RIP Toys R Us

Toy’s R Us is dead – the last two stores have closed. As the store has gone through its multi-year descent, the debate has been underway about what killed the business: Was it poor strategy and execution? Including specific issues like store selection and website functionality…. (Business Insider) Did Private equity strip assets and saddle…

Read More

Episode 027. See Around Corners With Bestselling Author Rita McGrath

Rita McGrath, Columbia University professor and bestselling author, joins Patrick in the ‘lab’ to talk about her latest book Seeing Around Corners: How to Spot Inflection Points in Business Before They Happen.  Whether you are leading your own career, a team, or an entire organization, you don’t want to miss Rita’s insights about inflection points, how…

Read More

What Every Leader Can Learn from Sears’ Pending Liquidation

Did you hear about Sears? CNBC just reported Sears could force liquidation within 24 hours. A litany of issues has inflicted pain, if not utter destruction, on the once dominate retailer. Consider the: Advent of eCommerce Powerhouse that is Amazon 2008 recession’s impact on expendable incomes Three-headed dragon of globalization, digitization, and regulation List goes…

Read More

Manchester 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 More

Have You Ever Been in this Boat?

leader + leader development + ideas for leaders + ideas for brands + ideas for careers + best ideas for leaders + best idea for brands + best ideas for careers + leadership + leadership & management + Inspiration + Brands & Ads + Culture + emerging leader + brands + building brands + marketing + leadership + culture + organizational culture + strategy career advice + franklincovey + vanderbilt university + Your Career + Strategies + Inspiration + Human Resources + patrick leddin + catalys + a wining culture in government + oliver's spot + the 5 ps leading teams to top results + oliver's spot for the public

Creating a grand strategy – without the associated resources needed to execute it – is a recipe for frustration, disengagement, and many undesirable consequences. Have you ever found yourself in this boat? Are you putting your people in this situation, by expecting more than you’ve prepared, equipped, or even allow them to accomplish? Patrick LeddinPatrick…

Read More

Are You Outstanding in Your Field?

I took this photo this week when we visited my in laws farm. You just can’t take a bad picture of these cows. The old joke about a farmer being ‘outstanding’ in his/her field popped into my head. A couple of months ago, we were up at the farm and I made this quick video…

Read More