How to Give Feedback That Drives Real Change
I remember coaching a team leader who was struggling to get results from one of his engineers. Let's call him Marcus. Marcus led a small, high-performing team in a fast-paced tech startup, but one team member wasn’t pulling his weight. Let's call him Johan. Deadlines slipped, details were missed, and frustration was bubbling beneath the surface. Marcus had tried addressing it in their weekly one-on-ones, but nothing changed. “I feel like I’m saying the same thing every week, and it’s just not landing,” Marcus told me during one of our coaching sessions. Sound familiar? Feedback is one of the most powerful tools in a leader’s arsenal. But if it’s not delivered effectively, it can feel like you’re speaking into the void—or worse, like you’re creating tension without results. Let me share the approach I coached Marcus to adopt, which helped him turn things around with Johan. The Problem with Most Feedback The truth is, Most feedback fails because it’s too vague or too personal. Think...
Bridging the Motivation Gap in Leadership
Picture this: You’re leading a critical project during a major organizational shift. Deadlines are moving targets, new priorities emerge daily, and your inbox is overflowing with “urgent” updates. You’re pushing hard, expecting your team to do the same. But instead of the energy and focus you hoped for, you sense hesitation. You think, Why aren’t they as driven as I am? Don’t they see what’s at stake? From the team’s side, the view is very different. They hear you emphasizing urgency, but to them, it sounds like noise. They see priorities constantly shifting, but not a clear path forward. They think, If everything is important, nothing is. The result? Frustration builds on both sides. Work slows. Motivation dips. And the gap between your expectations and their actions widens. This is the motivation gap—a disconnect between leadership goals and team performance, often fueled by uncertainty and overwhelm in times of change. But here’s the truth: this gap isn’t a failure. It’s a sign...
Navigating Leadership in Multicultural Teams: A Guide for International Leaders in the Nordics
Stepping into a leadership role in a multicultural team is like walking into a bustling market square. Imagine the blend of aromas from a dozen different food stalls, each representing a different culture and tradition. The colors are vibrant, the sounds diverse—a cacophony of voices in a dozen languages. Leading in this space is exciting, but also overwhelming. You want to savor the richness, but you need a plan to navigate the complexity. That’s what leadership feels like in Denmark’s multicultural environment. There’s so much opportunity for growth, innovation, and creativity, but also the challenge of managing differing expectations, communication styles, and values. It can feel like walking a tightrope. Let me share a story that brings this to life. The New Team I was coaching an expat leader, let’s call him Jacob, who had recently taken over a team in Copenhagen. His background was in tech, and he had led teams across Asia and the U.S. before coming to Denmark. Jacob was...
The Future of Leadership in an AI World
Today, I want to take you back to a project from my days in the automotive sector, where technology and efficiency were the name of the game. We were working on a complex integration of new systems—parts, software, logistics—everything had to sync perfectly, down to the smallest detail. Imagine the sound of machinery humming, the smell of freshly oiled parts, and the soft hum of servers in the control room. Data was flying across screens, algorithms predicting the next best move, and automated systems handling routine tasks with surgical precision. In short, the environment was buzzing with machine-driven efficiency. But here’s where things took a turn. One of the engineers, let’s call her Sarah, came to me with a problem. Her team was struggling. Not technically— the machines were handling the technical side. The issue was in communication, collaboration, and morale. Automated schedules and process optimizations were great, but they couldn’t build trust, resolve conflicts, or...
Why Leaders Need to Invest in Live2Lead: A Personal Reflection
I get it. As leaders, we're swamped. Meetings, deadlines, and decisions. It feels like there’s never enough time to attend leadership events like Live2Lead. But here’s the thing—these are exactly the moments that pull us ahead of the learning curve. The space we create to step back, reflect, and soak in new perspectives is often the very thing that propels us forward. I know this firsthand. Years ago, I attended a leadership conference just like Live2Lead. I picked up a book by John Maxwell, and that event became the catalyst for my own leadership journey. It wasn’t a big, earth-shattering moment, but a spark that set me on a path I could never have imagined at the time. Let me share some key takeaways from this year's Live2Lead in Gothenburg. These insights have the power to shift how you approach your leadership, your team, and even yourself. John C. Maxwell: The Abundance Mindset John Maxwell kicked things off with a powerful reminder about the importance of an abundance mindset....
Stop Chasing Shiny Leadership Strategies: The Basics Still Win Every Time
I’ve seen it happen so many times. A leader hears about a new app, tool, or framework, and suddenly, it’s the silver bullet. The one thing that’s going to transform the way they lead. The excitement is palpable. They sign up. They onboard their teams. They start tracking, measuring, and analyzing all sorts of engagement scores and sentiment metrics. But here’s the catch. They’re still not getting what they want from their teams. The results don’t match the promise. I worked with a company that got caught up in this exact cycle. They introduced a feedback app to “boost engagement” and “understand how people really felt.” It was a great tool on paper—sleek interface, easy to use, and promised all sorts of insights. They set it up, rolled it out, and started seeing positive Net Manager Promoter Scores (NMPS) and employee satisfaction rates. Leaders were happy. Everything looked good. But when I spoke with them, they were frustrated. They were seeing high scores in the app but struggling...
When Delegation Goes Wrong: How to Lead When You’re Still Accountable
A few weeks ago, I was attending the CBS Leadership Think Tank in Copenhagen. The room buzzed with energy. Around me were leaders and managers from various sectors—tech, engineering, pharmaceuticals—all gathered to discuss the challenges and strategies of effective leadership. I listened to questions from executives and felt the excitement of leaders coming together to share insights. In the middle of the discussion, a question caught my attention. Yvette, a VP from a leading pharmaceutical company, stood up and asked, “How do you handle the situation when you have empowered your team, delegated responsibilities, and things still go wrong—knowing that, as a leader, you’re still accountable for the outcome?” The room fell silent for a moment. It was the kind of question that cuts right through to the heart of leadership. I could see heads nodding in agreement as the panel took in her words. I’ve encountered this scenario many times in my coaching practice. It’s a question that haunts...
Leadership for the Future: Eight Simple Lessons from CBS Leadership Think Tank
Walking into the CBS Leadership Think Tank felt like stepping into a space buzzing with energy. You could feel the pulse of conversation, the sharp exchange of ideas, and the weight of big questions about leadership in today’s fast-changing world. The air was thick with curiosity and challenge. I came away with powerful insights that I believe every leader and manager in any sector can put to work right away. Let’s break them down, and I’ll guide you through simple, actionable steps you can take to make these ideas your own. 1. Embrace Complexity Without Overwhelm The world isn’t slowing down. Geopolitical tensions, sustainability pressures, and tech advancements are all accelerating. It’s easy to feel like you’re drowning in complexity. But here’s the thing: as leaders, we must swim in these waters. Instead of resisting the tide, we can learn to ride it. 💡 Implementation Tip: Start small. When things feel chaotic, take 10 minutes at the start of each day to write down just three...
From a Village in Romania to Global Leadership: The Power of Self-Investment
Last week, I found myself standing in front of a small building in a quiet Romanian village—Barasti de Vede. It was the same place where I spent summers as a child, in a kindergarten with peeling paint and worn-out playground equipment. Thirty-five years ago, the place looked different—post-communist, unpolished, a reflection of an environment still reeling from economic hardship. But as I stood there, under the same sky, staring at the same walls, I realized something: This was where my story began. And it’s not the kind of story you’d expect from someone in leadership today. The road to where I am now—a leadership coach and consultant—didn’t start in an entrepreneurial family or with a wealth of resources. My parents were workers. We didn’t talk about business strategies or investment portfolios over dinner. The idea of global leadership or professional growth wasn’t even a concept that entered the conversation. And yet, there was always something in me that pushed for more. As I...
You’re Never Too Young to Be a Great Leader, You’re Never Too Old to Be a Better One
I once walked into a room where the air buzzed with excitement—tech experts and engineers from all corners of the world gathered for a conference. A young developer stood at the podium, just 26 years old, giving a presentation on a breakthrough solution his team had been working on. You could feel the energy in the room shift. People leaned in. Some skeptical eyes softened as they realized the young leader before them wasn’t just knowledgeable—he was inspiring. What struck me wasn’t just his technical brilliance but his ability to lead, despite his age. He demonstrated a growth mindset, an empathy-driven mindset, and an ownership mindset in ways that many leaders twice his age struggle with. That day, it became clear to me: You’re never too young to be a great leader, and you’re never too old to be a better one. Let’s talk about these three mindsets that set the stage for great leadership, and more importantly, how you can know when you’re living them out—and when you’re not. Growth...
From Orlando to Your Office: The Secret to Developing Leaders, Not Followers
I recently found myself standing in the middle of a bustling conference room in Orlando, Florida, the air humming with the energy of hundreds of leaders gathered together, eager to learn and grow. The International Maxwell Conference (IMC) was in full swing, and as I looked around, I couldn't help but feel a deep sense of excitement. T he room was filled with the scent of freshly brewed coffee, the kind that jolts your senses and sharpens your focus, mingling with the faint scent of new carpet—a sign of a place that had been purposefully prepared for something important. As the crowd settled, John Maxwell, a man whose wisdom has shaped the lives of countless leaders around the world, stepped onto the stage. His presence immediately commanded attention, not just because of his reputation, but because of the profound respect that emanated from everyone in the room. I could feel the collective anticipation, a kind of electric buzz, as he began to speak. John didn’t just talk about...
The Best Investment a Leader Can Make
Imagine you're a leader in a tech organization. (This might be you, so you don't need to imagine; just recall when this happened last.) You’re in a meeting with your team. The usual frustrations bubble up—missed deadlines, lack of ownership, or just the sense that people aren’t fully engaged. You start thinking, “I need better people. Where can I find more talented, motivated folks who actually care?” It’s that frustrating mix of stress, uncertainty, and maybe even a bit of exhaustion—you’re doing everything you can, but things still aren’t clicking. You might be thinking, "Why can’t I just find the right people?" It feels like the solution has to be out there somewhere, just beyond reach. The question we should be asking isn’t “How can I get better people?” The real question is, “How can I become a better leader so I can attract better people?” John Maxwell nailed it when he said, “The first investment you have to make is in yourself. You cannot give what you do not have.” If we’re...
Why I Traveled 36 Hours for One Event – And Why It Was Worth Every Minute
Imagine this: It’s Friday evening in Denmark. The sun’s just starting to come down, and the cool breeze carries a hint of rain. My taxi pulls up outside my house at 5 p.m., and off I go. Not to a dinner, not to a relaxing weekend – but to a 36-hour journey across airports, time zones, and a mix of fast food and stiff airplane seats. Why would anyone do that? I’ll tell you why: growth. The kind of growth that isn’t comfortable, easy, or convenient. The kind of growth that pushes us to new levels so we can lead better, serve better, and show up as our very best selves. The Journey to Growth I spent the night at a small hotel near Aalborg Airport. The bed was a little too firm, the room too quiet – the kind of silence that makes it hard to sleep because your mind is racing about what lies ahead. An early flight out took me through Amsterdam, then Manchester, and finally, after 19 long hours, I touched down in Orlando. You know that mix of exhaustion and anticipation when you’re running...
The Power of Performance Reviews: A Personal Journey
A few years ago, I walked into my performance review feeling confident. I had led several projects to success, received positive feedback from my team, and felt I was on the right track. The sun was shining, the office was buzzing with the scent of fresh coffee, and I could hear the hum of conversations around me. I was ready for praise and perhaps even a discussion about my next steps up the ladder. But then, my manager's evaluation surprised me. He highlighted several areas where I needed improvement. Areas I hadn't even considered problematic. My confidence wavered as he went on, and I felt a mix of confusion and frustration. Why hadn't any of this come up before? Why was I only hearing about these issues now? That day was a turning point for me. It taught me a crucial lesson about the importance of regular 1:1s and performance reviews. Let me share why these practices are vital for leaders and their teams, especially in the tech and engineering sectors. Clarity is Key Imagine...
How One Leader’s “Failure Meetings” Cultivated a Thriving Growth Culture
Imagine you're sitting in a meeting room at a tech company led by Andrew, a visionary CEO known for his innovative approach. Andrew starts the meeting with a question most leaders never ask their teams: "What did you try last week that failed?" As odd as this sounds, it was not an unusual question for Andrew's team. Every time he asks it during their Tuesday "failure meetings," the room buzzes with anticipation as team members begin to share their stories of failed experiments, bold attempts, and lessons learned. Andrew's company thrives on these failure meetings, where failure isn't just tolerated—it's celebrated. By embracing failures, Andrew has cultivated a growth culture that fuels innovation and drives the company's success. If you were in Andrew’s meeting, what would you share to be your failures this past week? What about your team's failures? What would they report to the failure meeting? Andrew’s approach to failure is revolutionary. By holding regular failure meetings, he...
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