The stunning, come-from-behind victory of the Chicago Cubs in the 2016 World Series made me wonder if there might be some business lessons to be learned there. Sure, it’s a sports franchise, but major league baseball teams are businesses too. Yet we tend to experience them as entertainment, not […] Continue Reading…
“Much of what we call management today consists of making it difficult for people to work.”
Noted business author and keynote speaker, Dan Pink, talks about motivation . . . a lot. He talks about what motivates us and what does not. He talks about which motivators work and which do not. One of his favorite topics is “if-then” motivators. “If you do this, then […] Continue Reading…
Are you a leader, or just holding down a leadership position?
In a posting earlier this year, we mentioned John Maxwell who is a prolific writer and speaker, often on subjects related to leadership. In that posting, we talked about what Maxwell calls “positional leadership” which is the bottom level of his “5 Levels of Leadership.” However, there’s an important […] Continue Reading…
“You cannot expect to perform at a high level unless people are personally engaged.”
Doug Conant is the former CEO of Campbell’s Soup Company. When he assumed that position in 2001, he says the environment at Campbell’s was “toxic.” One third of his 20,000 employees were looking for jobs elsewhere. He and his team attacked the problem with a strategy of “employee engagement.” […] Continue Reading…
How to Make Money and Do Good
According to Adam Smith, credited with being the Father of Modern Economics, “If you continue to operate in your own self-interest, you will do the best good for society.” That sentiment was echoed by American economist and free market champion, Milton Friedman, who said, “There is only one social […] Continue Reading…
When was the last time you fired someone too soon?
Most managers will tell you that the toughest part of their job is firing someone. It’s an inevitable part of the job, but that doesn’t make it any easier. Of course, we’re not talking about firing someone due to unethical behavior, unlawful acts, or willful acts of disobedience. Those […] Continue Reading…
A few questions every entrepreneur ought to ask.
In 2014, Inc. magazine published an article titled, “100 great questions every entrepreneur should ask.” Some of the questions were submitted by best-selling business writers such as Jim Collins, Patrick Lencioni, and Peter Drucker, while others were submitted by a variety of business educators, business leaders, and business owners. […] Continue Reading…
Unlimited paid vacation? Are you kiddin’ me?
Some companies, both here and abroad, are experimenting with unlimited vacation, or “discretionary time off” as it is known in HR circles. And we’re talking about paid time off, not unpaid leaves of absence. Sounds crazy, doesn’t it? What’s to prevent someone from heading for the beach and never […] Continue Reading…
“Why Do Smart People Fail?”
Decision-making and leadership are two CEO skills inextricably entwined. It’s true that you can be a world class decision-maker and still be a lousy leader . . . that is, you can be a great decision-maker but still have other behavioral characteristics that disqualify you as a great leader. […] Continue Reading…
“Change with the world – or it will change without you.”
Kristin van Ogtrop is the editor of Real Simple, a monthly lifestyle magazine for women. In a recent edition of Time magazine, she wrote an opinion piece entitled, “There’s a difference between a boss and a friend, and that’s as it should be.” In it, she bemoans a lot […] Continue Reading…
