The Best of My Writing—2024
I am most grateful for you, my reading and listening audience!
My new book, Greater than Great, is coming along apace and is due out in the next couple of months. Be sure to look for it wherever you buy books!
In the meantime, it’s time for my annual review of the best essay from each month (plus one).
Now, here is my baker’s dozen best of for 2024. Let me know what you think!
THE BEST OF MY WRITING—2024
January
When You Are Just Being Still, You Are Still Choosing
In the action-packed universe of movies and TV shows, we watch as fearless characters make a split-second decision before leaping heedlessly into the unknown.
What role does choosing to be still play in your leadership practice. As Oprah Winfrey said, “When you don’t know what to do, do nothing. Be still.” In a world that preaches “go, go, go,” sometimes it’s best just to do nothing at all.
February
When Workplace Bullying Is Actually a Feature, Not a Bug
Bullying in the workplace is more prevalent than we probably like to admit, but we tend to view it as an anomaly—an isolated bug rather than a widespread feature.
We often underestimate the negative impact of workplace bullying. It’s even worse, though, when bullying is baked into not only the culture, but also the very systems that govern our workplaces.
March
How to Hire as though Your Workplace Depended on It
Think of your worst job interview experience, and I bet I could match or top it with one of mine from my decades in higher ed. I could regale you with such classic tales as the college president who granted me a two-hour interview for a vice presidential position while she was delirious with the flu, but I think I will just share some of my hard-won lessons.
Hiring right is a massively neglected skill. There is no magic formula for doing so, but there are mindsets and approaches that can set you up for consistent hiring success.
April
Glengarry Glen Ross: The Ultimate Toxic Workplace Ripe for Redemption
Have you ever watched the 1992 cinematic classic Glengarry Glen Ross? If not, you’re missing out on one of the most intense and brutal takedowns of the modern workplace.
The movie Glengarry Glen Ross may be the greatest toxic-workplace drama ever made. It is a scathing critique of the abuses of the modern workplace and a perpetual reminder that “Coffee is for closers!” A version of this essay made into my upcoming book.
May
How to Be Transparent, Not Invisible: The Transparency Paradox
Here’s a story about leveraging visibility to maximize transparency by utilizing the transparency paradox.
What’s the difference between transparency and invisibility, and why does it matter to the leader?
June
Now the Truth about Excellence: Marketing Eats Merit for Breakfast
Let’s revisit a hot controversy from the days of yore: WordPerfect vs. Word. I’m not going to lie. I am a tad trepidatious about opening this nerdish can of worms, but excelsior!
Marketing eats merit for breakfast! If that doesn’t whet your appetite, I don’t know what will.
July
What is a true leader’s greatest and most impactful legacy? How does a leader change the world? A version of this essay serves as the conclusion to my new book.
August
Swizzle: The Way of the Change Agent
Let’s sketch a scene. Imagine holding a classic rocks glass—one of those short tumblers used for whiskey. Its thick walls and solid base give it an appealing heft in your hand. Now picture a fancy swizzle stick leaning tall against the rim. Go ahead and grab that stick and give it a good whirl, really swizzle the hell out of that glass.
It started as an offhand comment and has evolved into an essay and even an TEDx Talk topic. I’m even thinking of converting it into a book!
September
Beyond “The Boss”: How to Lead Like a Rockstar
What a spectacle! A 70-something-year-old white man commanding the stage as he bellows into a microphone. He holds this packed stadium in thrall to his every utterance. The crowd is in raptures. His crowd. They’ve heard all he has to say before, and they want to hear it all again. They cheer, they chant, and they yell his words back in sync to his singing.
When I attended a Bruce Springsteen concert in Baltimore, I never expected this essay to emerge. If you want to see true leadership in action, check out “the Boss!”
October
Doctor Begs Bosses to STOP Doing This ONE THING!
Are you ready for a shocking revelation that could save your business and improve the wellbeing of everyone around you? Well, brace yourself because what I’m about to expose may upset you.
I’ll admit that this is a parody of those “Doctor Begs..” clickbait advertisements. It’s fun, and it makes a serious point. And, it’s free!
November
Strength As Weakness: Why We Love Strongman Myths
We all know the type. Think of television and movie characters such as Logan Roy from Succession. Or consider historical world leaders such as Napoleon. What do all these individuals—real or imagined—have in common? They have all embraced the “strongman” model of leadership . The strongman model occurs far more prevalently in everyday life. It’s the way of many or even most bosses.
We just can’t get enough of those strongmen, can we? Too bad their total frauds!
December
When Your Success Flows from Your Greatest Character Flaw
The 1990s were a volatile decade politically in the U.S. Although such colorful powerbrokers as Newt Gingrich and Bob Dole represented different wings of the Republican realignment, no politician dominated quite like Democratic President Bill Clinton.
Here’s another leadership paradox. Sometimes the thing that makes you seem successful is actually a fatal weakness. Watch out!
And, to Round Out Our Baker’s Dozen, My Most Controversial Essay of the Year!
Where Are You on the Picard-Yoda Leadership Continuum?
Grab your space helmet and strap in, folks! We’re about to launch into the one of the universe’s great conundrums: Which is superior: Star Wars or Star Trek?
For all you sci-fi geeks out there (and the people who love them), here it is. Who offers a better model of leadership, Jean-Luc Picard of Star Trek or Yoda of Star Wars? Let the battle of the space operas commence!
Unlock the Great Leader Within! Download my free resource, the Transform To GREATness Toolkit, now!
I look forward to hearing from you.
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I’m Dr. Jim Salvucci, an author, keynote speaker, coach, and consultant. I served higher education for 30 years as an English professor, dean, and vice president before founding Guidance for Greatness to guide young bosses to become the next generation of great leaders. I’m a certified Tiny Habits coach as well as a certified Thrive Global coach and life coach and hold leadership certificates from Harvard University and the Council of Independent Colleges in addition to my Ph.D. from the University of Toronto. Central to my leadership philosophy is that all great leaders are decent humans as well as great teachers, guiding their people and their organizations through values toward success. My goal is to guide today’s young leaders to become the next generation of great leaders by offering practical strategies on values-driven leadership.
Look for my new book, Greater than Great: How to Excel in Leadership through Learning, Logic, and Life to Make a True Difference in the World, in early 2025!
