john bailie, PHD
Faith. Life. leadership.

Whether you’re the newest intern or CEO, most people in an organization recognize that everyone has a functional role to play in a highly...

Nothing is inevitable. Success and failure have little to do with fate. They have everything to do with the ability to dream big, while...

Is your organization led by the best, or by the “survivors”? There are many reasons certain people find themselves in positions of...

As a mentor for leaders, there are some conversations you have over-and-over again. One common conversation begins with a statement like...

Life lessons about interpersonal conflict sometimes come from unexpected sources. In this case, it's a maximum security prison. My father...

How do you know when it’s time to let go? A wise friend once told me a story about a hunter. This hunter’s tribe lived in an area with...

Don't be fooled by those smilin' Irish eyes. Beneath that sunny disposition lurks a dark and terrible storm waiting to be unleashed. We...

When the guy above walks into your office, will you be ready? Some tasks are inherently unpleasant. No one likes rinsing out a garbage...

You cannot “balance” aspects of life that are inherently unequal. To attempt to do so produces nothing but pain and fruitless sacrifice...

I’ve recently discovered one of the great benefits of entering the early middle-aged phase of life: some of the things I loved in my...

If you ever study a martial art that includes real competition or sparring, like boxing and jujitsu, you’ll learn one thing very quickly....

I was recently invited to speak at a leadership retreat. The organization is based in a region of the country that is known for many...

A subscriber recently asked me, “How do you follow a bad boss?” The answer is, “The same way you follow a good one.” Great leaders are only made from the ranks of great followers. By “followers” I don’t mean passive doormats or sycophants. Those people are not effective followers, and they are not likely to become impactful leaders. There’s an art to following. Especially if you aspire to be a valued leader, it’s an art you must learn. Here are three laws of quality “followin

Sometimes a colleague needs to decide: it’s time to grow, or time to go. In the previous article, Seek Problems, Not Solutions: Leading...

Every month, the small alternative school for at-risk youth where I worked as a young man ran a “recovery” group. This group was for...

Humans are hardwired to reward truth-telling and responsibility-taking. I know it doesn’t feel that way when you’re the one with the...

Throughout the years, I’ve had the unique opportunity to help many organizations come to terms with the relational impact of internal...

New systems and practices will always default to conformity with an organization’s culture over time. You cannot simply impose a new way...

I once worked as a counselor in an alternative school for delinquent and troubled teens. The building was full of young people who were...

There are some domains of human life that are great equalizers. They humble the proud and exalt the modest. Conflict is one of those...