This week’s reflection question was: It’s great to have a strategy but the bigger question is, now what? How do we make it come to life? I noticed I framed this questions differently than previous weeks. Instead of asking “you," I asked “we.” When setting and executing on strategy, this is a key word. No one has all the information on what is ... [Read more]
Magic Monday: What Do you Do After You Have Your Strategy?
Words of Manic Monday by The Bangles and modified by Susan Shaner. Musician: Dan Brodax. Where can you find the magic at work today? What organization would not have a strategic plan? If they didn’t, they certainly would not admit to it – otherwise – what leadership is running the company? The bigger question is – what do you do after you ... [Read more]
Follow up Friday: Happy New Year – Have a Deeply Satisfying New Year!
This week’s question: What is one thing that helped you navigate change this past year that you want to take with you into 2016? Or where do you need more support? One thing that helped me navigate change last year is that I committed to a mastermind group. I’ve dabbled with different groups like this before. This time it’s different because I’m ... [Read more]
Magic Monday: Freed Up For What?
Words of Manic Monday by The Bangles and modified by Susan Shaner. Musician: Dan Brodax. Where can you find the magic at work today? One of my clients had the goal this year of freeing herself up so she could be out in the community more – the face of her brand. She has worked with her team in the last few months to enhance their capability so ... [Read more]
Leaning Into Discomfort: A Core Competency In The 21st Century
The 21st century socially-networked, information-flooded world today requires a multi-dimensional approach to leadership and influencing your constituents. Although I am quoting from an article in the Nonprofit Quarterly, and the examples referenced are the current debate on women’s reproductive health and other social movements, there are key ... [Read more]
Living a Strategic Life Means Resetting Yourself For a Different Year
"To attain knowledge, add things everyday. To attain wisdom, remove things everyday" (By Lao Tzu). Are you making a new year's resolution or do you really want to set a different intention about how you live your life? The statistics with resolutions are not good. It's over by January 15th typicallly. But a deeply-held personal intention with ... [Read more]
True Leadership Is About Tough Times
It's easy to lead in good times. Sometimes all it takes to be perceived as a strong leader is to just be in the right place at the right time and take advantage of the opportunity at your feet. But true leadership is demonstrated when someone makes tough choices, tradeoffs, or takes a courageous stand when times are tough and uncertain. We are ... [Read more]
An Obituary As A Strategic Planning Tool?
Today, I attended a very close friend's father's funeral. He was 91 and had an illustrious career as a physician in a specialty area at a prominent New York City Hospital. As with many occasions like this, I was moved by what his family and colleagues said. They spoke about his manner in making the contributions he made to his patients and ... [Read more]
Strategy Requires Discipline and Forced Choices – No Way Around It
Many of my clients want to do it all - and this year or this quarter. Wouldn't we all like to have it all? Think about what are the tasks that will REALLY get you to where you want to go? Many of us deal with noise all day. We have busy activity but what are we REALLY accomplishing? Yes, there are things we need to do to keep the lights on, keep ... [Read more]
Leadership Lessons From GE's Jeff Immelt
Recently I attended a reunion of HR Professionals who are former GE employees at Crotonville, GE's Leadership Development Center. I was impressed that Jeff Immelt came and spent time with us - mostly answering our questions. My question: What are your greatest learnings as a leader and what advice would you give someone early in career who hopes to ... [Read more]
Conscious Leadership Requires Embracing Your Dark Side
Some leadership development strategies only focus on your strengths. This is dangerous! Being in denial about your development areas or your "dark side" ulitmately does not serve you. Being unconscious about these areas only gives them more power over you and your life. Go in with your eyes wide open. We all have those people, places or things ... [Read more]
Career Search – More Lessons of Extreme Job Hunting
Did you catch this article in The Wall Street Journal on Lessons of Extreme Job Hunting? It pays to be as creative as you can in this market! Peggy Greco, a nurse, rode around on her bike with her Web site address and phone number on a T-shirt. ... [Read more]
Obama on Kennedy & Leading In These Times: Leveraging Technology For High Touch
Do I know Obama Personally? No. But "he" sent me an email. He is the first President who has ever sent an email to me (and thousands of other people too!) to share his thoughts and feelings about a leader who has left the planet. Getting a "personalized" email has a different feel than seeing him talk on TV or even You Tube news clips. This ... [Read more]
Computers Reading Feelings – Is This Really A Viable New Business Idea?
Yes and no. To an extent. The New York Times today ran an article: Mining The Web For Feelings, Not Facts. While I agree that there are some really sophisticated algorithms that employ advanced analytics to categorize feeling and opinion-related data, I highly doubt we can get beyond 80% accuracy. As the article indicates, there are too many ... [Read more]
How To Start a Small Business – Pay Attention and Leverage Social Media!
Paying Attention - FOCUS & Leverage - Reap Huge Dividends. If you are looking to start a small business, there are a ton of free resources out there, including SCORE and SBA, to assist you. And everyone - your spouse, your neighbor, dentist, former co-worker - will have advice for you, particularly in leveraging social media - the latest buzz ... [Read more]
How Does Business Transformation Really Happen?
Simply - No Guts no glory. It's that simple. And that hard. Business Transformation is such a buzz word these days - everybody wants it. "Dominate the market...Innovate...Change the game...Recapture marketshare...Completely revamped your business model, delivery channels, partnerships, alliances" ...and the buzz goes on! But few understand what ... [Read more]