Mentor
LET’S GET REAL. HOW CAN I HELP?
There are so many different organizations with different issues these days, and there is so much to write about, I thought I’d ask directly, “What is the top issue you are facing today?” Please respond by return email. I will keep all responses confidential. No individually identifiable information will be published. I will use the…
Read MoreDO YOU GROOM YOUR LEADERS OR JUST PROMOTE THEM?
“It was her turn,” said the CEO. I had asked the CEO how a specific member of their leadership team was promoted to that position. I’ve heard other answers like, “They’ve been with me a long time.” “I trust them. She is very loyal.” “He needed to make more money.” “My [family member] needed a…
Read MoreTWO HEADS ARE BETTER THAN ONE
How Important Are the Decisions You Make? Leadership is a lonely position. Big decisions require wise counsel. The more critical the decision, the more important the counsel becomes. Do you have the proper support system to help you with decisions? Do you find yourself struggling, as described by Winston Churchill, “Want of foresight, unwillingness to…
Read MoreTHE ONE THING YOU CAN’T DO FOR YOURSELF
The one thing you can’t do for yourself… is to coach yourself. Here’s why. You can’t see what you can’t see. Everyone has blind spots. A coach can be an extra set of eyes to assist you in “seeing” and understanding things going on in your organization, marketplace, or even within your leadership team, that…
Read MoreManaging The Two “Black Holes” of Business
Marketing and Customer Service are the two “black holes” of business. Both are critical, but neither is ever complete. Unlike more tangible areas of work there is no “quota” to exceed, there is no “inventory” to manage, there is no “work order” to complete. But no matter how much is invested in Marketing and Customer…
Read MoreThe Only Thing Worse Than Getting It Wrong
I hate my smartphone. It lets me make and receive phone calls… sometimes. It tells me when I receive a voice mail… sometimes. It receives and sends texts… sometimes even on the same day that I or the other person intends. It helps me keep my calendar… sometimes, but never works when I need to…
Read MoreThe Unappreciated Leadership Trait That Powers All The Rest
As part of a research project I compiled the “best” leadership traits from over 100 sources, including several that aggregated their information from other sources. The total list comprised 237 different attributes. The most frequently listed attributes were expected. They were: Communication Decisiveness Honesty Integrity Confidence However what was a surprise (at least to me)…
Read MoreBooks, Peer Groups, and Mentors
It takes time and experience for CEOs to gain the knowledge and wisdom needed to grow their businesses and leadership teams. Three tools that can accelerate the process are books, peer groups and mentors. BOOKS. I love books and am an avid reader. I typically read about eight titles at a time ranging from business and…
Read MoreBe Nice
A while ago I was contacted by a couple of people I know who wanted to meet to discuss my interest in becoming the new CEO of a company. They were investors and board members of the company. I had already heard the company had severe p programs. But to my great surprise no more…
Read MoreWhen The Leader Emerges
There is much talk these days about leadership. But to me, leadership is not as simple as skill or poise or authority. And I don’t think you become a leader in a classroom. It is much more than just a management approach. But in the good times it is hard to tell a gifted manager…
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