Articles by Mike Camp

I believe Hamlet said it best, “ To thine own self be true .”  These simple words keep us protected from the negative peer pressure we sometimes feel, while at the same time allow us to influence others in a positive way.  Even as children we learned the importance of group dynamics and not being labeled an “outsider.”  When you think back to your...Full Article »

How often have you been ashamed or embarrassed by the words you chose during a situation? Maybe you were speaking with friends, co-workers, or even family members.  If you look back, most of these incidents likely occurred during a high stress situation where you were frustrated.  Unfortunately, during times of high stress we tend to make bad decisions when it comes to the words that...Full Article »

When we think about the many mistakes we have made throughout our lives, it becomes easy to dwell on them.  Dwelling (or “reflecting”) on mistakes is a method to analyze what you did wrong and how you can avoid making the same mistakes in the future. I recently heard someone say, “The reason we learn from our mistakes is because we dwell on them and analyze them to death,...Full Article »

Someone can easily say they are “leading with integrity,” but the challenge lies in actually following through.  The majority of us have had importance of being honest instilled since we were children. Unfortunately, some people struggle more than others to live with and exhibit integrity, no matter how many times they hear it.  But what does “integrity”...Full Article »

Most people will experience a role as a leader in some form or fashion at one point in their lifetime.  This initial leadership role can begin at home, school, or in the workplace.  The common response from experienced leaders is that they were not prepared for significance when they first began to lead; and thank goodness for second chances!   As we began to develop our...Full Article »

I always enjoy finding situations in my personal life where a teachable moment can be translated into leadership lessons I can share with those around me. The other day I was working in my garage on a project, along with my five-year-old daughter, when something strange happened.  My daughter was attempting to build a toy train for her little brother and the pieces wouldn’t fit...Full Article »

At some point in our lives we start to believe that saying “I don’t know” to a question is a bad thing.  Whether we are in a classroom or a meeting, we are expected to provide answers when being asked questions.  Right?  One thing in which Sam Walton was extremely good was allowing the people around him to take the lead and answer the questions too. Most of us...Full Article »

I recently read something interesting about the creation of National Boss’s Day that I wanted to share.  Patricia Bays Haroski had a great boss who also happened to be her father.  She wanted to find a way to honor him with his own special day and to celebrate the vision, leadership and mentoring skills of great bosses everywhere.  Thanks to her efforts, National...Full Article »

I have witnessed many people in my career who were courageous enough by leading up instead of just leading those who report to them.  It takes a strong leader to take the steps required for leading and influencing all people, regardless of their title or place in the organization chart.  A few years ago my boss shared the importance of leading up , and how critical it is for not only...Full Article »

I was reminded recently about the importance of how we communicate and how others may perceive the way we say things.  So often we communicate to those around us thinking our message will be delivered one way, and it ends up going in a completely different direction.  In our minds, we hear the words coming out and think it will be easily understandable and make sense. Meanwhile, your...Full Article »