Performance Strategies Group

04/03/2026

Having only recently been invited to join the I have found it a growing honor and enjoying it immensely. Here is a Council piece I recently had the chance to contribute to. Mine is response two.

There’s value in persistence, but sticking with the wrong path for too long can waste time, energy and resources, while a different direction may lead to better results.

02/18/2026

Made some new friends recently speaking to and from across Alabama recently. Good group. Even better causes!

02/18/2026

Made some new friends recently speaking to and from across Alabama recently. Good group. Even better causes!

02/03/2026

02/03/2026

The #1 Leadership Skill Nobody Teaches

Communication breakdowns don’t happen because people are bad communicators. They happen because nobody owns the system.

Knowing who to talk to, about what, and how often — that’s not just a soft skill. It’s an organizational responsibility. Every single one of us.

And it’s a two-way street.

Saying what you mean and meaning what you say builds trust. But none of that lands if the person on the other end isn’t truly listening — not just hearing words, but understanding intent.

The best leaders I work with don’t just “communicate more.” They communicate intentionally. They ask:

→ Am I talking to the right person?

→ Is this the right conversation for this moment?

→ Am I actually hearing what’s being said — or just waiting to respond?
Communication isn’t a department. It’s a shared responsibility.

Own your part. Every time.

02/02/2026

Thanks for all our new followers!

02/02/2026

The fastest way to stand out early in your career? Ask better questions.

Most emerging leaders think they need to have all the answers. But here’s what I’ve learned: The executives getting tapped for strategic initiatives aren’t the ones who talk the most—they’re the ones who ask the questions that make everyone else stop and think.

Great questions do three things:
They expose blind spots in planning that could derail ex*****on later. They connect dots between initiatives that others are treating as separate. And they demonstrate you’re thinking beyond your job description.

Here’s the shift: Stop asking questions just to clarify what you need to do. Start asking questions that help the team see what needs to happen.

Instead of “What do you want me to focus on?” try “What’s the biggest risk to this timeline that we haven’t discussed yet?”

Instead of “Can you explain that again?” try “How does this align with the constraints we identified in last quarter’s post-mortem?”

You don’t need a decade of experience to ask strategic questions. You need curiosity about outcomes, attention to what’s being said (and what isn’t), and the courage to voice what others might be thinking but haven’t articulated.

The leaders making decisions about who gets visibility on high-impact projects aren’t just looking for doers. They’re looking for thinkers who can help them see around corners.
Your questions are your reputation in the making.

01/30/2026

Leaders don’t come in one shape or size.

Great leaders are not all extroverts nor introverts. Leadership is, at heart, influence that manifests itself in decision making, building strategies and tactics that fulfill organizational mission, creating positive change, demonstrating authenticity, and building teams where psychological safety is present.

I’ve learned from the quiet strategist who listened more than they spoke. I’ve been inspired by the charismatic visionary who could rally a room. I’ve watched the analytical problem-solver transform chaos into clarity, and the empathetic connector build bridges others couldn’t see.

Each brought something different. Each was undeniably effective.
Question for you: What types of leaders have been most influential in your career? Was it the bold decision-maker, the patient mentor, the innovative disruptor, or someone else entirely?

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01/29/2026

“If you think you’re leading and turn to find no one is following, you’re really just going for a walk.”

This quote hits differently when you’re the one out front, doesn’t it?
Real leadership isn’t about the title on your door or your position on the org chart. It’s about whether people actually choose to follow you when the path gets uncertain.

If your team isn’t engaged with your vision, three things might be happening:

You haven’t earned their trust. Leadership without relationship equity is just management by authority. And authority without trust gets you compliance at best, resistance at worst.

Your vision isn’t clear enough. People don’t follow vague directions. They need to see where you’re headed and understand why it matters—to them, to the team, to the mission.
You’re moving too fast. Sometimes the best leaders pause, turn around, and make sure everyone can still see the path. Speed without alignment is just chaos with a deadline.

The hardest part? You can’t force people to follow. You can only make yourself worth following.

So before you take that next big step forward, look behind you. Are they with you? If not, maybe it’s time to stop walking and start listening.

01/28/2026

Thanks to my friends at GovConPay and GovCon Hr for allowing me to present “Making HR the Centerpiece for Performance Improvement and Leading Change.” It was a great audience and so fun!