Innovation: Creating value by doing something better by doing it a new or different way. That “something better” could be many things: A new product A refined process An improved way to collaborate Innovation doesn’t have to mean a radical change -incremental tweaks are innovative, too. Given this broad definition of innovation, everyone can be innovative. … Read more
There’s an archetype that’s been around for a long time in business: the Great Man. It’s based on the belief that an extraordinary individual can save the day. It’s personified by the work of the actor John Wayne: the hero rides into town, and makes everything okay. The End. Fade to black. Roll the credits. … Read more
What comes to mind when you hear the word ego? Is your first association positive or negative? The paradoxical truth is that it’s both. Ego can serve as a a major pro or a major con. Ego can be defined as “a person’s self-esteem, or self-importance”. On the upside of the ego equation, a … Read more
Saturday did not go as planned. Paul, Alex and I were two days into a three-day backpacking trip in the Adirondack mountains of New York State. Hiking north on the Northville-Lake Placid Trail, we were fourteen miles away from civilization. Paul, one of my best friends from college and an experienced hiker, had planned out our route. We’d … Read more
In the course of my consulting engagements, I work with hundreds of mid-level and senior leaders a month. Lately, I’ve asked asked many of them the same question: When you make an offer to be of support to a group of entry-level or junior-level employees, how many of them actually take you up on your offer … Read more
I’m not passive-aggressive…I’m just aggressive. I recognize it’s a problem for the teams that I work with. This was the start of my first leadership coaching session with Renée. Still early in her career but wise beyond her years, Renée has a healthy dose of self-awareness. She knows her own strengths and liabilities. Intelligent and … Read more
What puts some people on a path of perpetual progress, while others seem destined for daily disappointment? Consider Steve. Over the course of a thirty year career, Steve has risen to the highest ranks of one of the world’s largest consulting companies. A savvy dealmaker, Steve is also known for being one of the most … Read more
Wendy was in tears. She was exhausted and completely demoralized.Always a straight- A student, Wendy was feeling the pangs of failure. On this new project team, she felt undervalued and overlooked. The team operated as though she were invisible. They’d discuss things and make decisions without her. As we continued our coaching session, Wendy confided in … Read more
The flight started off normal enough. We’d left Newark Airport right on time, and we’d been in the air for three hours. The Boeing-737 descended smoothly, and the pilot brought her in for a perfect landing. What happened next, however, was very strange. A flight attendant got on the intercom and shared this announcement:Ladies and … Read more
If a window of opportunity appears, don’t pull down the shade. Tom Peters Rushing into the ballroom, I scanned my surroundings. There were four large round tables, and they were all full.I really hate being late.I was at a conference center at Stone Mountain, a beautiful setting outside of Atlanta. This was last Wednesday evening, and … Read more
