I’m currently reading War by Bob Woodward. In it, he describes how Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin begins each meeting on the war in Ukraine by emphasizing their “North Stars” — the key objectives. Each meeting. Great leaders know how to stay focused on key objectives. I “grew up” (sort of!) as a member of the management […]
On a trip to Cuba this year, I spent a day and a half in Havana with friends before boarding a boat for some fly fishing in the flats, far offshore. It was both fascinating and unsettling. Many of us, as Americans, likely have an image of Cuba that’s a mashup of cigars, rum, classic […]
It’s all about conversations. Every tool and assessment I’ve used as a coach to CEOs is really just an entry point into a conversation. In the work I do, people most effectively gain understanding and find their own way by talking, not taking tests or assessments. I stopped using most assessments and other tools because, […]
A recent article in the Wall Street Journal reported on the leadership change at Chipotle after their CEO was poached to run Starbucks. The article suggests that the new CEO, Scott Boatwright, has a straightforward job: “Don’t break it!” Years ago, I was called by a private equity firm to coach the CEO of one […]
In my work with leaders across various organizations, I often interact not just with the CEO but also with a layer or two deeper within the organization. Sometimes, there’s a disconnect between the C-suite and those who are responsible for executing the strategy, leading to inevitable frustration. There are two questions that, if answered, can […]
I recently camped in Rocky Mountain National Park to hike and fish. It’s only a few hours from home, but it’s a different world! My daughter came along for a few days, and we took a short hike the afternoon we arrived. Chugging uphill at 10,000 feet in 80-degree heat, my daughter stopped abruptly to […]
“There is surely nothing quite so useless as doing with great efficiency what should not be done at all.” —Peter Drucker I’m not sure if it is nature or nurture, but my natural instinct is a “ready, fire, aim” approach to life. I was that way when I was in leadership roles, and I foolishly […]
Do you have a clear, well-thought-out strategy? Do you and your team have the leadership skills to align the troops and get them fired up to execute that strategy? If not, don’t despair, but get to work!
I worked with a private equity group a few years ago that had purchased a founder-led company that was churning along nicely. However, a short while after the investment closed, they discovered that the one marketing database they relied upon to generate revenue was being used without the required approval. Their sole revenue generation technique […]
If you research this topic, you’ll find unanimity around the suggestion that you should spend most of your time with your high performers. But if this is a natural law of leadership, why do many in leadership roles spend so much of their time dealing with problems? This exhortation by itself is not that helpful, […]