Do you feel as if you are slogging along instead of buzzing? It is business as usual but things are just not clicking? Sales are okay but not great. If this scenario resonates with you, then it is time to tap your strategic reserves. You need to drill deep, though, if you seek to isolate [...]
As human resource manager for a medium-sized manufacturer, Beth has increased motivation, engagement and productivity across the organization over the past six years. The leadership succession bench, empty when she arrived, is now quite full of leadership candidates who excelled in the leadership development programs she created. Despite her contributions to the company’s top and [...]
In past columns I have asked, “Who does the best thinking in your organization?” The purpose of these questions is to focus on two different and yet important types of thinking: Creative thinking that generates new ideas that can be exploited for the growth and prosperity of the business, and analytic or critical thinking to [...]
“Having the most talented people in each of our businesses is the most important thing. If we don’t, we lose.” ─ Jack Welch while CEO of GE "I am convinced that nothing we do is more important than hiring and developing people. At the end of the day you bet on people, not on strategies.” — [...]
According to a recent study by the Ken Blanchard companies, the costs associated with ineffective leadership run approximately 7% of gross revenues per year. Think about it; if the company has revenues of $3 million per year but they are not being lead and managed well they are losing approximately $210,000 per year of gross [...]
In my work with Jim Horan, founder and chief architect of The One Page Business Plan (tm), I have become enamored with his question, "Who does the best thinking in your organization?" This question not only makes leaders think, but often act very differently. Good leaders recognize that if they are the best thinkers then [...]
About two years ago I was asked to evaluate some up and coming executives for a client. One of the people was destined to be international sales manager on a fast track. After meeting with individual and discovering her background and career aspirations we completed a more formal assessment process including personality and intellectual testing [...]
“What do we have to do today to be ready for an uncertain tomorrow?” Peter Drucker. What’s up with strategic thinking? How important do you think strategic thinking is to the success of your organization? If your answer is that it is one of the most important skills for you, your leadership team and all [...]
I was very pleased to have a CEO client tell me he was considering tossing out their whole performance appraisal system. They hired a firm to help them build it several years ago, modified it for all departments, trained all managers and supervisors in using it and felt really good about it. But it doesn't [...]