All is Calm, All is Bright

It’s that time of year, when we WISH all was calm and bright, as we rush to wrap up the year, get plans in place for the next year, and run from one holiday party to another. Leaders and employees are struggling with overwhelm.  The sands are shifting beneath our feet.  We’re trying to get … Continue reading All is Calm, All is Bright

The Vulnerability of Certainty

“That’s MINE!” “I KNOW I’m right.” “Of COURSE that doesn’t make any sense.” “Why would we start doing it THAT way?” From childhood to the boardroom we utter our declarations of certainty. So sure we’re right, we miss what’s in front of us. So important in our position, we fail to examine the data that … Continue reading The Vulnerability of Certainty

Pointless Planning Retreats

Millions of dollars are spent annually flying some of the brightest minds and dedicated leaders around the world to engage for a day or two in windowless rooms to “create the new strategic plan.” Eyes glaze over as board members or business leadership teams contemplate the “exercise” of planning, while seeing their existing execution lists … Continue reading Pointless Planning Retreats

Ignore This at Your Peril

Succession planning is a term that gets thrown around and can mean a lot of different things. There is the orderly succession planning that happens when you expect to run your business until retirement, and you give thought to an ESOP, selling your business, or passing it on to your children. I’ve watched some very … Continue reading Ignore This at Your Peril

Risk and Learn

Shifting a company or board culture from dashboards, measurable objectives, and numbers to “risk and learn” is a journey to sophisticated decision-making and ongoing innovation. We have become so entrenched in the terminology of the dashboard and yet are unskilled in understanding its appropriate application. We have ignored the development of the subsequent decision-making process … Continue reading Risk and Learn

“The Big Secret” Teaser – Book Launching May 4!

……..Much has been written about Southwest Airline’s alignment, marketplace disruption, and enduring success. Fueling employees’ devotion, passengers’ enthusiasm, and financial fruits, Southwest is a true illustration of positive alignment of vision, values, leadership, behavior, and rewards for all parties – employees, stockholders, and customers. The resulting impact was leveraged exponentially, magnified, and shared! More recently, alleged improprieties … Continue reading “The Big Secret” Teaser – Book Launching May 4!