OUR Leadership BLOG

Dr. Paul Metler | 8/23/2017

I was at the gym this morning and one of my friends offered to sell me a slightly used pair of eclipse glasses at a reduced price. I passed on the generous offer, smiled and went back to work. Just a few days ago eclipse glasses were a hot commodity. Today, not so much. Monday, they were necessary and today they are not. Obsolescence is defined as the process of becoming obsolete, outdated or no longer used. In the case of eclipse glasses, it’s a pretty easy determination. Matching the need with the solution, safety specs aside, was relatively easy. But, I wouldn’t recommend wearing your eclipse glasses when driving to work tomorrow morning.
 

Dr. Paul Metler | 8/11/2017

If you visit NASA’s total eclipse website you can discover the answers to important questions about the Total Solar Eclipse that is happening on Monday, August 21. Anyone in North America within the path of totality can view the total eclipse. The website provides good information about how to safely view the eclipse and protect your eyes while viewing this incredible phenomenon. As I read about the eclipse, I was intrigued by the basic storyline. Millions will drop everything and pause to watch the moon cover the sun for a brief period of time because most days there is no eclipse. It’s an awe-inspiring change from the norm.

Nick Metler | 7/13/2017

“The ability to learn faster than your competitors may be the only sustainable competitive advantage.”

(Arie de Geus)

Nick Metler | 7/10/2017

"If you need help bark like a dog.” –Gendry “That’s stupid. If I need help I’ll shout help.” –Arya (George R.R. Martin, A Clash of Kings) Asking for help. Do you find it difficult? A simple request for help can be one of the hardest questions for you to get out of your mouth. I know that it is for me. I love this quote because sometimes our needs are disguised. You may feel like it’s safer to sound like a dog barking, but really, you are longing for some help or guidance on what is going on at work or in your life.

Nick Metler | 5/30/2017

Leading well takes an extraordinary amount of trust. Trusting yourself and those around you is at the core of building healthy relationships when leading an effective team to success. In trusting yourself, you must be willing to change: change the way you think and change the way you lead.

Dr. Paul Metler | 5/24/2017

Agreement. It’s a popular word when it comes to teamwork.
 
It’s not automatic.
 
Are we pulling in the same direction?
Do we collaborate, build consensus?
Do we trust each other?
Are our relationships healthy?

Nick Metler | 5/17/2017

It is what gives us the strength to step over the ledge, to take a leap into the unknown despite the possibility that we may fall flat on our faces. Thomas Foster writes about our battle with this saying, “As thrilled as we are by the prospect of flying, we are also frightened at the prospect of falling.” Does our fear of falling outweigh our yearning to be able to spread our wings and fly?

Dr. Paul Metler | 5/3/2017

Faith is a core tenet of leadership.
 
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
 
If I expect you to follow me, then I am asking you to have faith that I will lead you to a place that is safe, that is good, perhaps even much better than where you are. I’m asking for faith in what is not yet seen. I’m expecting you to take a risk.

Brandon Buck | 5/1/2017

As parents, people, leaders, etc. we are constantly striving to live a purposeful life. We aim to have a vision, create a plan and then get into action; however, how many of us have a vision and a plan for our daily interactions with our children? As parents, we are given the greatest gift that anyone can receive and with that, we have been entrusted with the greatest responsibility of shaping their souls. For many of us, we recognize this responsibility but are so busy with our own daily grind that we simply wing it. We go through each day without an end in mind, no plan with which to make decisions or a productive way to build our children’s character. Instead, we run ourselves ragged and parenting ends up becoming a nuisance instead of a great adventure.

Abbey Strachota | 4/27/2017

The NFL Draft is an exciting time of year for everyone. Fans are following the draft to see who’s coming in to “their team”, or what kind of tricks does their secretive GM have up his sleeve this year? There are others scouting for their fantasy football roster. Schools and communities also rally around local players who are hoping to get a call. It’s a great week for sports.