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Supply chain is SEXY (!!)
Supply chain is the sexy new topic. It wasn’t always that way. Until recently, squeezing out costs through freight and logistics only got the attention of the professional supply chain geeks. Now it is on everyone’s mind and has become a hot area for innovation....
Staying Energized over Time
For many, the pandemic exacerbated a pre-existing condition: feeling drained because of demanding jobs. As you (hopefully) take a break today because of Labor Day, consider these suggestions from a group of actual CEOs who recently made a list of what they do to keep...
Strive for Quality Actions
One thing the Afghan withdrawal has highlighted is that the QUALITY of action matters. Most Americans agree that it needed to happen, but many are rightly critical of HOW it was done. A CEO told me he has “tried everything” to improve sales, but his sales were still...
Find your Opportunities – Fast.
A day after I spoke to an association group last week, one of the CEOs wrote me that she had already taken some of the nuggets from the meeting and used them to prompt a discussion with her leadership team. She shared “We had a great discussion and talked about how...
The Hierarchy of Help
When I lead CEO groups or coach executive teams, I usually take a minute to explain the Hierarchy of Help. People can help each other in many ways, but some ways are more helpful than others. Below are the 7 types of help. The ones at the top of the list are high...
Excellence. Not Perfection
Olympic gymnastics is hyper-focused on whether an athlete “sticks” the landing. One little wiggle can mean the difference between gold, silver, or even not medaling at all. The judges harp on that last little bit, because all the athletes at the Olympics are great....
Remembering the Benefits of Being In Person
Ah yes, I remember it well. The old musical Gigi features a song about an old couple remembering how they met. The husband’s memory is somewhat at odds with that of his wife (of course!), and yet, he insists that he “remembers it well.” (If you have a moment,...
Show some Dignity
A CEO I know shared that he keeps in touch with all the people he has had to let go for at least one year after they leave. He asks that all his managers do the same. Why? Because he wants to treat people with dignity. His thinking is that just because a person didn’t...
Start Right with the Right Thinking
It drives me crazy to have to endure BO in the gym. It is so unnecessary. One of my old coaches said that he expected us leave practice a sweaty mess, but insisted we show up clean. It’s the same thing when we show up for work. But I am not talking physical hygiene, I...
Give your Team Space to Grow
We have all seen weeds pop up through the cracks in driveways. They show us that there is a tremendous force for growth that persists despite all obstacles. Even in companies where culture or systems or leadership are not optimized: Good ideas will still pop upPeople...
Success Blind Spots
We have all seen that dangerous driver weaving through highway traffic. They barely make it between cars. They tailgate. They cross three lanes of traffic to make their exit. People like this may think they are good drivers. They aren’t. The fact is other drivers are...
Be Inspired to Inspire
Look at the social media posts that get the most “likes.” Popular posts are often about someone achieving a milestone like getting a degree while working and raising kids, doing something selfless for others, or overcoming an obstacle with grace and determination....
The 4 Values of Good Ideas
When evaluating if an idea is good or not, don’t just limit your evaluation to today’s dollars. Great leaders need to consider all four types of value. These include: Current dollars (profits or revenues we can access immediately)Future dollars (profits or revenues...
Positive Peer Pressure
People talk about the negative effects of peer pressure, but positive peer pressure is an essential component of becoming the best leader you can be. Positive peer pressure is that pressure we feel to step up our game. We might feel it in the gym when we are on a...
Give your Organization a Whopping Dose of Vitamin I
Give your organization an infusion of innovation, or what I can coming to call “Vitamin I.” The body needs key nutrients to stay healthy and so does your organization. Innovation is key to present and future vitality. Innovation will: Drive engagement Create interest...
How and Why to Use an Innovation 9 Box
The big risk for any business today is thinking small and moving slow. So how to make sure your team is thinking big enough and moving fast enough? Try using what I call the Innovation 9 Box. The Innovation 9 Box is similar to the popular “9 Box” used in assessing...
Show your Passion. Manage your Emotions.
Inspiring, effective leaders will HAVE passion and EXPRESS passion. Passion is having boundless enthusiasm for something. Expressing that passion shows people what you care about. Leaders can be passionate about building teams, their industry, their products, winning,...
Getting Perspective
A movie featuring a slugfest between a radioactive lizard and a giant ape recently had a surprisingly large box office weekend. Does that mean in-person cinemas now have a bright future and that streaming is not as critical as was thought?The supply of computer chips...
Guard against your Triggers
People with allergies can have severe reactions to small amounts of an allergen. My dog immediately heads for the closet when she hears a boom (whether from a neighbor’s trash can being moved or from fireworks). Corporations tie themselves in knots trying to...
Use Validation to Succeed
Sometimes leaders just need validation that they are on the right track. They don’t always need more advice or to be told what to do. They just need to trust themselves enough to move. I had a tooth flare up on a Friday and made an appointment with my dentist for her...
Consistent investment
Just like the fact that yo-yo dieters are unlikely to make the progress they want, organizations that are inconsistent about the investments they make in people are unlikely to achieve the success that they want. Companies cannot simply invest in people when times are...
The Discipline of Speed
It’s not enough to have a great idea. Great ideas only matter if you can move fast enough to make them matter. As of this writing, the US has vaccinated 34 out of 100 residents. The UK has vaccinated 40 out of 100. By contrast the EU has only vaccinated 12 out of 100...
Preparing your Team for Growth
The article below was written with the pandemic in mind, but since the recommendations still seem relevant, I thought I would repost this... The next chapter of the global economy is unfolding. Many boats will be rising on the new tide, but not all organizations will...
Don’t Let Ideas get Diluted
⭐Is your team drifting back to what it knows? There is great risk in ideas getting dumbed down and diluted as time passes and the desire to stay in comfort zones takes hold. 👉Many US and European companies prepared for near-shoring after disruptions to global supply...
How Far are you Willing to Go?
A team’s level of interaction can be put into one of three basic types: congenial, collaborative, or innovative. Congenial teams work together nicely. There are no overt animosities or frictions. People are polite and civil. These teams get along. Collaborative teams...
Get Judgement-free Feedback
They say that feedback is the breakfast of champions. I think breakfast is too little. Leaders should try and get as many helpings as they can. Feedback can keep leaders from making simple mistakes because of lack of information. This avoids risk from unintended...
Cultivate Game Changer and Growth Mindsets
There are two mindsets necessary to be a great executive team or a great leader. The first trait is the mindset to be a game changer. Game changers are dedicated to the idea of meaningful impact. They are bold and do not think small. The second mindset is the growth...
Focus on Discipline
“It’s the discipline that matters, not the desire.” This reminder came from a very successful leader that I have the privilege to work with. His point is that wanting good things is not usually the problem. Most leaders and their teams are clear about what they want....
Make Simple Changes to Improve
After we moved into our new house, the air return vent in the hallway got progressively louder and louder. The air conditioner seemed to be working overtime and it was starting to sound like a wind tunnel. For weeks, my wife and I were worried it meant a huge repair...
Don’t Dismiss the People Part
Do you need to be a “touchy feely” leader to be successful with people? NO. But assuming that people are robotic or simply motivated by money will undermine “unfeeling” business results like profits, growth, and competitiveness. …and that will make any leader feel...
Mahomes v. Mahomes
In Superbowl LV, there was a lot of excitement about seeing Tom Brady (“the Greatest of All Time”) versus Patrick Mahomes (“the Greatest Right Now”). Now, I am interested in seeing Mahomes versus Mahomes. Let’s be honest, most of us probably can identify with the...
Connect with your Curious Family
A recent “reunion” of some old work colleagues (yes, socially distanced and outside….) reminded me how like a family our colleagues at work can be. A curious family to say the least, but (at it’s best) a family nonetheless. At their best, our families support us,...
Get Organized to Win, not just Survive
Leaders have spent a lot of time fixing serious issues since last year. They have fixed supply chains. They have created methods to keep their employees safe. They have adjusted to impacts on sales and revenue. Organizations are pretty good at rallying around a threat...
Go faster with STRUCTURE + EMPOWERMENT
While governments have been criticized for the slow pace of vaccinations (with some even having to trash precious doses), Israel’s approach is practical and offers a good reminder to business leaders. Israel’s central health system has a priority system and...
Be 30% More Productive by Being More Positive
Be 30% more productive by being more positive. This reminder came from former NHL hockey star and current leadership expert Ryan Walter who recently addressed a CEO group I run. He referenced research that shows that employees who are happy (versus being negative,...
Maintain Focus
Over the past two weeks I have learned a lot of things, including: Several start-ups have formed to commercialize private networks of satellites that are cheap to make and deploy. Some of the satellites are as small as a grilled cheese sandwich. A new streaming...
People are Messy…and yet
People do not perfectly fit into grand plans or simple categories. While roads are designed with the idea of cars moving efficiently like water through pipes, human nature (like being self-centered, angered at getting cut off, or being impatient) still results in road...
Stay Alert to Innovative Ideas
Can you see and hear the creativity in your organization? Like the eternal question about trees falling in the woods, is your organization really innovative if nobody around is listening to the good ideas being generated? If leadership is not organized to listen and...
Make your Own Conditions for Success
Conditions aren’t as important as the preparations to handle the conditions. In Alaska, we took an excursion in a small boat with 6 other passengers to see a remote island and all the sea animals one hopes to see in Alaska. The outfitter had us put on bulky “dry...
The Power of Presence
Our dog has a giant mastiff for a friend. When they meet on walks, my dog, who is about one tenth the size of her friend, will often scratch and kick up grass behind her. She only does this around her big friend. I am told the action is an instinct that dogs have to...
Hidden Jewels
High quality mechanical watches have industrial grade rubies fixed in critical parts of the movement. These “jewels” prevent wear of critical parts and provide stability and structure to maintain precision dependability over time. High quality watches may have as many...
On Trust and Executive Teams
Trust is like rocket fuel for the effectiveness of an executive team. Also like rocket fuel, trust can easily evaporate. Smart executive teams take steps to build trust and also take steps to preserve it. With trust, the team can go far and fast. Without it, they risk...
Does My Dog Have COVID?
Our dog was recently and suddenly sick. She got treatment and is better now, but for a panicked moment, I wondered if she might have COVID. (Yes it was a crazy fear, but in my defense, I don’t think I am the only pet owner to suffer from crazy fears when their pet is...
A Birthday Wish
I was on a zoom call recently as an invited panelist to speak on innovation and leadership in conjunction with an event called Africa Tech Week. Participants attended from all over Africa including Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa. In the course of the discussion, it...
Thanks to YOU
This week is the traditional time to encourage people to be thankful. I will not break with that tradition, except to encourage you to be thankful about something that may often go underappreciated by you—yourself. What I am talking about is self-worth. Self-worth is...
Disappointments
Once, on our way to Thanksgiving at my aunt’s house, I decided to take a detour and see an old mining town. Crown King was only 20 miles off the interstate, but I did not factor in that we would only go about 20 miles per hour on the gravel road. We were hours late...
Watch Me
Our neighbor has a new puppy of some giant breed. It is full of exuberance and it already HUGE. To get some control, a dog trainer taught my neighbor to get the puppy’s attention with a treat held near her face. The treat and the command “watch me” refocuses the dog’s...
YOUR Path to Win
While the US works through the political process of sorting out the electoral votes to win, take a moment and think about yourself. As a leader what is YOUR path to win? Better mastery of your time? A highly functioning executive team? A new strategic direction given...
Inspirational leadership is a Predictable Way to Win
While many things are uncertain, many things are predictable. The economy will rebound, and many activities (even cruises) will return at some point. Alabama will be dominant this football season and my wife’s infatuation with Coach Saban will continue. Lots of...
Don’t Get Candy Crushed
A friend of ours is a flight attendant and she’s bored. She’s not bored because she is at home, she’s bored because of how her job has changed. She says her work today is just giving flight instructions. She doesn’t like the fact that she doesn’t get to interact with...
Flag planting
The iconic picture of marines hoisting the flag at Iwo Jima (and the WW2 memorial that it inspired) might lead one to think that it captured the scene of the final victory there. It doesn’t. Putting a flag on top of Mt. Suribachi marked a significant achievement on...
Innovation is a Team Sport
As Keith Ferrazzi shared with a group of fellow MacKay CEO Forum Chairs recently, working with teams is one of the fastest ways to improve the trajectory of an organization. His great example is that no pro sports team on the planet works solely on developing...
Leading the Band
This past week brought the sad news about Eddie Van Halen passing away from cancer. Van Halen provided a soundtrack for the teenage years of millions of people around the world. The band was one of the most successful rock bands in history. Eddie is also reminder is...
Innovation Insights week 6
Innovation Insights is a daily post on LinkedIn to help leaders strengthen those all-important innovation muscles over a period of 30 days. Below is a summary from the week. Are you seeing the signs? Nationally, across the US employment numbers are starting to...
Uncomfortable
While we wear masks in an effort to contribute to the over-all health of our communities, the experience can feel stifling and uncomfortable. It can give us a new appreciation for a free flow of oxygen. Pre-pandemic, many organizations were operating in an environment...
Innovation Insights week 5
Innovation Insights is a daily post on LinkedIn to help leaders strengthen those all-important innovation muscles over a period of 30 days. Below is a summary from week 5. Innovation or Inertia? Do you have a culture of innovation or a culture of inertia? Cultures of...
13 Real Ideas from Real Leaders
Below are some ideas I have heard recently that I thought may of interest. Some of the ideas are big. Some of the ideas are small. All are being used by real leaders just like you. Take a walk with your direct reports. This leader drives to meet his employees and...
Funny Business
I am addicted to the “Bad Dad Joke” contests popular on Youtube*. In these, people take turns telling jokes only a dad could love while trying to keep a straight face. Humor (even that of the corny dad joke variety) is a great distraction and a vital contributor to...
Innovation Insights Week 4
Innovation Insights is a daily post on LinkedIn to help leaders strengthen those all-important innovation muscles over a period of 30 days. Below is a summary from week 4. Watch your language… Leaders need to watch their language.... For example, is your leader...
Innovation Insights Week 3
Innovation Insights is a daily post on LinkedIn to help leaders strengthen those all-important innovation muscles over the next 30 days. Below is a summary from week 3. The ABCs of Innovation. Confused about “innovation?” Many leaders are and it is not their fault....
The Love Connection
I was struck by some thinking that was presented in a webinar hosted recently by my colleague, Nancy MacKay, and thought I would share it with you. Her topic was LOVE (yes, love) and how is can be a game-changer in our businesses. I was a little skeptical, but...
Innovation Insights Week 2
Innovation Insights is a daily post on LinkedIn to help leaders strengthen those all-important innovation muscles over the next 30 days. Below is a summary from week 2. Innovation is natural, but not common. Positive processes like entrepreneurship, collaboration, and...
Innovation Insights Week 1
Innovation Insights is a daily post on LinkedIn to help leaders strengthen those all-important innovation muscles over the next 30 days. Below is a summary from week 1. Post-it Power. Imagine harnessing the power of all the great ideas that you jot down on a post-it...
Success: Same Formula, New Answers
Those of you who have worked with me will likely be familiar with Tim Gallwey’s performance formula. His simple, but insightful formula is that our performance equals our potential minus our interferences. It basically means we all have potential, but that might show...
Getting the Most Out of D&I Initiatives
When I was a kid, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups was selling their candy by highlighting that two good tastes were even better together. Anyone else remember those old TV ads? Two people would bump into each other, then one would say “you got your peanut butter on my...
Half-baked Ideas
In a recent workshop, a senior leader remarked that he had never considered half-baked ideas to be very valuable. He previously thought that ideas needed to be fully formed before they could see the light of day. The fact is that many valuable ideas don’t look like...
Using Urgency Intelligently
A key ingredient to get high value things done is the belief that it actually matters. And nothing turns up the heat like a shared sense of urgency. REAL urgency can be a savvy leader’s superpower, but it CAN be frittered away. Keep these four points in mind to make...
Seeing What to Save
Visibility about what to support is one of the biggest obstacles leaders have when making tough decisions today. Line item expense numbers are easy to see---and easy to cut. What’s hard to see are the initiatives to feed…and that’s another good reason to have an...
Persistent and Practical
The Boys in the Boat is the story of a collegiate rowing crew from the University of Washington and their pursuit of Olympic gold in the 1936 Olympics, hosted by Hilter’s Germany. While the entire story is epic, one aspect that stands out for me is the optimistic and...
Hard-won Gains
It is a lot easier to stay in shape than to get in shape. And it is ridiculously easy to get out of shape. Nobody needs to hire a trainer to make them sit on the couch and over-eat. When astronauts go to space, they dedicate valuable time to exercise routines to keep...
An Innovation Lesson from the Pool Guy
I recently had a pool professional come and work on my pool. The water had gotten out of whack and it was suggested (confirmed with a second opinion) that the pool was overdue to be dumped, refilled, and started again. The pool guy’s job was to get the pump set up and...
Doors of Opportunity
These have been times of unprecedented changes, even for dogs. When we moved, our dog Candy went without a doggie door for two months. (We weren’t sure about the risk from coyotes etc and did not want to chance it.) Now she has her own door again, but is confused...
Today’s Innovation Essentials
Everybody is being encouraged to innovate these days, but what should a leader actually do right now? I would suggest leaders assess and address today’s three essential innovation areas: leader mindset, team beliefs around innovation, and structure. These three areas...
Accelerate or Hesitate?
It has been a crazy couple of weeks. Many of our assumptions about how this year will play out have been jettisoned. But while all the protocols to contain the coronavirus (like social distancing and restricted travel) have created great hardship, there is also great...
A Dozen or So Key Actions to Take in the Short-term
While I am always preaching the value of leaders thinking about the long-term, there are several things leaders can do in the short-term to keep their organizations working the best they can today—and be better prepared for tomorrow. Be mindful that not all workers...
Two Thoughts for Turbulent Times
The news has been disturbing and many of you are making changes at work while adapting to new changes at home. Below are two thoughts that we should all keep in mind in the next couple weeks. Maintain your performance-enhancing disciplines. These include things like...
Physician heal thyself.
If the corona virus has reduced your business travel, here’s a suggestion for how to utilize that alone time… 1)Write down 20 pieces of great advice a high performer should do to be dramatically more effective in next 30 days. 2) Pick the top two. 3) Take your own...
The LIMFACs Slowing your Idea Roll: Squelchers and Free Spirits
Maybe it was just the group I rode bicycles with, but they called the slowest person on the group ride the “LIMFAC.” It was short for “limiting factor.” The group as a courtesy did not want to leave the last person behind, but the faster people were aware of the fact...
5 Steps to Intensively Boost Innovation
Getting better at anything requires discipline and innovation is no exception. One of the best ways leaders can instill innovation discipline is through an Innovation Intensive. Let’s take a look at what it is, why it matters, and the steps required to make it a...
Over-steering. Are you a Sully or Schettino?
Any week of headlines will be full of dire warnings. The last several weeks have been particularly alarming with all the news and speculation surrounding the corona virus. While the risks appear real to some very vulnerable populations, the response in many cases has...
12 Beliefs that Negatively Impact Innovation
If culture is a set of common beliefs that determine behavior, then we want to pay careful attention to the beliefs that are helping or hindering innovation within our organizations. Below are twelve common ones I encounter. Look through the list and see if those or...
5 Better Ways to Look for Innovation Ideas
Are you looking for opportunity in all the wrong places? We just moved and I keep expecting things to be in their old places (like under a sink) when they are now in new places (like in a closet). If this recent corona virus experience has taught us anything is that...
Threats to Success: On Competition, Cannibals, and Crows
Don’t just wonder who moved your cheese, keep and eye on who might eat your lunch. Competitors are always looking to eat our lunch. It is a tough world out there, however you define it. That’s why leaders are so concerned with changes in market share and sales volume....
How to Have Conversations that Lead to Better Innovation
“Hey boss, I’ve got a great idea.” This phrase should be music to a leader’s ears, but often the value of the moment is fumbled away and can be handled better than with a simple no or "go for it." These moments are opportunities for exploration and to make sure people...
Intelligent Improvements
There’s a million things a person could do when they move into a new place. We can remodel a bathroom. We can get new drapes. We can plant new landscaping. The options can be bewildering. The same is true for our options at work. There are a million things we could do...
Is your Organization Bounce Back Ready?
Those that recover from setbacks seem to be the ones that have the best capacity to start with. Those who were in shape prior to a hip or knee replacement get their mobility back quicker. Those who had prolonged periods of inactivity will likely take more time to get...
Maintaining the Positive Habits of Moving
We have found a new house and I am currently surrounded by moving boxes in anticipation of moving day. Nobody likes to move, but the process of moving is an excellent reminder of key habits that can improve individual and leader performance. These include the...
Golden Ages
In the not so distant past, discount airlines really were bargains. Today, while $99 fares are still advertised, actually being able to book a cheap deal is a lot less common. Rideshares to date have been both cheaper and often a better quality ride than taxis. Those...
Managing the Appetite for Change
When I was a kid, I’d notice that my dad would often have a random mint or piece of gum on the counter next to his keys and wallet. My kid brain did not understand why he hadn’t eaten it. (It’s candy!!) In this and in other ways I have become my dad. I don’t eat the...
The Pitfalls of Adaptability
A popular Marine motto is “improvise, adapt, overcome.” In work and life, people are often good at the first two and less so on the last. They contort and adapt to the situations at hand instead of taking on issues head on. People will talk themselves into a job that...
Leaders and the Mind-muscle Connection
Tis the season for fitness resolutions. Many people are hitting the gym to get more fit in the new year. While fitness goals can vary widely, many will say they want to get stronger and have more muscle. But even the people that are very consistent in getting to the...
5 Ways Small Thinking Kills Innovation Efforts
Amazing but true: Small thinking can emerge (like relentless weeds in a garden), even when the subject is as big as innovation. And when leaders think small, they cannot expect big results. Based on my observations of leaders (spanning a variety of industries),...
Key Players
Key players matter. The Golden State Warriors are obviously struggling without their injured star, Stephen Curry. GE (once one of the bluest of the blue chip stocks) has lost nearly half a trillion in market value under less-than-stellar leadership post-Jack Welch....
Myth-busting leaders
Roger Bannister (who passed away a couple years back) was the first recorded human to run a mile in less than four minutes. The thinking of the time was that the human body might just be incapable of the feat. The prior record of 4:01.4 had stood for nine years. As a...
Completed but not Finished
In a recorded interview, a prominent artist* of the Southwest US discussed his process and the concept of his works being “completed, but not finished.” In his mind, if he worked at it too much and attempted to make a painting or sculpture perfect, he was in fact...
Being and Doing: The Power of Character Traits
I am as interested in who people are being as in what they are doing. You should too. The reason is because behind every laudable action is a laudable character trait. When great traits are exercised, great things happen. The act of helping out a new person on a team...
Wheelhouses
The Crossfit Championships are unique in that competitors have no clue as to what exercise challenges will be coming next. The activity, repetition ranges, weights, and duration are all secret until the last minute of competition. Some competitors are happy when they...
Vision Erosion
I often talk about performance as that sweet spot between the upper control limit of vision (can’t see it, can’t do it) and the lower control limit of skills/behaviors (under pressure, one does not rise to the occasion one sinks to their level of training). Between...
Windows of Opportunity Do Not Stay Propped Open
Think you are surrounded by opportunity? You are. Think you are surrounded by static, lasting opportunity? You aren’t. Many leaders are in environments rich with targets of opportunity, but you would never know it from their actions. They fritter and fumble away...
Out and About with Interesting People: adidas
I recently attended a luncheon at which the president of adidas North America, Zion Armstrong (yes they spell “adidas” in lower case) was interviewed. He has an interesting story and some compelling perspectives on business. Below are a few with my takeaways. He...