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Welcome to the N2Growth blog, a robust knowledge center of articles curated by our team of thought leaders. Our practice areas encompass a full range of knowledge and information that we regularly share with you to enable success and create positive impact in organizations. We invite you to comment, share, and be a part of the growing community of some of the most influential Executive Leaders in the world.

The Difference Between Great Leaders And Posers

What is the difference between great leaders and posers? This may sound harsh, but the truth is I’ve witnessed far too many people in positions of leadership that wouldn’t recognize an opportunity if it hit them squarely in the face. If you cannot recognize, attract, and acquire opportunities you should not be in a leadership position. Just this week I’ve observed people in leadership roles who…

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3 Tips To Get Discovered By Executive Search Firms

I liken the executive search process to a grown-up version of the game "hide and seek". Brands across every sector are the seekers. Executives tend to hide. If you want to learn how to get discovered by an executive search firm - keep reading. The "playground" is big and complex. It spans geographies, industries, and functions. To most, it is unfamiliar. It is also competitive. The best seekers…

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Leadership – No Talent Required

While not all leaders will develop their talents and abilities to the same level, all successful leaders more or less begin with the same foundation. Here's the thing - the foundational elements of leadership require no skill or talent whatsoever. Clearly the difference possessed by all great leaders is that they refine, develop, and build from their foundation - they don't ignore it or take it…

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Leaders Stop Trying to Be Efficient

Let's cut right to the chase; stop focusing on being efficient - it's a waste of time. Nobody other than perhaps you really cares how efficient you are, but everyone cares how effective you are. Not only do they care how effective you are, but they also care about the effectiveness of those whom you lead. It's important to remember leadership is a people business, and people are messy. Leadership…

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Smoothing Rough Edges

How rough are your edges? Which aspects of your professional life need to be smoothed, polished, developed, or refined? Do you understand what it takes to close the gap between success and true greatness as it applies to you? We have all known truly talented executives and entrepreneurs who while successful, still have a huge barrier precluding them from reaching their full…

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The Power of Focus

I am frequently asked what it takes to become more productive. My answer is simply to become very, very focused. Focus has always been a powerful characteristic that has served me well in all leadership roles alike. Relentless focus results in aligned priorities, order, discipline, and productivity. That sounds simple enough doesn't it? Then why is this so hard for executives and entrepreneurs?…

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Top Talent Management: 10 Reasons Talent Will Leave

Top Ten Reasons Talent Will Leave You Have you ever noticed leaders spend a lot of time talking about people only to make the same mistakes over and over again? Without question, your top talent will leave you if you fail to lead and take care of them. Few things in business are as costly and disruptive as unexpected departures. With all the emphasis on leadership development, I always find it…

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Why Leadership Development and Talent Programs Fall Short

Why are so many leadership development and high potential talent programs continuing to fail, or at the very least, not producing what we hope for? The answer is simple, those at the top of the organization are in denial about their own leadership capability. This is not to point fingers at the top leadership, but rather this should be a call to arms for all of us to take a good look in the…

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How To Remain a Balanced Leader

Most high-performing leaders concern themselves with that which other people value most and if they do it well those leaders usually climb the corporate ladder fastest. We have created an order, particularly in western societies, which is designed to reward the natural business hierarchies we see across our corporate landscape. Sometimes leaders become disillusioned in the process of climbing the…

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Why Best Practices – Aren’t

My thesis is a simple one; Don't copy - create. Don't benchmark against others - benchmark against a unique and better version of you. Don't compete against how others do things, compete against your own thinking. More than 20 years ago I coined the term "next" practices in an effort to focus people forward in their thinking. I've always wondered why any business would want to adopt the same…

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Consultants: Resistance Is Futile

When you look back on your career, you remember the jobs you took, the jobs you declined, the opportunities realized and the opportunities lost.  You remember the special people along the way; the great bosses, mentors, coaches and the lifelong friends.   You also remember the Consultants.  As a consumer of consulting services for more years than I care to admit, I have developed a well defined…

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How Employee Engagement Drives Customer Satisfaction

Research shows there is a direct correlation between engaged employees and the satisfaction of your customer and ultimately achieving your business outcomes. In other words, employee engagement drives customer satisfaction. Richard Branson says, “Take care of your employees and they will take care of your customers”. Engaged employees are described as being fully immersed in and enthusiastic…

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6 Defining Values of a Leadership Culture

Twelve years after launching culture change consulting services, I am finally sitting down to write about six defining values of a leadership culture. These are factors I’ve learned that define whether an organization can improve their Culture or not. No surprise that all six values rise and fall on leadership. Before I unpack the six values, let me paint the backdrop of how it all began. In…

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Africa Shines in Employee Engagement

Companies in the public and private sectors across the world are faltering when it comes to employee engagement, yet Africa shines. Progress in employee engagement has stalled or is rolling backwards. The significant increases in employee engagement have been partially eroded due to global anxiety and rapid technological advances creating uncertainty about job losses, although Africa’s engagement…

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Follow The Leader

Does the term “Follow the Leader” still apply in today’s world?   We live in an age of “followship”, but does followship imply that a leader is the one being followed?  Success on social media is often defined by the number of followers.  I get that to a certain extent but look at who is being followed.  We have celebrities, professional athletes, and controversial figures with huge…

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The Journey of Servant Leadership: Iron Sharpens Iron

Each day I reflecting upon the journey of servant leadership, what I now define as “relational leadership”. Although I certainly do not intend to make this a post with any religious overtones, I've found the bible has an amazing quote that shapes my thinking on this topic. Proverbs 27:17 proclaims: “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another”. This simple statement has been a calling…

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