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
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
96% of executives cite lack of collaboration or ineffective communication as the main source of workplace failures. Why are collaboration and effective communication so vital? It’s because these skills are precisely what’s needed to navigate a volatile work world of speed and constant change. People who have these qualities are better equipped to solve complex … Read more
MAKE IT SO. At its core, isn’t this what leadership is about?T o make something that is not yet so – so? It sounds so simple. But it’s not easy. To “make it so” takes: Passion Vision Initiative Influence Courage Strategy Plans Effort And even when you take all these steps, there’s still no guarantee … Read more
Do you have to manage more information than ever before? Is change hitting you faster than ever before? Welcome to the two-headed monster of today’s work world. We’re living in an age of complexity—one that shows no signs of going away or slowing down. Everyone’s dealing with the challenges of more, faster and bigger. ‘Doing … Read more
On Thursday evening, I flew into New York City. At LaGuardia airport, I met a man who’d recently come from the West Coast. His name is Manmohan Pooni. Earlier in the week, Monmohan had been in California presenting at a national conference on Indian History and Literature. His specific area of expertise is the Indian … Read more
