Leadership
Everywhere I go right now, leaders are talking about AI. Boards are asking about it. CEOs are demanding plans. Technology teams are being told to “move faster.” HR teams are trying to support employees through uncertainty. And somewhere in the middle of it all, organizations are rushing to launch “change…
Resist the change or harness its power to evolve? When I think of all the ‘Vision 2020’s’ that have been created over the past 15 years, it is hard to believe we’re actually here in Q4 of 2025! We don’t know exactly what this year is going to look like,…
When Strategy Stalls, a Summit Is Often the Missing Link When executives step into the C-suite, the expectations are massive—and the margin for misalignment is razor-thin. The job is no longer just about knowing the answer. It’s about aligning other smart people to the *right* question and *one* strategic agenda.…
Stepping into the C-Suite isn’t just a career move. It’s a mindset shift. And nothing accelerates (or derails) executive success faster than the assumptions you bring with you.Many leaders believe they have a solid grasp on the reality inside their organization. And why wouldn’t they? Reports are coming in. Meetings…
Turbulence management is more important than ever… If you’re waiting for the waters to calm, you’re going to be waiting a long time. Today’s business environment isn’t heading back to “normal.” It’s more like permanent whitecaps—volatile, fast-changing, and full of unexpected undercurrents. As a senior leader, you’re not just steering…
How to Align a Disconnected Executive Team (in 30 Days or Less) If your executive team seems disconnected, chances are you’re already feeling the consequences: missed opportunities, inconsistent messaging, internal competition, or worse — strategic drift that slows the entire organization down. The good news? Creating alignment doesn’t have to…
In the wake of the Great Resignation, a seismic shift is occurring in the job market. Big bureaucratic organizations are witnessing an exodus of employees seeking greener pastures and more fulfilling work experiences. For midsize companies, this presents a golden opportunity to attract top talent and enhance their competitive edge.…
The leap from functional leadership to the C-suite is more than just a promotion. Above all, it’s a fundamental transformation in how you must think, act, and lead. Here are 5 critical insights every new C-Suite leader needs to know to navigate this career transition successfully. Embrace the Identity Shift.…
Sometimes, we need to slow down and think. It’s in reflection that we begin to make meaning of the things that have come at us so fast that all we can do is either duck or grab hold and deal with what’s coming at us. The last several years have…
Are you worried that some percentage of your workforce is checked out? You’ve probably heard of ‘quiet quitting’, but how can you be sure it isn’t happening in your organization? I view engaged employees as those who act like they own the place even when the boss is not around.…
Do you run a company and sometimes wondering what expectations you should set for your C-Suite team? Do you scratch your head and wonder if they really “get” it? Or does it feel like you’re playing whack-a-mole resolving issues that should never get to you in the first place? After…
Are you struggling with employee retention? There is no question that the market for talent is tough. If you’ve been trying to recruit great people, you know that it’s not showing any sign of letting up. But as we level off from the pandemic chaos, we have reached an inflection…
Want to make a relevant DEI Statement? Are you tired of struggling with what to say about environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues? Do you care about the environment, social justice, and the good of the world, but don’t want to dive headfirst into a political debacle? What do you…
Is the buzz you are hearing about ChatGPT increasing to the point where it is difficult to ignore? Are conversations about how to leverage it met with confusion? What are the legal implications? Are you beginning to fear that your competition will beat you to the table with something you…
Preserving cash during turbulent times is a critical task for CEOs, but they must also ensure that they do not become penny wise and pound foolish as the repercussions of that can last long after the turbulence subsides. Here are a few things CEOs and other senior leaders should keep…
Executive onboarding often means taking the reins as an incoming senior leader in an established organization with a deep legacy and a strong team. This can be a daunting experience. If you’ve ever worked at a place like Delta Airlines, AutoZone, Walmart, or Coca Cola, you know what I mean.…
As the world economy continues to test the resilience and adaptability for businesses, corporate leaders are under immense pressure to navigate through turbulent times. These times demand foresight, strategic thinking, and the ability to make tough decisions. An executive advisor can offer invaluable support in steering through troubled waters, anticipating…
Are you taking on a stretch assignment? Responsible for delivering breakthrough results? Are you being asked to deliver a project where the stakes are high and the risk of failure is great? Perhaps it’s a new product, a new business, a turn-around or a merger integration… or maybe it’s just…
Have you landed the big promotion? Taken on a new role? Changed companies, or just taken over a new area in your company? If you have, chances are, you’ll want to make a great impression on your new team and demonstrate visible leadership to them and to your leadership.…
You think you’re a pretty good senior leader. Your people seem to like you (at least they say they do). Results and performance reviews are good, and you receive the occasional accolade. Maybe you’ve even had a recent promotion or two and there isn’t a lot of negative feedback. Why…
Do you have an executive leadership coach? Are you thinking about executive coaching or business advisor services? Do you want to be sure you get your money’s worth from the investment? How will you know it will be a valuable use of your time? Coaching and business advisory has been…
Congratulations. You’ve got a seat at the proverbial table! Whether you’ve got a c-level title or not, your seat on the leadership team gives you influence as well as a lot of responsibility to balance. I’ve been coaching and consulting with C-Level leaders for nearly 30 years. I have seen…
It’s a tough competition for roles at the top. In nearly 30 years of coaching and consulting with the c-level and those who want to get there, I’ve seen more than a few interesting tactics for climbing the corporate ladder. Some work. Some make people angry and destroy trust. And…
If you are starting a new executive role or onboarding executives into roles where it is important that they hit the ground running and contribute quickly, there are a few things you should know. Data shows that rigorous executive onboarding programs can reduce time to full productivity by 40% and…
Are you fed up with Zoom fatigue? You got a break, but now there is no end in sight. Do you miss the everyday casual interactions and office friendships? Are you new to an organization and finding it hard to get to know people and grow work relationships from your…
As we face another year of adapting to disruption and driving growth in a landscape of rapid change organizations and leaders need these 3 strategies to set themselves up for success.
Here are 3 ways to build resilience by minimizing power struggles and equipping people to feel safe, heard, and able to give their all.
A Foundation For Resilience This is the Spit Bank Lighthouse. It doesn’t look like much, but this structure has stood in the middle of Ireland’s Cork Harbour since 1853 and there is an awful lot we can learn from it as we recover from a pandemic. It starts with core…
As the debate on when to ease restrictions wages on and we all get tired of hearing about this ‘new normal’ we can’t seem to define, many leaders are struggling with a lack of things they can control about their organization and team’s future and how to ensure leadership reengagement…
There’s no question, for most of us, these have been some tough weeks. For some, the impact has been minimal. Maybe you’re adjusting to working from home and dealing with the challenge of moving meetings around and trying to do things virtually. For others, the stress of quarantine, impacts on…
Leading virtually through disruption is tough. If you’re currently in that situation, there’s no easy way to get through it. It’s even more difficult if people are not on the same page, working in different spaces, dealing with their own family challenges related to the crisis, and you’ve got to…
Have you ever been driving a car headed towards your new home, having recently moved, only to find yourself suddenly turning down the familiar street towards your old home? How did that happen? I’ll tell you how. You were so busy thinking about something else – your conscious mind was…
It is no longer enough to do things better, faster, and cheaper. The challenges leaders face today are more complex and don’t have a simple solution.
Inclusion is About Food (and other things) There has been a lot of talk about inclusion. What is it? Do we need it? If you’re trying to increase organizational resilience, there is no time for debate. Building a resilient organization cannot happen without inclusion. When we hear “inclusion” we may…
Why Resilience? Most athletes spend about 90% of their time training to be able to perform at peak levels 10% of the time. For example, professional football players train six days a week to play one game on Sunday. Business leaders are a different story. They are expected to perform…
Adaptive Challenges Have you ever wondered why things are a bit more difficult at work recently? Do the types of challenges your team faces every day somehow just seem harder and more complex? Does it take longer to get things done because you can’t get people’s attention on the real…
“The task of leadership is to create an alignment of strengths, making a system’s weaknesses irrelevant.” – Peter Drucker Imagine a company where everyone – from the CEO to the newest intern – shows up knowing EXACTLY what they need to do every single day, even on those days…
Defining Business Architecture Today, many organizations still struggle to define what the role of a Business Architect should be and how to clearly articulate the value of Business Architecture to leadership. So let’s start by dispelling some popular myths about Business Architecture. Business Architects are NOT: assigned the next ‘hot…
“Your authentic self is who you are when you have no fear of judgment, before the world starts pushing you around and telling you who you’re supposed to be. Your fictional self is who you are when you have a mask on to please those around you.” – Dr. Phil Authenticity…
Uh oh. The topic everyone avoids in the work place. Faith. I did too until I realized how important it is to great leadership. Leadership is hard. It is lonely at the top and anyone who leads others gets stuck in difficult situations from time to time. It’s what leaders…