Category: PLJ

James R. Rector Publisher, Profiles in Leadership Journal Some leaders find answers in charts and reports. Others find them on a morning walk. The pause, the pace, the space away from screens often brings clarity that a desk never will. Steve Jobs walked with colleagues at Apple. Winston Churchill dictated ideas while pacing. Leaders who… Read the full article

James R. Rector Publisher, Profiles in Leadership Journal Leadership is not just what you say. It is what you signal. The sigh in a meeting, the late-night email, the eye roll at an idea; these small shadows shape culture more than speeches ever will. People follow the shadows on the wall because they reveal what… Read the full article

James R. Rector Publisher, Profiles in Leadership Journal Give a hammer to someone, and every problem looks like a nail. Too many leaders repeat the same response no matter the situation: more data, more pressure, more enthusiasm. The result is often broken glass. Strong leaders stock a full toolbox. They know when to coach, when… Read the full article

James R. Rector Publisher, Profiles in Leadership Journal Leaders cannot stop the rain. Markets shift, competitors attack, policies change. The storm is coming whether we like it or not. What leaders can do is hand out umbrellas. The umbrella is preparation. It might be a cross-trained team that can cover when someone leaves, a cash… Read the full article

James R. Rector Publisher, Profiles in Leadership Journal Every meeting leaves someone out. Customers, employees on the front line, even quiet voices within the team. Decisions get made, but the missing perspective can come back to haunt you. Amazon’s Jeff Bezos famously placed an empty chair in meetings to symbolize the customer. It was a… Read the full article

James R. Rector Publisher, Profiles in Leadership Journal Trust behaves like a battery. It powers performance, but it drains faster than most leaders realize. Every broken promise, every unclear message, every unacknowledged effort depletes the charge. The battery may look full, but then a crisis hits, and suddenly the team has no reserve to draw… Read the full article

James R. Rector Publisher, Profiles in Leadership Journal In some homes, guests remove their shoes at the door. It is not about footwear. It is about respect. The ritual says: I value your space enough to change my behavior. Leadership is built the same way. Respect does not arrive through titles or slogans. It is… Read the full article

James R. Rector Publisher, Profiles in Leadership Journal Leadership is not one role. It is two. Some days, you are the candle, lighting the way when the path is dark. Other days, you are the mirror, reflecting the light of your team so they see their own brilliance. Strong leaders know when to switch. In… Read the full article

James R. Rector Publisher, Profiles in Leadership Journal You can learn a lot about a person in the coffee line. Watch how they treat the barista. The simple exchange shows whether respect flows only upward or in every direction. Leadership character is revealed in these small moments. A leader who thanks the person serving them,… Read the full article

James R. Rector Publisher, Profiles in Leadership Journal Life moves fast, and so does business. But rushing is not always the answer. Sometimes the smartest step is to stop for a moment and really look around. In August 2025, U.S. job growth nearly stalled. Employers added only about 22,000 new workers. Unemployment rose to 4.3… Read the full article