welcome to the Leadership In Focus newsletter.

Rooting for the Villain: Why Today's Leaders Must Earn Respect, Not Demand It
Trust in Leadership, trust-centric leadership, Leadership Skills, Management Skills, Communication, Empathetic Leadership, Communication Skills, Leadership and Trust Kurtis Graham Trust in Leadership, trust-centric leadership, Leadership Skills, Management Skills, Communication, Empathetic Leadership, Communication Skills, Leadership and Trust Kurtis Graham

Rooting for the Villain: Why Today's Leaders Must Earn Respect, Not Demand It

Are you waiting for respect to be handed to you?

Guess what—it’s not coming. Leadership isn’t about titles; it’s about earning trust and showing up authentically every single day. This week, we dive into how to go from being a boss to a leader your team actually trusts.

Ready to flip the script on leadership? Don’t just manage—lead with purpose. 💥

#LeadershipInFocus #EarnRespect #ModernLeadership #CareerGrowth #ManagementTips

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The Leadership In Focus: Weekend High-Five - January 18, 2025
Leadership Skills, Confidence, Personal Growth, Self Control, Management Skills, Self Leadership Kurtis Graham Leadership Skills, Confidence, Personal Growth, Self Control, Management Skills, Self Leadership Kurtis Graham

The Leadership In Focus: Weekend High-Five - January 18, 2025

Leadership isn’t about power—it’s about empowering others. Are you leading yourself well enough to thrive this week, or are you just hoping for the best?"

Check out the Leadership In Focus: Weekend High-Five for insights on surviving leadership transitions, embracing risk, and taking charge of your unique strengths. 🚀

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The Leadership In Focus: Weekend High-Five - December 7, 2024
Growth Mindset, Mindset, Execution, Achieve Goals, Personal Growth, Self Acceptance, Leadership Skills, Management Skills, Career Journey, Career Advancement, Career Growth, Career Progression Kurtis Graham Growth Mindset, Mindset, Execution, Achieve Goals, Personal Growth, Self Acceptance, Leadership Skills, Management Skills, Career Journey, Career Advancement, Career Growth, Career Progression Kurtis Graham

The Leadership In Focus: Weekend High-Five - December 7, 2024

How do you finish the year strong and grounded? This week’s Leadership In Focus: Weekend High-Five is all about reflecting with purpose, balancing the holiday rush, and staying proactive. Packed with actionable insights, takeaways, and a fresh perspective, it’s a must-read for leaders wrapping up the year.

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Your Most Valuable Currency: Are You Spending Your Energy Wisely?
Energy and Focus, Energy management, Leadership Skills, Empowerment, Growth, Management Skills, Self Care, Personal Growth Curtis Scaplen Energy and Focus, Energy management, Leadership Skills, Empowerment, Growth, Management Skills, Self Care, Personal Growth Curtis Scaplen

Your Most Valuable Currency: Are You Spending Your Energy Wisely?

🌟 Energy is Your Most Valuable Currency 🌟

In this week’s Leadership In Focus newsletter, we dive into why managing your energy is just as important as managing your finances. 💡 Are you giving too much to the wrong places? What’s draining your energy, and how can you take back control to align with your values?

✨Check out this week's newsletter to learn:

  • How to perform an energy audit 🧘‍♂️

  • The power of intentional focus 💥

  • Why protecting your energy is the key to long-term success! 🚀

#LeadershipInFocus #EnergyManagement #PersonalGrowth #BusinessLeadership #WellBeing #SuccessMindset

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The Leadership In Focus: Weekend High-Five - November 9, 2024
Leadership Skills, Empowerment, Leadership and Empowerment, Management Skills, Personal Growth, Relationship Building, Teamwork, Productivity, Teambuilding Kurtis Graham Leadership Skills, Empowerment, Leadership and Empowerment, Management Skills, Personal Growth, Relationship Building, Teamwork, Productivity, Teambuilding Kurtis Graham

The Leadership In Focus: Weekend High-Five - November 9, 2024

Ready to lead with purpose and clarity as we wrap up 2024? This week’s Leadership In Focus Weekend High-Five covers everything from building authentic connections at work to embracing growth discomfort—and we’re diving into the importance of real, meaningful feedback. Are you ready to tune into what matters most?

#LeadershipInFocus #WeekendHighFive

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The Leadership In Focus: Weekend High Five - October 19th, 2024
Leadership Lessons, Management Skills, Empathetic Leadership, Storytelling, Communication Skills, Leadership Skills, Burnout, Leadership Journey Kurtis Graham Leadership Lessons, Management Skills, Empathetic Leadership, Storytelling, Communication Skills, Leadership Skills, Burnout, Leadership Journey Kurtis Graham

The Leadership In Focus: Weekend High Five - October 19th, 2024

🌟 This week has been a blend of reflection and inspiration! Spending time with family has reminded me of the grounding power of familiar connections, while meeting new faces has sparked my creativity. Challenges are opportunities in disguise—let’s embrace them together! 💪 Check out this week's Leadership In Focus: Weekend High Five for insights on cultivating a thriving culture through everyday moments.

#Leadership #Growth #WeekendHighFive

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The #1 Thing I Wish I Knew Before Becoming a Manager
Leadership Skills, First Time Manager, Management Skills, Personal Development, Leadership Lessons, Team Building, Performance Management Kurtis Graham Leadership Skills, First Time Manager, Management Skills, Personal Development, Leadership Lessons, Team Building, Performance Management Kurtis Graham

The #1 Thing I Wish I Knew Before Becoming a Manager

Being a first-time manager is a ride—one that comes with excitement, doubt, and a boatload of learning moments. But here’s the truth: leadership is about your team, not just you. Check out my 11 hard-hitting tips I wish I had known when I started.

#Leadership #FirstTimeManagers #TeamBuilding

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The Leadership In Focus: Weekend High Five - October 12th, 2024
Goal Setting, Prioritization, Leadership Skills, Management Skills, Gratitude, Productivity, Performance Management, Feedback and Communication, Culture Kurtis Graham Goal Setting, Prioritization, Leadership Skills, Management Skills, Gratitude, Productivity, Performance Management, Feedback and Communication, Culture Kurtis Graham

The Leadership In Focus: Weekend High Five - October 12th, 2024

🍁 Happy Thanksgiving Weekend, Canada! 🦃

Whether you're celebrating Thanksgiving or just taking a moment to pause, this is the perfect time to reflect, reconnect, and appreciate what really matters—family, loved ones, and the journey so far. Let's take a break from the hustle and get ready to close out the year with purpose and gratitude. 🙌✨

#Thanksgiving #Gratitude #LeadershipJourney #WorkLifeBalance #WeekendHighFive

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Can We Get a Little ‘Somepathy’?
Feedback and Communication, Empathetic Leadership, Employee Engagement, Leadership Skills, Management Skills Kurtis Graham Feedback and Communication, Empathetic Leadership, Employee Engagement, Leadership Skills, Management Skills Kurtis Graham

Can We Get a Little ‘Somepathy’?

Ever send out an important email and all you hear back is... crickets? You’re not alone. Sometimes we don’t need over-the-top praise—just a little acknowledgment. I call it 'somepathy.' In this week's newsletter, we’re diving into why showing your team a little recognition can make all the difference. And trust me, it’s not about the grand gestures. It’s about showing up and saying, “Hey, I see you.” Let's talk about 'somepathy' and why leaders need to practice it more. 👇

#Leadership #Empathy #Teamwork #FeedbackCulture #Somepathy

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The Leadership In Focus: Weekend High Five - Sept 21, 2024
Leadership Skills, Goal Setting, Management Skills, Burnout, Work Life Balance, Leadership Lessons, Personal Growth, Adaptability in Leadership Kurtis Graham Leadership Skills, Goal Setting, Management Skills, Burnout, Work Life Balance, Leadership Lessons, Personal Growth, Adaptability in Leadership Kurtis Graham

The Leadership In Focus: Weekend High Five - Sept 21, 2024

🍁 High-Five, it’s the weekend! As we welcome the first day of fall tomorrow, it’s time to embrace change—both in nature and in leadership. This week’s Leadership In Focus: Weekend High-Five newsletter dives into how we can refresh, reflect, and recharge for the season ahead. Ready to lead with renewed energy? ✋

#Leadership #PersonalGrowth #FallReflection #HighFive

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Think You Can Handle a Supercar? What Racing a Ferrari Taught Me About Leading a Team
Leadership Skills, Adaptability in Leadership, Resilience and Adaptability, Management Skills, Beginners Mindset, Beginners Fallacy, New Leader, Leading Teams, Personal Growth, Personal Growth and Development Kurtis Graham Leadership Skills, Adaptability in Leadership, Resilience and Adaptability, Management Skills, Beginners Mindset, Beginners Fallacy, New Leader, Leading Teams, Personal Growth, Personal Growth and Development Kurtis Graham

Think You Can Handle a Supercar? What Racing a Ferrari Taught Me About Leading a Team

Ever thought you could handle a supercar like a pro? 🏎️ Think again. My experience driving a Ferrari on a test track taught me more about leadership than I ever expected. Discover the lessons learned and how to avoid the beginner’s fallacy in your leadership journey.

#Leadership #Ferrari #GrowthMindset

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The Leadership In Focus: Weekend High Five - Sept 14, 2024
Leadership Skills, Management Skills, Productivity, Office Humor, Leadership Perspectives, Personal Growth Kurtis Graham Leadership Skills, Management Skills, Productivity, Office Humor, Leadership Perspectives, Personal Growth Kurtis Graham

The Leadership In Focus: Weekend High Five - Sept 14, 2024

We've hit the halfway mark of September! 🍂 As the fall "restart" catches up with us, it's time to pause and recharge. This weekend, take a moment for self-care, reflect on this week’s leadership lessons, and prepare to tackle the rest of the year with renewed energy.

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The Empathy Trap: How Misunderstood Compassion Can Undermine Accountability
Empathetic Leadership, Empathy and Compassion, Leading with Courage, Setting Boundaries, Leadership Boundaries, Accountability, Leadership and Ownership, ownership and accountabilty, Problem Monsters, Toxic Management Traits, Management Skills, Management and Leadership, Management Strategies Kurtis Graham Empathetic Leadership, Empathy and Compassion, Leading with Courage, Setting Boundaries, Leadership Boundaries, Accountability, Leadership and Ownership, ownership and accountabilty, Problem Monsters, Toxic Management Traits, Management Skills, Management and Leadership, Management Strategies Kurtis Graham

The Empathy Trap: How Misunderstood Compassion Can Undermine Accountability

Are you handing out hall passes in the name of empathy? Understanding your team’s struggles is important, but when does empathy cross the line and compromise accountability? In our latest article, we explore the fine line between being supportive and enabling poor performance—and how to strike the right balance. Discover how you can lead with compassion without losing sight of your goals.

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Hostile Takeover: Guardians of Executive Truth
Leadership Skills, Communication Skills, Organizational Leadership, Culture Building, Authentic Leadership, authenticity, Management Skills, Innovation, Accountability Kurtis Graham Leadership Skills, Communication Skills, Organizational Leadership, Culture Building, Authentic Leadership, authenticity, Management Skills, Innovation, Accountability Kurtis Graham

Hostile Takeover: Guardians of Executive Truth

Delve into the perils of cultivating 'Guardians of Executive Truth' in leadership. Discover how radical transparency and customer-centricity can steer organizations towards integrity. Read more.

#ledership #transparency #authenticity

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The CEO Who Emptied the Dishwasher: Leadership is Caught, Not Taught
Leadership, Lead by Example, Humble Leadership, Leadership Skills, Culture, Leadership Culture, Management Skills, Organizational Culture, Organizational Leadership Curtis Scaplen Leadership, Lead by Example, Humble Leadership, Leadership Skills, Culture, Leadership Culture, Management Skills, Organizational Culture, Organizational Leadership Curtis Scaplen

The CEO Who Emptied the Dishwasher: Leadership is Caught, Not Taught

Catch the power of leadership in action! Learn why leading by example speaks volumes beyond words. Discover how authentic actions inspire and influence. Lead with impact today.

#Leadership #LeadByExample #ActionsSpeakLouder

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Crafting your Leadership Journey: A 6-Step Guide to Curated Learning
Training, Personal Growth, Personal Growth and Development, Training and Education, Leadership Development, Leadership Skills, Learning, Learning and Growth, Leadership and Management, Management Skills, Professional Development, Learning Journey, Career Journey, Career Growth Kurtis Graham Training, Personal Growth, Personal Growth and Development, Training and Education, Leadership Development, Leadership Skills, Learning, Learning and Growth, Leadership and Management, Management Skills, Professional Development, Learning Journey, Career Journey, Career Growth Kurtis Graham

Crafting your Leadership Journey: A 6-Step Guide to Curated Learning

Crafting your Leadership Journey: A 6-Step Guide to Curated Learning

"Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere."

~ Chinese Proverb

🔥 Ignite your personal and professional growth! Dive into the world of leadership development and honing essential skills with my 6-step approach to learning. Plus, take action this week with three practical steps to accelerate your own learning journey. Don't wait, start now! 💪

#LeadershipDevelopment #ContinuousLearning #PersonalGrowth #ProfessionalGrowth #LifelongLearning #CuratedLearning #TakeAction

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The Urgency to Invest in Leadership Development - Part 2: Building Resilient Organizations
Resilience, Leadership, Leadership Development, Leadership Skills, Innovation, Agility, Leading in Crisis, Crisis Management, Management Skills, Burnout Kurtis Graham Resilience, Leadership, Leadership Development, Leadership Skills, Innovation, Agility, Leading in Crisis, Crisis Management, Management Skills, Burnout Kurtis Graham

The Urgency to Invest in Leadership Development - Part 2: Building Resilient Organizations

"Investing in leadership development is not an expense, it's an investment in the future success of the organization." - Warren Buffett

The pandemic challenged our leadership team to tap into resilience, creativity, agility, and empathy to navigate uncertain times. As we explore the urgency to invest in leadership development, we must revisit the valuable lessons learned.

This article focuses on three critical reasons why organizations must prioritize leadership development: to guide through crises, nurture innovation, and develop future-ready leaders. By equipping leaders with essential skills and strategies, organizations can thrive amidst uncertainty, inspire trust, and create a culture of adaptability and innovation.

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