Fear is possibly one of the greatest inhibitors of effective leadership. There are three basic categories of fear. For a leader, there is only one way to deal with all of them. Fears must be faced.

Ambiguity breeds conflict. Clarity prevents conflict. It's simple. Many of the issues that we chalk up to personality problems and bad attitudes could be avoided with solid preventative clarity. It may be that the personality problems are still there. Attitudes may still need to be adjusted. But with timely and sufficient communication most conflicts can be avoided.

Strategic Planning doesn't work for most organizations. Learn how this crucial opportunity is lost and eight tips for making sure your planning investment pays off.

There is no ‘one way’ to lead. Different people offer different kinds of leadership. Different situations require different approaches. However, if the leadership within an organization becomes inconsistent, or conflicts with the values or culture of the organization – you’ll create trouble. A clear leadership philosophy provides the consistency needed for healthy organizations. When people know what they can expect from leaders – they know how to relate to them more effectively. A clear & articulate leadership philosophy is a powerful tool for building your organization.

"It's lonely at the top." This is an often heard complaint from leaders. However, not every leader experiences this. In fact, the best and healthiest leaders regularly take trips down off the 'top of the mountain' to check in with those impacted by their leadership. This input can forge loyalty. More importantly, it helps a leader monitor their own growth and impact. It allows the leader to grow and course correct in response to reality - not assumptions. In every other aspect of our work - we probably value good and accurate information for decision making. Invest in quality feedback about your own impact as a leader.

Effective Servant Leadership makes good sense for your bottom line – whether that is financial, social or spiritual. It’s about growing people, about releasing them to be the best that they can be. That’s an investment that pays dividends in any economy.

Does Servant Leadership matter? Or is it just a 'fluffy bunny' approach to people that real leaders can rarely afford? Consider this: Leadership is a relationship. Your ability to inspire the loyalty and confidence of those you lead is what gives you influence. What is it about your leadership that creates that sense of loyalty and confidence?

It's tough to manage time when that feels like 'one more thing' you've got to do. Learn to work smarter and not harder with this simple tool.

Your leadership must be trusted for anyone to follow you. Servant Leadership is a crucial part of building that trust. Discover three leadership principles for building or regaining the trust of those you lead.

Most leaders hate resistance. However, this is often one of the greatest opportunities for a leader. More often then not - resistance can be resolved with an attitude of curiosity and humility.