Category Archives: Leadership

Getting Things Done

A crucial success factor for business leaders is getting the right things done. Visionary leadership, brilliant strategy formation, and outstanding man-management are all for nothing if we cannot execute and get done what we need to get done. I offer … Continue reading

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Leadership Restraint

Contrary to popular opinion, a successful business leader does not need to: Have all the right answers and be the smartest person in the room Be involved in every matter and make every decision Overwhelm his or her subordinates with … Continue reading

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Metrics in Business – User Beware

“I used to believe that if it doesn’t get measured, it doesn’t get done. Now I say if it doesn’t get measured it doesn’t get approved… you need to manage by facts, not gut feel.” General Jon Michael Loh, USAF … Continue reading

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Clarity

With so much going on in our companies today, our employees have a large number of competing priorities as they do their daily tasks. What is most important? What should they focus on first?

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To Communicate Better, Communicate Less

Today, we are all overwhelmed with communication of one type or another– too many and too mixed messages from our supervisors, too many E-Mails, too much information. In trying to absorb and process the daily blitz of messages and communication, … Continue reading

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Employee Training and Managerial Development for Free!!

More than ever, companies need to train and develop their employees and managers. As such, countless billions of dollars are spent on seminars, executive education, speakers, etc. The results, however, have been underwhelming. The dirty little secret is that, done … Continue reading

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Instilling Passion Back Into Our Businesses

For many companies, the last few years have been a long, hard slog for the leaders and employees alike. Raises and bonuses have been minimal. It is more difficult to make good profits and win. Anxiety is high as there … Continue reading

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Three Paradoxes of Leading Multiple Business Units

As your company expands or as you progress up the ranks in your company, you will likely move from having P&L (profit and loss) responsibility for one business unit to having P&L responsibility for several different business units (usually located … Continue reading

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We Need Less Leadership!

In her thought-provoking book, The End of Leadership, Barbara Kellerman writes: One of the problems plaguing the leadership industry is its fixation on developing good leaders, while ignoring completely the problem of stopping or at least slowing bad leaders. Stopping … Continue reading

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Hire Smart or Manage Tough – Sound (But Often Forgotten) Hiring Advice

“No management style can undo the damage of a poor hiring decision.” Red Scott In the quick read, Hire Smart or Manage Tough, Red Scott, the former Vice-Chairman of Pier One Imports and a grand-nephew of legendary tough guy, General … Continue reading

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The Leadership Machine – Developing Skills for Your Leaders and Executives

In their book, The Leadership Machine (Architecture to Develop Leaders For Any Future), Michael W. Lombard and Robert W. Eichinger discuss ways to build leaders and develop leadership competencies (skills) in any company. Although the book is a bit too … Continue reading

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Lady Luck Always Has Her Day

Whether we like it or not, a good deal of what happens to us in our lives, our careers and our businesses comes down to luck and fortunate timing. The chance meeting with someone that led to a job and … Continue reading

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The Oz Principle – Be Accountable, Be Responsible, Be Answerable

In their book, The Oz Principle – Getting Results Through Individual and Organizational Accountability, Roger Connors, Tom Smith and Craig Hickman discuss the pervasive lack of accountability in the corporate world. Dirty Little Secret The dirty little secret is that … Continue reading

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Stephen Covey’s “Habits” Books – Still Valuable After All These Years

Stephen R. Covey is justifiably famous for his books on business and personal success. In this blog, I briefly summarize two of his best and most relevant books for moving you and your company forward. The 7 Habits of Highly … Continue reading

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‘Tis a Gift to Be Simple

In a previous blog (Why is Business So Complex?), I highlighted the factors that drive business leaders and businesses towards greater and greater complexity and more and more work. Yes, business is complex. And that complexity cannot be ignored. But, … Continue reading

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It is Better to Be Good in Fact than Great in Fiction

This is my 100th blog post in my blog “Helping Leaders Win.” If I had to sum up one line that describes my approach to business success and “winning leadership” over the previous 99 posts, it would be the title … Continue reading

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The Leadership Pipeline: How to Build the Leadership Powered Company

In their book, The Leadership Pipeline: How to Build the Leadership Powered Company, Ram Charan, Stephen Drotter, and James Noel lay out a model for building a pool of leadership talent at all levels of your business or corporation. Introduction … Continue reading

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12 Stupid Hiring Mistakes to Avoid in 2012

Despite the 8.6% unemployment rate, many companies searching for their next manager or executive have but one complaint: I cannot find the right person for my company; there is no good talent out there. In reality, nearly all these companies … Continue reading

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How to ‘Do What You Say’ and Distinguish Yourself from Everyone Else

A fundamental for business relationships and business success is to do what you say you are going to do. ‘Doing what you’ say builds trust and confidence that you are reliable, dependable, and will live up to your commitments and … Continue reading

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Skills for Success: The Experts Show the Way

In Skills for Success: The Experts Show the Way, the Soundview Editorial Staff summarizes the keys to achieving success in business and life. It is an oldie (1988), but it is well worth reviewing even today, 23 years later. How … Continue reading

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