The Friday Five - Leadership Edition

The Friday Five - Issue 28
Challenging leaders to maximize their potential
Terry Wetzel ~ Summit Leadership Development
Interested in coaching for you or your team? Reach out and let’s talk.

Is there still value in a handwritten note of thanks, congratulations, recognition, or support? Absolutely. An email is one of 100 in an inbox. A handwritten note is often the only physical mail on a desk. It signals a level of sincerity that sets you apart and treats the recipient as a person, not just a resource. If you haven't picked up a pen in a while, consider this your nudge to do so.

Starting your morning with, "How can I be most useful today?" shifts the focus from a list of tasks to a mindset of contribution. It forces a move from busywork that sometimes fills an inbox toward high-impact actions that contribute to the success of you, your team, or your clients. By grounding your day in service rather than just activity, you transform yourself from a person completing assignments to a leader providing value.

Are you doing your part to attract, motivate, and especially retain quality employees? Skip any of these and your organization will suffer. By fostering a culture of professional growth and mutual respect, you avoid the costs and disruptions of constant recruitment. Instead, you create a stable environment where experienced and successful employees can effectively lead and mentor high-potential emerging leaders.

Meetings feel productive, but the same issues resurface a few weeks later. Decisions are discussed and tweaked, but ownership never quite lands. Alignment appears to happen, energy is high, then the “system” pulls things back to how they were. Leaders leave optimistic and believing something shifted, only to watch things stay the same. Why is this? Usually, there is an unseen gap between agreement and actual commitment. Without a clear "who is doing what by when" before the meeting ends, the decision remains a loose concept rather than an action plan.

Many professional hurdles aren’t built of granite, but of distractions. Create an environment where phones, smart watches, and email notifications are off, and nearly anything becomes achievable in 90 focused minutes. This isn't just about concentration; it’s about aligning the right conditions, the right people, and clear goals. If you are stuck on something, try it and see how much you get done.

“You cannot be anything you want to be - but you can be a whole lot more of who you already are.” ― Tom Rath

This new book by the author of StrengthsFinder 2.0 is a very interesting look at how we frame our “purpose” in life. One reviewer said What’s the Point is like a “wise elder looking over your shoulder and asking you what you are doing.” I found it as much personal development as career or professional guidance, and it bridges these two perfectly. I can see this book being used for staff retreats, book clubs, and professional development sessions.

Be epic, not average. The world has enough average.
Your thoughts and feedback are valued. I answer every email personally.
[email protected]
The photo in today’s web edition was taken on the Wisconsin River.
The links in this newsletter are affiliate links and I earn a small commission on your purchase.