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ARTICLES BY DR. ANDY NEILLIE, CSP

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Spring Leadership Check: Are You Growing or Just Going Through the Motions?

By Andy Neillie | March 24, 2025

Spring is a season of renewal—a time when nature reminds us that growth is not just possible, but inevitable. Trees that once stood bare now bud with fresh life, flowers push through the thawed ground, and the world around us transforms. Yet, in leadership, growth is not automatic

There’s a stark difference between having 10 years of experience as a leader and repeating the same experience 10 times. One leads to wisdom, adaptability, and forward progress.…

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Delegation Is Not Abdication: Empowering Without Disengaging

By Andy Neillie | March 11, 2025

I was at a business development conference last week, focused on the future of our company, when my phone wouldn’t stop buzzing. A newer manager kept texting me about a tactical issue.

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The wisdom of leaders

The Wisdom of Leaders Who Value Their Time

By Andy Neillie | November 13, 2024

For leaders, time is one of the most precious resources available to leaders. Moses, the founding leader of the nation of Israel, recognized this truth deeply, capturing its essence in Psalm 90:12. (Yes, for those of us who thought David wrote all the Psalms in the Hebrew scriptures, Moses wrote a Psalm!) Psalm 90:12 shares, “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”

Scholars believe Moses wrote this Psalm after leading for more than forty years;

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Leadership and Stewardship

Keep It Simple: Navigating Leadership Through Three Foundational Questions

By Andy Neillie | October 30, 2024

Inspired by Good to Great by Jim Collins, leadership boils down to focusing on three essential questions that drive purpose and success.

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Arcade and Leadership

Leading Through Change: Guiding Your Team with Purpose and Resilience

By Andy Neillie | October 16, 2024

Do you remember the last time you played “Bop the Gopher?” One of our teams did last year’s holiday celebration at a pizza parlor/arcade game center. Before I knew what was happening, one of my employees armed me with a plastic mallet, and I found myself trying to hit “gophers” that kept popping up faster and faster while all our team members gathered round, laughing at my slow hand/eye coordination. Change can often feel like a game of “Bop the Gopher.” As soon as you think you’ve managed one challenge,

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Leadership Lessons from Bali

Leadership Lessons from Bali: Rich in Character Virtues

By Andy Neillie | September 30, 2024

I just wrapped up two incredible weeks in Bali, Indonesia. This trip was the perfect blend of a peaceful vacation with my wife and an inspiring gathering at the Global Speakers Federation biannual meeting. As I explored this beautiful island and connected with fellow leaders, a few timeless leadership principles struck me deeply—principles that transcend borders and cultures.

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Our foster dog failure

Sometimes They Just Need Time

By Andy Neillie | September 5, 2024

From Canyon Lake to Austin by way of a call from Houston

Lake showed up two months ago. We got the call from the Houston Golden Beginnings Golden Retriever Rescue organization: there was a young Golden that urgently needed to be picked up from a surrendering family outside Austin and then briefly fostered. Could we pick up this dog and keep him for a few weeks until GBGRR could find him a permanent family?

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Top 20 Books

The Top 20 Leadership Books for 2024 (Plus Two Essential Bonus Reads)

By Andy Neillie | August 14, 2024

As we head into the fall, leadership continues to be a crucial topic for professionals across industries. Whether you’re a seasoned leader or just stepping into a leadership role, the right book can provide the insights and inspiration needed to excel. Here is a curated list of the top 20 leadership books that should be on your reading list this year, along with two bonus selections by John Maxwell.

  1. “Dare to Lead”

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Four levels of Leadership

The 4 Levels of Leadership Conversations

By Andy Neillie | July 23, 2024

Today we’re tackling an essential yet challenging aspect of leadership: navigating difficult conversations. In this short video blog, we’ll explore the four levels of leadership conversations, from asking clarifying questions to addressing serious problems.

Here’s a quick summary:

1. Questions: I recommend starting with open-ended questions like, “Help me understand,” or “Can you explain further?” to encourage deeper dialogue.

2. Concerns: Share your concerns transparently and invite your team to do the same.

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