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Strategies for Business Leaders

Practical, actionable, with a hint of inspiration. Every week in your inbox.

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How Can I Help?

Is one of the most powerful questions to diffuse a tense interaction. But our tone and intention must align with our words to be effective.…

The Best Time of Day to Make a Decision

Doesn’t exist, really. Because if you’re like my clients, you have important decisions to make at all hours of the day (and sometimes night), and…

It’s Not on the Paper

We just finished the new ventures launch at UNC’s Kenan Flagler B-School this weekend.  It’s an intense,  fast-paced program for EMBA students who fly in…

Raising the Barre

About two months ago, I started taking barre classes. It is not an exaggeration to say that up until very recently (as in, last week),…

Your Weakest Link

Is likely your 2nd in command, your #2.  For three reasons. You don’t have one and therefore are doing too much that takes you away…

It’s Not Enough to Say What’s Wrong

You’ve also got to describe the alternate behavior that you want. Otherwise, you’re leaving someone with feedback that they can’t do a whole lot with.…

Fear is a Fuel Line

One of the recurring themes that I heard when I was interviewing leaders for The Making Magnificence Project® was that they were afraid. Of failing,…

More Than a Quarter Left

What if you went out of the gate this month with your mindset from January, looking forward to what was possible, viewing the months ahead…

Your Front Line is Your Bottom Line

In DC last week for client work, I arrive at my hotel to discover that the requests I’ve made in advance regarding my room are…

The Right Question

Isn’t about why something is happening. The better question, if not the right question, is: What am I Going to Make of It?    …

People or Process?

Both. Processes aren’t flawless, ever, and you need great people with the discretion and authority to make the right decisions when processes need to be…

Readiness

Is not the same as being prepared.  Or knowing what lies ahead. It is not the absence of fear. Rather, it is simply the place…

Preparing for Promotion

Strategic prioritization is one of the key domains that I address with coaching clients, particularly if they’re moving into elevated leadership roles. A few questions:…

You Can Do Without a Great EA

But it’s not a great idea.  One of the first things that I look at when working with a leader who’s been elevated into a…

When You’re Using the Wrong Hammer

Training can do a lot of things.  It can convey cultural messaging and expectations.  It can illustrate concepts, outline principles.  Provide information.  Reinforce standards. But…

Mediocre or Magnificent?

An elderly widow.  Several CEOs.  A writer.  Head of an avalanche mitigation team.  Government officials. I spoke to many different kinds of leaders for The…

Great Expectations

Are you communicating them?  Clearly? Are you meeting them?  Consistently?   My next openings are in late July.  For more on working with me directly…

Who Gets Coaching?

Your best and your brightest, the leaders with the greatest potential.  Develop those people, and there will be a giant ripple out effect from that…

If You Want Success, Deconstruct It

I like to say that no one cheers for my clients more than I do.  When someone has a success, something they’ve been stretching and…

Are you elevating your leadership as your business grows?