Topical Articles
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Executive Improvement
Size matters… doesn’t it? — Are bigger leaders better?
Some CEOs make a lot of money. Their Vice Presidents don't usually make as much, and the directors, managers, and...
What’s in a Name?
-- A rose by any other name… Synonyms. Don’t you just love ‘em? Some examples: Word Synonym Bossy ...
Tough Conversations: Have ‘em or avoid ‘em??
Nobody really likes them. Yes, some are better than others in dealing with them, but they are likely not high on our...
Hey, this stuff works! — Whouldathunkit??
Apologies for the length. We recently received an email from a junior executive we had worked with for several years....
The Trilogy: Responsibility, Accountability, and Leadership
I recently had a conversation with some really smart people around Dan Pink’s book, Drive: The surprising truth about...
The Magic of a Conversation
If you’re not coaching your employees who is? Chances are it won’t be your best performer! Not coaching your employees is akin to a football coach choosing to watch the scoreboard as his primary strategy for winning the game. Unfortunately, that is what many managers do, they use the scoreboard to tell them there are problems (or successes), rather than being in the game itself.
The Power in Asking Questions to Identify Value
Measuring value for clients with clear, tangible results is important. But before measuring anything, we have to be...
CEO Leadership Style When Private Equity Comes In?
When a business brings on a private equity group, whether it is to help them out of turmoil, cash out some owners,...
CEO Challenge: When Private Equity Comes In
So the big guns are coming in-- the private equity group, the new guys. Okay, what now? The process isn’t rocket...
Check Your Ego At the Door…It Might Be You
Our world today tends to be a selfish one and that doesn’t differ when it comes to business either. When you meet with...
The Goal is Success…NOT Perfection
Technical people, the quantitative business people, engineers, developers, programmers etc. are forever looking for...
3 Key Strategies for Effective Training
Training is essential for success—always has been, always will be. But like everything else, not all training is...
Developing Leaders
Perfectionism Revisited
… stop being a do-it-all About 4 ½ years ago, I wrote a piece for At C-Level about being a Recovering...
Prohibition is Back
Welcome to the new Roarin’ Twenties! The last Roarin’ Twenties was a decade marked by economic growth, technological...
Leadership and the Devil’s Advocate: Saint or Sinner?
“Yes” men, “No” men, or some happy medium?? (“men” used for convenience, and is in no way gender-specific)… Do we...
Sayonara to 2019
Kinda scary to think we’ve put another decade in the can. For the millennials out there, I don’t mean the trash can;...
2020: Ready or not… — Here it comes!
New year, new you! Resolutions, here we come! This is the year it all happens! Yadda, yadda, yadda… give it a rest,...
Leadership Lessons from My Fishing Trip
I recently went with some friends to Venice, Louisiana to do some gulf fishing. Those who know me are right now asking...
Leaders Wanted! … Bosses Need Not Apply
Based on the way I read the latest engagement surveys, the number of bosses missing the opportunities their leadership...
Leaders Develop Leaders… If you won’t do it, find someone who will!
Like many consultants, I sometimes struggle to follow the great advice I give other people. Okay, more than sometimes....
We Need Reinforcements… Send in the Leaders!
In my many years of experience growing, coaching and training leaders, I’ve discovered that it’s seldom talent... or...
Inspired or Not, Here You Come!
“Leadership is about influence and inspiration.” – Everyone Who Knows Anything Who has the most influence on the mood...
Come together, right now… over me!
-- The people side of merger integration Ok, so maybe the Beatles reference was a bit much... We were two...
Congrats on the promotion, LOSER!
So, just got that big promotion, eh? Now, you’re “It.” Big Shot. Grand Poobah. Boss Hog. El Jefe. Shiznit. The Big...
Organizational Excellence
Fast is Good, Faster is Better!
-- Pick a lane, add speed We need speed. Not the breakneck, uncontrolled, sitting-your-ass-on-a-rocket...
Assuming Makes an… Well, You Get the Picture
Who out there knows the old saw about what happens when you assume? Great. You can put your hands down. Yes, we all...
Officers Eat Last
There is a tradition, especially among our military’s ground troops, that officers eat last. I’ll let the Army and...
Coaching Slugs …What if they just don’t get it??
Coaching Slugs... the uncoachable. Also sometimes known as: Light's on, nobody's home. She just doesn't get it. How'd...
Today’s Myth: Being the Best is the Best
A common narrative today tells us that everyone should strive to be the BEST at whatever they’re pursuing. Number One,...
Too Much Work, Too Little Time … Good Luck With That!
During my last stint in the Pentagon, I worked for more than a few senior executives who were notorious for wanting...
Bob Fires A$$holes …and you should too!
Bob’s a client, the chief executive of a fairly large company in the Northeast. His name is not really Bob, but he...
Don’t Tolerate Bad Behavior…
…or you’ll see a lot more of it! Have I told you about the time I got fired? I was a 25-year-old hotshot, fighter...
Imposters Among Us… and What To Do With Them
Seems like I’ve talked to an awful lot of imposters lately. Run of the mill people, important people, people who used...
Breakthrough Innovation Through Diversity and Inclusion Leadership
Written by Simma Liberman, The Inclusionist Creating inclusive workplaces where people love to do their best work and...
The Trilogy: Responsibility, Accountability, and Leadership
I recently had a conversation with some really smart people around Dan Pink’s book, Drive: The surprising truth about...
Strategy is NOT a Four-Letter Word
… but it leaves the same taste in my mouth Why do we make so many things harder than they have to be? If...
