judgment Day
For a lot of employees, the annual performance review feels less like development and more like judgment day. They walk into a room knowing they're about to hear an official assessment of work they've been doing for the last 12 months, sometimes wondering whether they're about to learn something their leader has been thinking for months.
The “Good Job” Trap
During a leadership workshop with a group from the building industry, we were talking about feedback when a participant offered three words that captured one of its biggest problems:
“Good job at what?”