Nina Simosko looks at loyalty and how leadership effectiveness either creates or destroys this fragile and essential part of corporate success. Inspiring loyalty isn’t difficult, she writes, though it does require awareness and commitment.

Nina Simosko says no one should allow themselves to fall prey to comfortable misery. Not only does doing so make for many unhappy days in your own job and life, it serves no productive purpose for your company either. Change your thinking about what satisfies you. Don’t settle for what is mediocre, however comfortable it seems to be.

When faced with a choice between saying something to make a person aware of a problem, or not saying anything and simply hoping for some change, Nina Simosko believes that there’s no contest. Say what you need to say and say it as clearly as possible.

Nina Simosko point out that there is no one, single, perfect way to get a difficult job done—quite the contrary. Eliciting the best performance possible demands an environment that rewards innovation and cooperation as a means to results.

The personal power of leaders only extends so far. But as the Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu reminds us, great leaders empower their people. Remember this in the the crises of today. Those who nurture their team’s abilities to cope with stress and negativity will be rewarded with people with enhanced confidence who can deliver stronger performance and success.

Nina Simosko says we can all use these turbulent times to determine acceptable risk tolerance for ourselves and our organizations. Performance under pressure is a true leadership prerequisite. Anyone who cannot cope with tough times has no claim to being a leader at all.

Nina Simosko reminds us all that it’s usually better to be respected and not liked than to be liked and not respected. Delivering criticism honestly can be hard, yet the alternative is worse: the creeping sense that a boss needs to be liked so much that he or she will sacrifice performance and integrity rather than risk being called a bad name.

With the global economy still working its way through a seemingly interminable series of financial crises and yo-yoing oil prices, companies are struggling to manage all the repercussions. Nina Simosko looks at the underlying causes of our on-going management malaise.

Nina Simosko reminds us never to discount the value of seeking input from others. Career progression is often based on the impact of others. Without the input of other people in her ‘village’, she believes she wouldn’t be where she is today. Leaders, no matter how good they may be, are always representatives of a larger group.

We all reach points in our lives where we hit a wall of sorts. It is at these critical junctures that we must think, innovate and overcome. “Don’t let naysayers dictate your outlook,” writes Nina Simosko. “Reinvent and recast yourself.” By having a solid team and sticking with them through thick and thin, success is yours to lose. How have you used innovation, reinvention and a trusty team to overcome obstacles?