leadership | Brilliant Visions, LLC

5 Reasons You Should Blame “Them”

Posted on November 8, 2018 by Martha Carnahan | 0 Comments

They made this mess. It’s their fault. If it weren’t for them… Oh, there are so many ways to invoke blame! Here’s the raw truth about blame: In the heat of the moment, it seems easy and natural to lay blame on others. But operating from a stance of blame is more harmful to yourself than it is to the entity or person…

Why Failure is FANTASTIC!

Posted on October 21, 2018 by Martha Carnahan | 3 Comments

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” ~Thomas A. Edison I know you’ve heard this many times, but it bears repeating: Failure = Opportunity to Learn. A device I use to remember this comes from a story I heard many years ago during a coach training class. We had just been taught a new skill…

Gut Check: Are You a Compassionate CEO?

Posted on August 22, 2018 by Martha Carnahan | 0 Comments

There have been quite a few studies in recent years conveying that a number of business leaders, entrepreneurs and politicians (ummm, no surprise!) have a propensity toward sociopathic traits. The hallmark qualities of a sociopath include: lack of empathy, an insincere charm, and great skill in manipulating others. We’ve all seen that boss, I’m sure. And I would bet that…

Why You are a Terrible Judge of Your own Leadership

Posted on November 24, 2017 by Martha Carnahan | 0 Comments

Many managers I talk with feel they are pretty good leaders. That is, until they receive the results of a staff and peer review. Some are shocked that their scores are so low. Others just can’t take in the data – they actually reject the feedback. If you do not possess the skill of empathy – of being able to…

Four Words that Motivate Teams – But Use Them Wisely!

Posted on September 20, 2016 by Martha Carnahan | 0 Comments

Each person in your organization, at some level, truly wants to do a great job and be recognized for their contribution. And motivating them can be as simple as a four-word phrase, according to Tom Peters, business management guru and author of the classic book, In Search of Excellence. Take a look at what Mr. Peters has to say in…

Soft Skills More Important than Technical Skills?

Posted on August 9, 2015 by Martha Carnahan | 0 Comments

Accountants say, yes!, according to a survey by Ajilon Finance, a leading specialty finance and accounting staffing firm, and the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA). Two findings I thought were particularly interesting: 1. Soft skills ranked as more important than hard skills. Thirty-three percent of the accountants who responded felt that an ability to inspire and motivate is the most…