What You Get
What you get reflects where you focused.
Drive or Guide?
It’s become popular in the business lexicon to hear about expectations and ability to “drive results”. Is that what modern-day leaders really do?
“Love of Country Leads”
What does that phrase mean to you? It’s the mantra of the Union League of Philadelphia, which was formed in 1862 to support preservation of the United States of America and the determined efforts of President Abraham Lincoln. 156 years later, the leadership mission lives on. Beyond the compelling history encapsulated here, those four words […]
Hold on Loosely
The Southern Rock band, 38 Special, produced a hit song titled “Hold on Loosely”. I always crank the radio up whenever it comes on and especially like this refrain: “Just hold on loosely But don’t let go If you cling too tightly You’re gonna lose control” While the song shares hard-learned lessons of a romantic […]
Leading: Growth matters
Photo: iStock.com/RomoloTavani Growth for the sake of growth is not a worthy goal. But growth matters, and I’ll share some reasons why with you. If a tree isn’t growing, something is wrong; it could be the soil conditions, nutrition, disease, improper planting or something else. If you’re an arborist, you’re going to evaluate both the […]
Is It Because You’re a Great Leader?
When business is going well, is it because you’re a great leader? It can be tempting to think so, but you’d be wrong. Success isn’t about you. Leadership is about Vision and Strategic Direction. It’s also fundamentally about attracting and engaging the right people who will generate desired results, then providing them with the resources, […]
Leading: What to do when something goes wrong
Leading, and managing a business within that broader concept, is challenging enough when the economy is strong, your labor force is plentiful and motivated, resource pricing is stable and customers are hungry for what you have to offer. It’s fun to lead when that revenue and earnings chart is pointed upward and to the right. […]
Leading: Adjust the Sails
“Our Destiny is shaped by our Thoughts and Actions. We cannot direct the wind, but we can Adjust the Sails.” I’ve kept this picture on the corner of my desk for quite a few years. It serves as a daily reminder to me, and to those who come meet with me, that it’s necessary for […]
Leading: How do you sustain company momentum? Reward Results.
Once you’ve assembled your talented team, focused them in pursuit of a compelling purpose, dialed in the details, then figured out how to measure what matters, there should be massive energy and forward motion in your business. A great deal of deep thought and determined effort are required to get things moving the way you […]
Leading: How to Measure What Matters
It’s exciting to lead a talented and energized team, working together in an environment of mutual respect and trust. For the leader to get the most out of all that effort, however, requires a conscious effort to measure what matters. Without clarity regarding goals and what constitutes “success,” a team cannot sustain a high level […]