Having recently been with a company that is doing a major plant expansion, I have been thinking about one of the differentiators between market leaders and market laggards. I am wondering if the leaders, in addition to the slow and steady incremental changes necessary of any long-lived company, also focus on doing big things and taking bold action.

Many leaders are hunkering down, cutting costs, playing it safe without at the same time pondering what “big things” they might do that may change the future course of their company. Such steps as expand a plant and figure out how to sell the capacity, change out poor performers and bring in higher capability people, expand into new territories or product lines. Bold things, when done with clear thinking and good judgement energizes the best employees. and captures their imagination and creative energies. Do big things.