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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…
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?…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
10 Exceptional Strategies For Extraordinary Executives
Most extraordinary executives would agree that business practices evolve over time, and our experiences turn into knowledge. My such experience has inspired this article, 10 exceptional strategies for extraordinary executives. As a coach, my goal is always to see my client succeed. I want to high-five them when they hit a home run or score a touchdown. I want them to have experiences that will…
What Exactly Is Employee Empowerment and How Do You Keep Employees Engaged?
Employee engagement is defined as an active state related to productivity and innovation. Engaged employees can be described as being fully immersed in and enthusiastic about their work. This emotional attachment means that employees will go above and beyond the call of duty. Employee Engagement differs from employee satisfaction. Satisfaction can be described as being happy at work. Engagement…
Is Innovation manageable?
In the years leading up to 2018, I have spent my time bringing innovation to the financial services space. Fintech, as this sector is colloquially referred, focuses for the most part on disrupting the state of affairs induced by the use of technology. As such it is all about innovation. And now, from a distance, my optimism regarding the sector’s ability to innovate and capture opportunities has…
Making the Turn: 10 Warning Signs You aren’t Shifting from Founder to Leader
You came up with an awesome idea. Your singular focus has been to make it real. You started the company. You got funding. Maybe you’re looking for Series B or C funding now. Maybe you’re prepping for the IPO. Congratulations! You’re ready to scale or go public. You’ve gotten this far. What could go wrong? Here are 10 warning signs you aren’t shifting from founder to leader. Every founder reaches…