The Best of My Writing — 2023

I extend my gratitude to you, my reading and listening audience.

Recently I have been reviewing my essays in On Leading with Greatness with an eye toward publication. Since I blog/podcast once a week (except for holidays and other times when I post “encore” editions), I write nearly 50 essays a year. That is a lot to sort through, let alone remember. I decided it might be useful to my audience to offer the “best of” essay from each month in 2023 in case you missed any or want a refresher. If you are not a paid subscriber, no worries. I have disabled the paywall on these essays for your convenience.

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In the meantime, here is my baker’s dozen best of for 2023. Let me know what you think!

The Best of My Writing—2023

January

This one may seem an odd choice since I just featured it as an encore presentation during Thanksgiving. Still, I think the message of relying on the power of tiny changes is one of the most important I have delivered. It is certainly one I return to every day.

February

I have to admit, I struggled a bit to pick a February highlight because I was pretty happy with all of them. This one stands out, though. It was a real challenge to write about iconoclasm in leadership, and this was my third or fourth try from scratch. I hope I nailed it!

March

Ah, yes. The paradox of values. Values ground us. They move us forward. And they draw us toward a target. Pin, push, and pull all at the same time! This one has some good practical advice on how to apply your values toward your work.

April

I wrote this one about my dad who had died the month before. It formed the basis of my eulogy of him. I never really knew his true influence on me until I wrote this piece.

May

Here I describe a situation where the superiority of a good boss—a real leader—over a bad boss is abundantly clear.

June

Is there anything more galling than toxic positivity—that is when people demand that you put on a happy face no matter the situation? It is passive-aggressive bullying at its best.

July

An often overlooked truth in communication is that the audience holds all the power over the person speaking. They can listen attentively, ignore, or hear a completely different message than the one intended, and the communicator has little say in the matter.

August

This one might be my favorite from all year because it is just so practical. If you deal with organizational change in any capacity, read about the Rule of Thirds Strategy. It’ll save you a lot of trouble.

September

What is a crisis really and why do we imagine so many workplace issues are crises? What if every crisis were really just a problem dressed up in a hazmat suit?

October

Don’t worry. This one isn’t some survivalist handbook or an extremist manifesto. It’s about how to put others before yourself. Get it? Become the last person on Earth.

November

Here is a true tale of a time when the boss disappeared for months and the entire operation ran smoother than ever!

December

I am at my most irreverent here, taking on the ancient wisdom of the Greek philosopher Heraclitus. Will the gods ever be able to forgive me?

April Fools Bonus Spectacular!

For your baker’s-dozen bonus, I cannot resist including this April Fools post in which I advise you on how to become an effective gaslighter. That’s a good thing, right?

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