Welcome to Leadership Insights! Each week, we curate transformative leadership insights and add our own expertise to help you lead with purpose and impact. Whether you’re a seasoned executive or an emerging leader, you’ll find actionable wisdom in every edition.
This week, we offer a leadership strategy that will truly shift your perspective: Conduct a “pre-mortem” with your team before launching your next big project. Instead of looking back at what went wrong after the fact, this approach has you look forward to potential pitfalls before they happen.
Gather your team and ask: “If this initiative were to fail spectacularly, what would be the most likely reasons?” List the responses, then brainstorm ways to address or prevent those risks upfront. Pre-mortems encourage proactive thinking, build alignment, and give your team confidence to move forward with clarity and purpose.
This Week’s Posts We Love
LinkedIn Spotlight by Ryan Englin
This week’s spotlight features a post from a former CARE to Lead® Interview Series guest, Ryan Englin. In this clip, Ryan reminds leaders that before spending another dollar on hiring, we should look inward—at what’s driving people out the door. By focusing on retention through stay and exit interviews, we strengthen our culture, save money, and create workplaces people want to be part of. What’s one way you’re investing in your current team today?
Click Here to Check Out The Full LI Post
Podcast Spotlight: A Bit of Optimism with Simon Sinek
This week’s spotlight features an inspiring episode of A Bit of Optimism with Simon Sinek: “The Man Who Proved Me Right,” featuring CEO Bob Chapman and the Barry-Wehmiller team. What struck me most about this episode is how Bob has built a thriving global company grounded in humanity—where people feel cared for, valued, and fulfilled. His message is a powerful reminder that when leaders put people first, business success naturally follows. It goes to show you that leadership and compassion can (and should) coexist.
Check Out the Full Episode Here
Book of the Week
Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen
This week’s book choice is the updated edition of Getting Things Done by David Allen, a timeless classic on personal and professional organization. With fresh insights tailored to today’s rapidly evolving workplace, this book remains an essential guide for achieving balance and efficiency in a demanding world.
Must-Read Article of the Week
“What You Were Taught About ‘Happiness’ Isn’t True” by Penny Locaso, HBR
In this week’s featured article, Penny Locaso challenges the conventional belief that happiness is a destination to be achieved through external success. She argues that true happiness is a mindset cultivated through intentional adaptability, focusing on skills like focus, courage, and curiosity. This article encourages leaders to redefine happiness and develop adaptability, essential traits for effective leadership in today’s dynamic environment.
From the CARE to Lead® Archives
“Four Common LinkedIn Mistakes And How to Avoid Them”
This week’s From the CARE to Lead® Archives revisits one of my favorite topics—LinkedIn. Too often, we think of it only as a job search tool, but it’s so much more than that. It’s a space to grow your network, share your insights, and build your professional brand—even if you’re not looking for a new role. I’m sharing an old favorite, “Four Common LinkedIn Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them),” with practical, 10-minute-a-day strategies to elevate your presence and impact. If you’re ready to make LinkedIn work for you, this is a great place to start!
Closing Thoughts
Proactive leadership turns challenges into opportunities before they arise. How can a pre-mortem shift the way your team approaches its next project? Let’s stay connected—find me on LinkedIn, Bluesky, YouTube, Facebook, or Instagram, and share how this practice reshapes your team’s approach.
Thank you for being part of our leadership community. We’re dedicated to helping you lead with Clarity, Authenticity, Responsibility, and Engagement. Until next week, keep raising the bar on your leadership journey!
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