Today I launched my new Book, Our Stories Matter. The book is a collection of 20 character sketches of people I bumped into over my life but with whom I never really connected. I guess at their stories, I describe them, and by doing so open up to myself. Why? I hope with my book to
Building culture – It’s hard! We can spend a lot of time discussing the culture we want. We can document it. We can communicate it. We can even walk the talk and live it … most of the time. It is when those big unexpected things happen…the shocks in the system..when we are unprepared and
In the 25+ years of sitting down with my people and doing performance reviews I have had many a case where my employee expresses a readiness for career advancement but find themselves frustrated at the lack of opportunities. And inevitably the conversation goes to creating opportunities and the choices we are willing to make. I
Why is it that organizations have trouble moving from planning to action? Why is it that so many Leaders are dissatisfied with the execution culture of their organizations? 1. Focus – The plan sets the direction. Focus takes the direction and breaks it into specific priorities and actions for you and your team. Every action
Experience and Skill? I’m sorry – that is not even close to enough! In discussions about talent and strong management depth, deep experience and skill in performing the job are the key attributes I hear about all the time. Really? Those are chips to get in the game. That’s what you need to get considered
Many of the Leaders I work with tell me they want to instill a more task-oriented, execution-focused culture. “Less talking, more doing!” “How do I get my team, my organization to value execution?” As is true with most business imperatives, the Leader paves the way. How do you spend your time? What message are you
I value expediency. The idea of finding everything I want in one store and getting in and out quickly … love that. But there are times when I am not that shopper. When a purchase really matters to me, then I want more. Then I want intimate. Books matter to me. McNally Jackson Books in
The vast majority of people I engage with say they attend way too many meetings. And they also tell me that they attend many meetings where their attendance is not necessary. Now, as leaders, we often have a different view of that. The meetings we hold are necessary, important. And the people we invite to
Doesn’t feel right? Not the way you had planned it? Getting challenged? Status quo not cutting it? Competitors launching something creative? New priority thrown at you? Not quite sure how to handle something? New territory? Is it uncomfortable? GOOD! Chances are you are stretching yourself and your team. If you are comfortable, it is a
When I am advising my clients, one of the areas that we spend time on is Focus, the importance of defining the “Sandbox” that the company will play in … and then focusing and staying within that sandbox! It is easier said than done. It means understanding the difference between tactically focusing on priorities to