Jeff McManus's Blog, page 6

Christmas Time is Here

Recently, I went to see the play A Charlie Brown Christmas. It was a simple yet
meaningful way to get into the Christmas spirit and create new, joyful memories. There’s
something comforting about revisiting the timeless message in that story: the gentle
reminder of what truly matters during this season.

At its core, Christmas celebrates the birth of Christ—a moment in history that
symbolizes hope, love, and renewal. Whether you’re religious or not, the story of
Christmas carries universal truths: ...

Quotable Quotations

Leaders Are Readers
As Harry Truman once said, “Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.”
But workdays are longer today, and time seems scarcer than ever. Add to that the rise
of social media and we find that our attention spans are shrinking. If a story can’t be told
in less than 60 seconds, we’re quick to scroll and move on. As a result, we find the act
of reading novels, books, and articles for business or pleasure is fading
But as leaders, we must remind ourselves—and our teams—of...

Elevating Leadership: Growing from Good to Great

A leader at every level, in every industry, is given the responsibilities of
problem solving, adapting, overcoming, managing projects and people and
all while exceeding expectations. Who wouldn’t want to be a leader?

The reality is that being a leader, having the title, does not mean that you
have all the answers. Being a good leader may mean you have some
answers but not all of them. Being a great leader means you recognize the
need and have the desire to improve every day.

The enemies of grea...

The Magical Qualities of Gratitude

All said and done, we spend a third of our life at work; more than that for some. Who we surround ourselves with, the culture and attitudes we show up for, and how we treat one another matters. From top to bottom of the organizational chart, we can all contribute to creating a workplace worthy of showing up for. It begins with gratitude which according to Forbes, is good for business not to mention our physical and mental well-being. As leaders or someone on the leadership development track, the...

Being Firm: The Cornerstone of Effective Leadership

In leadership, firmness isn’t about rigidity—it’s about clarity and conviction in decision-
making. Being firm means knowing when to stand by a choice or direction, even when
pressures mount. A firm leader demonstrates steadiness, helping teams feel secure in
their work and committed to a shared goal. “In a crisis, don’t hide behind anything or
anybody. They’re going to find you anyway,” said Lee Iacocca, former CEO of Chrysler.
Being firm means accepting responsibility, showing up fully, and setting...

Collaborative Value

Last month, I led a group through the benefits of collaboration. As a leader, you can dominate and dictate, or you can collaborate and facilitate your team’s success. Building influence isn’t about controlling outcomes; it’s about creating an environment where everyone feels they have a stake in achieving goals.

Collaborative teamwork benefits both the team and leadership. Here are the top five I value most:

Self-Awareness
Collaboration requires actively listening and engaging with others’...

Resolve

Leadership is never a smooth ride. If you’re in a position of leadership, you’re likely to
face moments that push you far beyond your comfort zone. Right now, if you’re
grappling with tough decisions and navigating uncertain waters, remember this: stay the
course. Your resolve, wisdom, and ability to make tough calls are exactly what’s needed
in these critical moments.

Consider the Apollo 13 mission, for instance. In 1970, an oxygen tank explosion
crippled the spacecraft, leaving the astronauts wi...

Today’s Word is Sacrifice

Last week, I led our team through a session focused on the word: sacrifice. There’s
immense power in taking a few moments to dive deep into a single word. I encouraged
our team to share their thoughts on what sacrifice means in the context of our daily
work.

We discussed various trade-offs: time, money, patience, opportunities, weekends, and
hobbies. Each team member contributed valuable insights, highlighting how these
sacrifices shape our professional lives.

Then, we explored the rewards of s...

I’m Not Looking for Perfect Leaders

I was taken aback when I realized that not everyone aspires to be a leader. It became clear to
me that not everyone wants to direct others or take on the responsibilities that come with
leading a project.

I’m always on the lookout for potential leaders—individuals who are eager to learn, open to
coaching, competent, trustworthy, and capable of building strong relationships with others.
Let’s be honest: perfection is rare. Perfection is not even a realistic goal. Instead, true leaders
embrace the j...

Priorities

A couple of weeks ago, I asked my team to define the word “priorities.” Their responses
were spot on: “main focus, importance, consistency, safety, and order.” Then, I asked
them to share what they believe are some of our top priorities for campus grounds. I
was pleased to hear answers like “appearance, safety, removing dead plants, tree
health, mowing, litter, and weeds.” As a team responsible for maintaining the visual
appeal of our campus, these answers reflected an understanding of our key
respons...