Strategies
How Lawnmower Leadership Hurts You and Your Organization
It is quite possible that you and other leaders in your organization have inadvertently fallen into the trap of being a lawnmower leader. Not sure what I mean? Allow Me to Give a Bit of Background A few months ago, an article, written by an anonymous middle school teacher and posted online, went viral. In the…
Read MoreGiven a Choice, Would People Choose to Follow You?
Regardless of the type of work you do and who is (or isn’t) on your team, the job of being a leader starts with you. This is why you should invest time to evaluate how well you are doing at the job of leading yourself and leading others. And, of equal importance, evaluating why you…
Read MoreHow Nike’s Kaepernick Ad Might Be a Game Changer this Time
This weekend Nike unveiled their latest “Just Do It” ad campaign. The company’s well known formula of marrying the familiar tagline with high profile athletes was on display once again; however, there was a bit of a twist this time. Serena Williams, known for her dominate play on the tennis court and Odell Beckham Jr.,…
Read MoreManchester Divided, 3 “Shocking” Growth Strategy Lessons
I think we can all learn a bit about Growth Strategy Execution from the Head Coach of the Manchester United Football Club, Jose Mourinho. Framing the Discussion In 1957, Igor Ansoff, an applied mathmetician and business leader, introduced a business growth model. The model depicts four growth strategies. Here is a quick example of each: Diversification:…
Read More#1 Reason Strategy Fails and What Leaders Can Do About It
How often have you heard leaders announce a bold new initiative, only to watch it die a slow, painful death? How often have you done this yourself in your organization or team? Most strategies fail, not because they are poor strategies (although that happens – click here), but because they are poorly executed. It’s discouraging…
Read MoreHBS Professor Identifies the Central Issue of Leadership – One Word to Help You Address the Challenge
John Kotter is a legend in the world of leadership and change. A Harvard Business School Professor Emeritus, author of numerous business articles, and consultant to Global 5000 organizations, Kotter is, “internationally known and widely regarded as the foremost speaker on the topics of Leadership and Change.” (Harvard Business School) I’ve never met Kotter; however,…
Read More8 Behaviors of Successful Creatives Job Aid
Last summer, I wrote a post about being more creative. In it, I shared a process that a colleague and I developed and taught to thousands of people around the world. Many found the process simple and insightful. I thought my readers might find a quick graphic or ‘job aid’ helpful as they work to…
Read MoreSchultz Has Left the Coffee Shop. Wake-up & Smell 3 Leader Lessons
The business world has watched Howard Schultz slow departure from Starbucks. He stepped down as CEO in April 2016 and as of this month transition to chairman emeritus. Many believe he will now turn his attention to brewing up a U.S. Presidential candidacy in 2020 (Fortune). Upon his departure, I think it useful to spend…
Read MoreCostco Stock Soars; How You Can Make “Wholesale” Customer Loyalty Changes
It took retail giant and wholesaler Costco less than thirty years to become the second largest retailer in the USA and seventh in the world—without advertising. How? By growing a worldwide base of intensely loyal customers and employees, many of whom “wouldn’t shop/work anywhere else.” Just last week, Costco’s earning report beat expectations for both top…
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