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Many executive-level leaders laugh at working toward getting in touch with the people-side of their business. They usually feel they have better things to do. Yet, these same leaders struggle with very similar types of people questions, such as: “Why is our turnover so high?” “Why don’t people just do what we need them to […]

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It was a less-than-energetic discussion between the executive team members. The subjects of my prior blog (The Balance of Strategic Thinking, Part II) were frustrated and confused–except for the head of acquisitions. He was, if you remember, well ahead of his metrics for the prior year. But his success was wreaking havoc on everyone else. […]

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As one recent CEO boasted to his executive team during a recent Annual Planning Session, “We well exceeded our acquisition goals this past year! We should really pat Fred [name changed to protect the innocent] on the back. He’s taking us to the next level! I think we should have a celebration!” What I couldn’t help but […]

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Have you ever heard, “We can’t do that! We’re already bursting at the seams!” If so, you’re not alone. I hear it all the time as I work with growth companies to build their dream of an incredible, smoothly operating, mean, lean machine. I’d love to just tell executive teams that it’s all about ‘balance.’ […]

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I’m so thankful that you all take the time to read my blog every week.  It is my pleasure to get to share my passion with you.  In addition to this week’s blog, I wanted to include some extra reading that goes along with the country’s current events.  With the government shut down happening yesterday, […]

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We hear a great deal today about how leaders need to create a sense of passion, or engagement, within organizations. There are numerous books written on the subject. What I find interesting, though, is that so many leaders tend to point to their employees as the problem. It becomes a blame game on who did […]

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I once worked with a group of supervisors in a 70-year-old manufacturing company. This group had never (ever) been involved in any way with decisions around the strategic intent of the company. Then…one day…the company hired a new General Manager who had a personal vision of continuing to grow the productivity of this company. Easily […]

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When I get calls from executives who have yet to enter the world of asking a consultative facilitator to help them through an Annual Planning process, I know it’s a call from someone who’s ready for forward movement. (I don’t like to make cold calls. For what I do, leaders need to be ready for […]

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I’ve worked with a number of organizational leaders who create really good strategies. Their BHAGS are exciting to pursue, their Statements of Purpose are compelling, and their Winning Moves have incredible potential to produce excellent revenue streams. From a Strategic Planning perspective, all is well. But the often neglected conversation in many strategic sessions is […]

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I was having a conversation recently with an executive who was struggling to get his arms around why his company wasn’t getting the results they wanted. As with any organization, the dynamics behind such an equation are complex. But through a consultative session, we were able to begin sorting through his thinking. One aspect of […]

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