Every organization has a culture by default. Few organizations have a culture by design. Even when an organization has intentionally integrated its culture as part of its strategy, change naturally forces culture disintegration. The more a changing organization wants to keep its culture the same, the more it must change what it does. Culture can be…
Leadership is an inside job. We must lead ourselves to a higher level before we can inspire extraordinary results from our team. We cannot lead where we dare not go. We cannot credibly ask others to pursue team excellence if we do not pursue personal excellence. Great leadership requires skill and character. Our character is,…
Every successful business must plan and execute. How effectively you perform these vital activities determines whether you will survive or thrive. In other words, plan and execute or become extinct. In fact, senior executives predict that "very effective" strategy execution would improve operating profits by an average of 30 percent over two years. So, how…
Every organization has a culture by default. Few organizations have a culture by design. Even when an organization has intentionally integrated its culture as part of its strategy, business growth naturally forces culture disintegration. The more a growing organization wants to keep its culture the same, the more it must change what it does. Culture can be…
Leading CEO's have acknowledged the importance of organizational culture for years. The current environment has simply underscored its importance. Here are a few perspectives on culture from leading CEOs: "If you are lucky enough to be someone’s employer, then you have a moral obligation to make sure people do look forward to coming to work…
Truism: no trend goes on forever. This truism prevents complacency during good times and instills hope during tough times. I originally wrote the the attached report 2001 to address how to lead in an economic downturn, then I revised it in 2008. Well, 2020 seems to be singing the same song to leaders. There are…
Have you ever felt like you were trying to follow conflicting directions to navigate to your goal? In today’s whirlwind of changes, this image might feel less like a humorous sign and more like a daunting reality. We help top notch leaders remove the guesswork from their journey. With clear thinking and practical tools, our…
Business is good in nearly every sector, but business leaders still need to be aware of 10 common risks associated with rapid growth: Betting against the law. (legally required activities on the back burner) Operational infrastructure is underdeveloped. Product and service quality are declining. (customer needs are obscured by growth needs) Inability to quickly…
During my family holiday visits, we play lots of ping pong--a favorite indoor sport of ours. Over many games and tournaments certain players dominate, and a clear trend emerges. The consistent winners use the full ping pong table to their advantage. They keep opponents moving, guessing and reacting to an array of shots in different…
Here we go again! I frequently tell my clients that no trend goes on forever. My mom used to say, "This too shall pass." Both phrases keep us humble when we are at the peak and hopeful when we are in the valley. In December of 2008, I wrote a manifesto titled "Here We…
