Building and sustaining organizational excellence requires exceptional people dedicated to the task
A blog from a couple of years back by marketing guru and all-round provocative thinker Seth Godin entitled The fruitless search for extraordinary people willing to take ordinary jobs took me back to a boardroom conversation about executive pay. Every company has a ‘compensation philosophy’ that it uses to guide how it sets the pay…
Some industries have seen a spike in sales because they seemed to be in the right place at the right time. Others need a new plan
At the beginning of each year, I challenge my clients and readers to name the upcoming year. I get a huge response with people naming their year and sharing what they would like to manifest and work on. This year, for example, was named variously the year of vision, clarity, wealth, systems, growth and change.…
A leader's expectations of his employees is a key factor in how well people perform at work
Pygmalion in the Classroom, one of the most controversial publications in the history of educational research, shows how a teacher's expectations can motivate student achievement. This classic study gave prospective teachers a list of students who had been identified as "high achievers." The teachers were told to expect remarkable results from these students, and at…
With the loss of traditional connections and communities, businesses face a cycle of grief. How do you let go and move on?
There has been global grief recently as a result of COVID-19. Many businesses have lost their identity in the process. Uncertain how to let go of what once was, scared to move forward for fear of throwing out a previously viable vision, leaders are challenged to find their space within this new era of business.…
There are unmistakable signs that it is the right time to move on, with more than a few steps to get the transition right
It’s one of the most important decisions you will make. And one of the most difficult. Is it time for you to exit stage left and say goodbye to your business? There are a few unmistakable signs that it is indeed the right time – for you and the business – to move on. You A…
If your staff don’t have clarity about what’s expected, they will imagine what you’re looking for. That may not turn out well
A professional came from the big city to a small town to build a cabin so he could escape the hustle and bustle of life, and set down roots where he could revive his spirits. His plan was to build a tiny house from the ground up. He asked around for help building his dream…
If we fail to implement best practices, the results are going to be predictably unhappy
There’s a certain adrenaline rush you get when you go over the handlebars of your bike and are flying through the air, as I did recently. That thrill (and pain) is hard to replicate except maybe by riding bulls or broncos at a rodeo. The result, however, is certainty predictable: you’re going to hit the…
The new leadership is a blend of personal and interpersonal skills that form the basis of your ability to impact, influence and inspire others
Most executives agree that collaboration is more important than ever in today's turbulent business environment. A company's very survival may depend on how well it can combine the potential of its people and the quality of the information they possess with their ability – and willingness – to share that knowledge throughout the organization. Deloitte’s Future of Work research…
Mindset is crucial to achieving goals. However, it isn’t the only thing that makes you successful. Uncover the habits you need to succeed
Success is a mindset. If you believe you’re successful and you put your mind to what you want to accomplish, you will be ‘successful.’ This is one of those statements that’s true and not true at the same time. Quite a paradox for business owners. I recently spoke at the Universal Womens Network Success Summit.…
Change is the only certainty for businesses and their employees. Preparing for that change may be a matter of survival
I recently heard a wise man say, “What makes life precious is that it ends.” It got me thinking about some of the things in my life that have ended that I could have appreciated more. For 28 years I ran my retail business. There were people and features about that business that, in hindsight,…