As the United States begins to emerge from COVID, many businesses are feeling the growth—and for many, also the pain—of the economic recovery releasing pent up demand in many sectors. New post-pandemic realities are starting to take shape, and the owners and leaders in small and midsize businesses (SMBs) who strategize, invest, and prepare for… Read more »
A Lesson in Breaking the Rules
Of the more than 3,500 Congressional Medal of Honor recipients, Mary Edwards Walker is the first and only female recipient of this high commendation. It’s a stunning statistic that lags well behind other social advances of the past 150 years. But the story of how one woman earned the armed forces’ highest recognition is an… Read more »
Memo from your employees: Stop managing and start coaching
The March Madness NCAA basketball championship is about to start and it got me thinking about the dynamics and transformations that happen when individuals come together to accomplish something extraordinary. Think right now about a time you’ve been on a team that’s done something great. You’re probably smiling at this moment. When I do this… Read more »
Maintaining Culture When Your People Are Working Virtually
This is the time of year when many management teams take a brief break from their fourth-quarter sprint to chart their course for next year. This typically takes the form of an off-site strategic planning meeting or retreat for a couple of days. One defining hallmark of high-performing organizations is that they the time necessary… Read more »
3 Game-Changing Leadership Lessons for Muggles
Picture this leadership challenge: Find three missing ancient artifacts, you have no idea where they are or how to employ them, and use them together to defeat all that is evil. P.S. Your parents are dead. My 12-year-old daughter recently purchased her very own set of the complete Harry Potter book series by J.K Rowling.… Read more »
The Remarkable Power of the All-Up Test
Fifty-one years ago today, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were the first men to walk on the moon. Five years prior, in 1964, NASA was reeling from the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and facing an unknown future in its quest to put humans on the moon by 1970. Coupled with the race to… Read more »
The Myth and Challenge of Leadership Presence
In my line of work I’m honored to partner with high-caliber leaders who are trying to move the needle in one or more areas of their businesses. Sometimes the conversation turns to presence: How do you want to show up as a leader, and how does that compare with how you are showing up? We… Read more »
The Case of the Broken Printer
Recently my father-in-law (let’s call him “Pop,” as my daughters do) was performing one of life’s most mundane tasks: fueling up his car with gasoline. He was at one of the ubiquitous convenience-store chains here in our neck of the woods, well known and which shall remain nameless here. Because of his job, he needed… Read more »
The Habits of Leadership
This summer my family and I vacationed in England and Ireland. In London we got around town mainly by Tube and bus. For Ireland, we opted for a self-guided driving tour. Somehow I was elected chauffeur (looking at you, Amy Greene). Driving on the other side of the car, on the other side of the… Read more »
3 types of leaders who should steer clear of a Vistage peer group
You’re probably familiar with the concept of a mastermind group, or a similar gathering of like-minded leaders. Truth is, any kind of group that meets regularly, is led by a smart guide, is focused on growth and development, and provides accountability, is a good one. About 10 years ago I was a Vistage member, and… Read more »
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