Phil Cole
Strength isn’t leadership, and it often leads to failure.
A "strong" leader is often an unsuccessful one. Learn what to look for in a leader instead of strength.
Search
Phil Cole
- Jun 28
- 3 min
Leadership is Learned. So is a Lack of Leadership.
People learn to lead poorly in the same manner they learn to lead well. And they get better at leading poorly.
Phil Cole
- Apr 26
- 2 min
Direction is the Beginning of Leadership
Leadership begins with the story of vision. This possible future, and not our personal preferences or desires, is what we lead towards.
Phil Cole
- Apr 22
- 3 min
Power versus the Story of Vision (or, How Leaders Act When They Lack Leadership)
Leadership allows us to change other's behavior. When we lack leadership, we use power to force others to behave in the way that we want.
Phil Cole
- Apr 18
- 2 min
Get on the Floor (Particularly if You Supervise Other Leaders)
You can’t possibly lead if you aren’t on the floor, where you see the functions of leadership and the process of work in action.
Phil Cole
- Apr 7
- 1 min
Life is a Process of Narrowing
Life is a process of narrowing. When we are young, we explore the world. We experience many things, we meet many people, and we begin to...
Phil Cole
- Mar 16
- 2 min
The Four Steps to SOAR Through a Job Interview
Job interviews are hard. The hardest part is often the situational questions, where we demonstrate our capabilities by telling the story...
Phil Cole
- Mar 8
- 4 min
Why Leadership is Learning - A Case Study
This is a case study of a leader who is stuck. Where are you stuck? Because that moment is where you need to learn.
Phil Cole
- Mar 4
- 2 min
"What You Know" Can Still Get You Fired
When we lead, it becomes difficult to separate "what we know" from "who we are". This is when leaders get fired.
Phil Cole
- Feb 22
- 1 min
Growth Requires We See External Limitations
Only when we see the external limitations placed upon us can we understand our full potential.
Phil Cole
- Feb 18
- 3 min
Good Meetings Create Something Valuable (THE LIST: The Art of Gathering)
Every interaction has the possibility of creating value in the world. If you want to lead, learn Priya Parker's methods.
Phil Cole
- Feb 15
- 3 min
Sometimes Chefs Need a Cookbook (REVIEWED: The Best Place To Work)
Sometimes we don't know what behavior a situation requires, even though we see everything else. That's when we need a leadership cookbook.
Phil Cole
- Feb 15
- 3 min
What to Do With Feedback
Feedback is useless without a process to assess and learn from it. Here's how to do this.
Phil Cole
- Feb 10
- 1 min
Learning is Driven by Feelings of Inadequacy
Inadequacy, self-doubt, failure: these feelings allow us to see that we could have performed a task more effectively. Without them, we...
Phil Cole
- Feb 8
- 3 min
Learning Isn't Just In Your Head (THE LIST: Decoding Greatness)
If we try to improve without new ideas, we aren't learning: we are practicing what we already know.
Phil Cole
- Feb 3
- 2 min
Understanding Our Brains Makes Us Better Leaders (THE LIST: How to Have a Good Day by Caroline Webb)
How to Have a Good Day is a practical, grounded work that covers a wide range of the reality of professional life.
Phil Cole
- Feb 3
- 3 min
Imposter Syndrome is a Myth
Imposter syndrome prevents learning. The label creates pressure to avoid, not explore, the two-sided coin of self-doubt and perfectionism.
Phil Cole
- Jan 31
- 3 min
The Behavioral Science of Seeing Group Performance
Behvioral science explains why our success as leaders depends on seeing things that we might not notice.
Phil Cole
- Jan 24
- 4 min
A Conversation Can Change a Life (THE LIST: You Can Change Other People)
You Can Change Others offers vital tactics to help others see what really is. This book is a companion to the functional approach.
Phil Cole
- Jan 20
- 3 min
The Connection Between Learning and Behavioral Change
There are two parts to the process of developing a new skill: learning, and behavioral change.