Blue Fjord Leaders Blog
The Voice for Insightful Leadership with Shelley Row, P.E.
Challenge These Five Assumptions for More Innovation (or Learning from UFOs)
There were thirteen of us and an unknown number of them. We, leaders of a technology company, were standing in a dark field surrounded by the rugged mountains of Sedona. We held night vision goggles and laser pointers that reached ten miles. They were the inhabitants...
Give Your Staff a Trophy (and It Doesn’t Have to be Silver)
The trophy case stood in the middle of the building. It covered an entire wall. Walking through the Miles River Yacht Club, the sun reflected off the polished silver cups, chalices, and bowls. Some of the most highly sought trophies could have held a basketball. I...
What a Sailboat Captain Taught Me About Leading in Adversity
It was supposed to be an easy cruise. That’s what they told me. The 47’ Morris sailboat, sailed the Newport to Bermuda race and finished second in her class. We were part of the crew sailing her back to Newport. And, it was my first sailing trip. To say that the...
Three Leadership Tips from Tango
The night was warm as we stood looking over the Annapolis harbor at the gathered crowd. It was a perfect evening for (are you ready?) tango. Yes, tango. Argentine tango, to be specific. The bricks of the Annapolis City Dock were covered by a smooth dance floor and a...
What Commitment Looks Like
Each May the Blue Angels fly for the U.S. Naval Academy graduation in Annapolis. Their performance in the blue skies over the Severn River is a highlight and a special moment. Visitors and residents gather along the shore staring overhead, searching the horizon. No...
Seeing Beyond the Details: An Essential Insightful Leadership Skill
It was dark and I was in unfamiliar territory. I was aboard a friend’s boat on the Chesapeake Bay, at night, headed home, when he said, “You should drive. It will be good practice.” “Good practice?” I thought. “Is he crazy? There are lights everywhere.” As I looked...
Blue Fjord Leaders Newsletter with Shelley Row, PE, CSP
Your place for short, easy-to-read articles on management, leadership, decision-making, and personal & professional development.
Featured Blog Posts
7 Ideas to Consider When Creating Your Leadership Philosophy
What's your leadership philosophy? What's your leadership philosophy? I've asked that question to interview candidates and it has been asked of me. Frequently, the candidate is stumped as was I the first time. Don't let that question stump you. Perhaps you've worked...
To Create an Organizational Vision, Connect the Dots
In researching this article, I found countless resources on "how to write a vision and mission statement," "how to execute a vision and strategy," and "why you should have a vision statement." I found no articles on how to create a vision in the first place. An...
Five Steps that Challenge Your Impressions for Better Decision-Making
Hard-to-work-with, passive-aggressive, disagreeable, arrogant, unresponsive, unmotivated, angry. Know anyone like that? Rational, levelheaded, thoughtful, curious, respectful, friendly, easy-to-get-along-with, agreeable. You probably know people like this, too....
PODCAST – Why Should You Get Hired?
I recently was asked to speak on the PharmCast podcast (where they talk all things pharmacy and wellness.policy, people and the profession) to share ideas and tools for pharmacy leaders to steady themselves and their staff. This is part two of my conversation with...
Get a Free Copy of
The Handbook for Technical Leaders
Ten Top Skills for Managers