The Fastest Way Leaders Kill Careers — And How to Fix It

Many careers stall not because of lack of talent, but because leaders stop being curious. When managers believe they already know everything about an employee, opportunities shrink and growth halts. Research from MIT Sloan and others shows leaders directly shape career trajectories through visibility, feedback, and development support—yet most spend their time in meetings, not mentoring. The solution? Use AI to automate low-value tasks and create margin for real human connection. Through the GENUINE™ Framework—Generous, Engaged, Nice, Unafraid, Integrity, Non-Judgmental, and Empathetic—leaders can build trust, stay curious, and intentionally invest in employee growth. Practicing GENUINE™ leadership turns curiosity into career momentum and transforms culture from talent hoarding to talent multiplying. When curiosity ends, careers stall—but when it grows, people and organizations thrive.

jonathan couserOctober 5, 2025leadership, success, authenticity, genuine relationships, development

What is the highest form of control?

You have probably heard the advice to control what you can control.

The advice might be followed with a suggestion, which is to write down the list of things on your mind and then to identify the subset of that list that you can control.

The list of things you can control is always considerably smaller than the totality of everything on your mind. But there is a higher form of control that you should be striving for.

It’s as if to say if you can’t control it, you shouldn’t worry about it. A renewed mind paired with self-control habits leads to success in more circumstances and the ability to truly control what you can control, which is yourself. #self-control #selfcontrol #mindset #habits

jonathan couserMay 29, 2024habits, behaviors, bad behaviors, development

2024 Word of the Year: Reflection

Taking the time to reflect will lead to a better life. Here is encouragement to reflect and a path towards making it worth it.

jonathan couserJanuary 2, 2024best practices, strategy, goals, development

Re-evaluating Leadership Axioms: Need to Know Info

One of the things that I believe has helped me as a leader is Leading with a growth mindset—embracing that the world of work has changed and will continue to evolve. I am consistently looking to learn and share what I learn.

So when I say need to know information, I flip this well know axiom by encouraging that all information is need to know, and everyone needs to know all the information. Leaders should model this by going first and encouraging everyone to follow their lead. #effectivecommunication #leadershipbestpractices #communication #bestpractices

jonathan couserSeptember 26, 2022leadership, development, teams, communication Comment

The goal is to chase after the light, not avoid the darkness

In life you will enter into dark places, all people do. Living life trying to avoid dark times is not helpful. Figuring out how to leave the dark place as quickly as possible having learned the intended lesson is a much healthier approach. Here are thoughts on how to achieve that.

jonathan couserAugust 3, 2021health, development, goals Comment

Celebrating Women In Leadership

I want to celebrate my wife. It was one year ago that COVID really started to change the way we lived in America. It is also about that time my wife, a small business owner (although as a non-profit, she reminds me the board owns it), had to begin to lead her customers (pre-school families), her staff (teachers and admins), and strategic partners through the new normal.

jonathan couserMarch 19, 2021leadership, development

When it Comes to Personal Development Waiting for Tomorrow is the Wrong Approach

Manana (Spanish mon ya na) Iguana by Ann Whitford Paul was one of my favorite books to read to my kids. I enjoyed the ability to use some Spanish vocabulary and an accent even though most of the book was in English, it made them laugh as I fumbled over the Spanish words. But more than sharing the laughs together, I loved the lesson to be learned.

jonathan couserFebruary 16, 2021development

The year I failed to read 4 books a month but still learned about goals, intentionality and being a better human being

Challenges that drives us to the brink, can also become opportunities to do what we never thought possible. This happens when you switch your focus from what is being done to you, to what can you do with the challenge. My 2020 reading list helped me change this mindset.

jonathan couserJanuary 31, 2021development, leadership, relationships

It's Your Career Stop Giving Control to Others

When it comes to advancing your career relationships trump results. Why because in a promotion discussion everyone is qualified for the promotion. How can you increase your chances for success.

jonathan couserJanuary 23, 2020career advice, promotion, development, relationshipsComment

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