Stop Trying to Get Future Proof!

Jan 21, 2025 | Leadership Development

Please! I’m begging you. Stop trying to ‘get future proof’. Future Proof: It’s a catchy phrase but a really dumb business strategy. Future Proof: It’s a catchy term but a really dumb leadership and business strategy. I’m not talking about future proofing as it relates to software and computers. I’m talking about trying to “future proof” your business so you're more resilient and better able to deal with the numerous workforce, social, political, economic, climactic, technological, and security...

Communicate Your Way to the Culture You Want

Dec 17, 2024 | Leadership Development, Sales, Marketing & Customer Service

We’ve heard for years, and possibly for decades, that communication is critical for leadership success. Okay. We know that. But then why do so many of us continue to struggle with it? Why is communication critical for a leader to be effective, to achieve the goals needed, to develop the financial results expected, to delight customers, to initiate and not constantly react to change, and to create companies associates WANT to be a part of, engage with, and stay with? Why is communication, and...

Are Your Actions Leading to Your Vision

Nov 19, 2024 | Leadership Development

While on my 6.5 mile walk this morning, I noticed something new in the road in front of one of the houses I pass on a quiet side street. There were four white lines on the asphalt. The lines were in front of a basketball hoop that’s been sitting in the yard near the road. As I got closer, I realized the lines were strips of white tape with writing on them. The first strip was roughly in the middle of the road and said, “FREE THROW.” The second strip was roughly four feet away from the first...

Our Favoritism Is Creating Chaos

Oct 22, 2024 | Leadership Development

We all struggle with it: We want to be fair to all of our teams, but there are simply some teams we enjoy working with more than others. Some teams are working on projects that will elevate our professional areas of expertise and interest, while others are not. Some teams are succeeding more than failing, while others are not, and some teams are simply fun to work with, while others are not. This aspect of leadership is real. It’s common, it’s pervasive, and it’s a challenge for leaders. It’s...

Would You Buy Your Company?

Sep 24, 2024 | Strategic Planning

If you didn’t own your company, but you were looking for a company to buy, would you buy your company? Let’s be more specific, if you were looking to buy a turnkey business that you could ‘simply’ step into, tweak a bit, scale further, and reap strong financial rewards, would you buy your company? Your reaction to that question tells you everything you need to know about your company’s current weaknesses and strengths. If you were looking for a company to buy, would you buy your company? Your...