Welcome to the March 2025 Leadership Development Carnival! Horizon Point is excited to host the carnival this month, featuring posts from leadership experts from around the globe on the topics of communication, development, engagement, motivation, productivity, team building, and more. The Framework for Organizational Excellence by John Spence Excellence isn’t accidental—it’s built with purpose. My new Organizational Excellence Framework brings together the key elements of success: purpose, culture, strategy, innovation, and simplicity. Read to see how it all comes together. How To Build a Better Relationship with Your Difficult (Icy) Boss by Karin Hurt You know the type: the difficult
The terms manager and leader often get used interchangeably, but should they? “Leading versus managing” is a common search phrase. At HPC, we don’t really think it’s a “versus” situation. You can be a good manager without being a great leader, but you can’t be a great leader without strong management skills. So, what’s distinct about them, and why does it matter? Let’s break it down. You Manage Time and Tasks Management primarily involves managing things that largely impact people, but it does not seek to influence people like leadership does. It’s hard to lead others well if you can
My boys love baseball. I tolerate it. Our little one started t-ball last year and has become obsessed, so naturally The Sandlot is now his favorite movie. He watches it on repeat now. Again, I tolerate it being on pretty much 24/7 at our house. But the other day it was playing in the background, and I sat down for a second to watch. “This Benny kid”, I thought, “this kid is a real leader”. Then I proceeded to watch the entire rest of the movie tuned in to this realization: there are powerful leadership lessons from The Sandlot. As
Building and maintaining professional relationships is essential for success in today’s dynamic work environment. Whether you’re leading a team, collaborating with colleagues, or expanding your network, strong professional relationships are the key to achieving your goals and innovating the workplace (which you know we love!). Here are three powerful strategies to strengthen your professional relationships this year: 1. Prioritize open and authentic communication Every great relationship starts with clear, consistent communication. But in today’s fast-paced, tech-driven world, connecting authentically can be a challenge. It’s not just about talking; it’s about actively listening, encouraging dialogue, and building trust. Schedule regular check-ins—whether
I’m speaking today at AARC’s Annual Conference. We’ve had the privilege of speaking at this annual conference for the last several years. We love all of the Regional Council on Governments and Planning Commissions that partner with us across the state. As I speak on “Leading in the New Normal,” I’m reminded of all that has shaped this “new normal”. Shifts in the economy and technology, the pandemic, generational differences. Even Surgeon General’s warnings. But as I begin to unpack these influences imparting a new workplace paradigm, has leadership gotten easier or has it gotten harder? Most would say