William Davis

I hear a lot of leaders talk about Gen Z. “They don’t know how to communicate.” “They don’t want to come into the office.” “They’re always on their phones.” “They don’t know how to have a difficult conversation.” “They don’t build relationships the way we did.” Maybe. But I think we’re asking the wrong question. Instead of asking, “What’s wrong with this generation?” perhaps leaders should be asking, “What happened during the years when this generation was learning how relationships work?”...

I had two very different interactions with leaders on LinkedIn this weekend, and I have thought quite a bit about the contrast between them. The first involved someone I have known for more than 20 years, both professionally and personally, and someone I consider a dear friend. They were working on something over the weekend and asked if I would take a look at it and provide some feedback. My answer was a resounding yes. I was happy to help. Was it the weekend? Absolutely. But they didn't...

Boss. Manager. Leader. We throw these words around as if they are interchangeable. They’re not. …and I think knowing the difference can have a profound impact on retention, associate satisfaction, and how your team performs, communicates, and collaborates. Each carries with it its own discipline and dynamic. A boss operates through position. “I’m the boss. Do what I say.” A manager leads through structure. “I have assigned you a goal. Here is the process to accomplish it. This is...