Early into a new client engagement it’s not unusual for the CEO to say to me, “We need to fix our culture.” I understand the concern. After all, many studies have shown that culture is strongly associated with business performance and results.
Focus
The #1 Reason Why Committed and Capable Leaders Fail
Whenever I’m speaking with a prospective client – typically a CEO of a mid-market organization – I want to determine several things. First, is the person truly committed to making strategy happen? Is it a must-do or merely a nice-to-do? Next, is the person capable?
Why You Shouldn't Pay Too Much Attention to Expert Advice
A number of years ago I attended the World Business Forum in New York. The program included many high-profile speakers including “the founder of modern management”, Peter Drucker.
New Year’s Plan Getting Bogged Down? Quick, Recalibrate!
A famous quote states that, “no battle plan survives contact with the enemy.”* In my world of strategy + execution I believe that “no strategy survives contact with reality”. Meaning that you can’t perfectly predict the future, you can’t anticipate everything. And you can’t perfectly plan out everything.
Embrace the Joy of Pain
Dream big! Develop a vision! Identify your big, hairy, audacious goal (BHAG)!
The Strategic Variable You’re Most Likely to Overlook
When you think of business strategy, what variables come to mind? The market spaces you choose to compete in? The products and services you offer?
What Warren Buffett Can Teach Us About Strategy and Execution
When it comes to investment strategy and execution, Warren Buffett is peerless. His net worth of over $80 billion bears testament to that. And when the term “investment guru” gets thrown around, it’s his name that most often comes to mind.
Why Measurement is a Process, Not an Event
We have a greater capacity to measure than ever before. Increasingly sophisticated data collection methods and tremendous analytical power enable us to delve deep into critical business issues, such as operational performance and customer behavior. It has opened up a world of opportunities.
Grow Your Business? Sure, But Here’s What to Grow
It seems obvious. You should want to grow your business. But is that necessarily a good thing? Growth brings with it a set of serious challenges.
Evolving Your Brand: Honoring the Old While Creating the New
If yours is like many businesses, there will come a time when you have to evolve your brand. What you offer, who you serve, what you want to be known for.
Why You May NOT Want to Attract More Customers
“How do we get more customers?”
It’s a question every business asks. The answer for many: Create more product and service options that attract customers.