Staff members often see strategic planning as unfamiliar and threatening. It means change, and especially in smaller organizations with long-tenured teams, change can be difficult and significantly disruptive. Employees need to understand that change will [...]
Our economy has increasingly been financialized, and the result is a sluggish economy with stagnant wages. We need to decide whether to stop the cycle and save the economy at large or to stay in [...]
Over the past 30 years I’ve asked business leaders across an array of industries how well their current strategy is working, and heard a wide range of answers. Some changed the subject (aka, dodged [...]
Forgive me if the above title feels a bit like a directive, but the topic I’m addressing today is that important. Let me explain. For years I’ve been a bit like the proverbial [...]
Convenience, simplicity, and ease of use drive consumer behavior. The more seamless you can make your product or service, the more appealing it will be to today’s consumer; and the more value you will [...]
The Unplugged Challenge Recently, I had the privilege of speaking at the CUES ExecuNet (TM) event in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. While there, my wife and I decided to take a few extra days to see [...]
“Every time you have to speak, you are auditioning for leadership.” ~ James Humes Imagine you’re part of the leadership team of a credit union that has had its culture change (and not in a [...]
Across the past few months I’ve witnessed something very interesting. It started when I changed my thinking and made a decision to refocus my work. I encourage you to read the full story here, [...]
“There are always three speeches for every one you actually gave. The one you practiced, the one you gave, and the one you wish you gave.” ~ Dale Carnegie If you’re a leader at any [...]
“A poor introduction can derail even the best speech.” ~ Michael Hudson Chances are that in the past couple of months you’ve attended at least one education or training session, convention keynote, or business presentation. [...]
“If you do not know how to ask the right question, you discover nothing.” ~ W. Edwards Deming If I’ve learned anything from over 30 years of working with leaders in businesses, government agencies, and [...]
“The less people know the more they yell.” ~ Seth Godin For more than 30 years (wow that's hard to admit) it's been my privilege to work with a lot of different businesses. Regardless of the [...]
“I absolutely believe that people, unless coached, never reach their maximum capabilities.” -Bob Nardelli, former CEO, Home Depot In one way or another I’ve been coaching people for more than 30 years. I started [...]
“People are very open-minded about new things—as long as they’re exactly like the old ones.” -Charles Kettering One of my favorite books is Change is Good…You Go First by Mac Anderson and [...]
“Study the past, if you would divine the future.” - Confucius If you’ve been in a leadership position for any length of time, chances are this scenario will feel familiar. You’re in a [...]
