How a leader manifests their personality not only defines their leadership and has the potential to  profoundly impact the organization's culture, performance and ultimately, its bottom line. This is because the way you "show up" to your employees and colleagues directly influences how they engage with one another and with Customers. Quite simply, most people are extremely reactive to the emotions of others. Most are unaware of the power of their own awareness and their own choice in how to interpret what others say, do or do not say or do not do. Understanding and managing this chain re ..read more

Perhaps like you, when I first read Good to Great by Jim Collins, I thought it was excellent read. I even remember thinking, "Be the Hedgehog...specialize - passion - purpose - profit..." Then I placed his book on the shelf of especially valued books where it gathered dust for 15 plus years. And like many good consultants, I could recite the major tenants of Good to Great but I really did not put them into practice nor did I push my Clients to do so. If I could fire up my Time Machine, I would go back and re-read Good to Great annually. And then I would not just put Collins' tenants to work ..read more

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“If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” — Isaac Newton Truer words have never been spoken. One of my "pillar mentors" - the late Bill Bonnstetter - co-founder of TTI Success Insights used to say with enthusiasm mixed with conviction, "The best is yet to come." I can still hear Bill say it. "The best is yet to come."  And Bill meant it. I have come to know with every ounce of my being that the single most powerful asset I have - that any of us has - is my mindset - the way in which I choose to view the world around me. My mindset shapes my trajectory. If you ..read more

Think back to a time when an executive team you were a part of or worked for was not healthy and aligned. The greater the disease and misalignment in your executive team, the greater the friction and distraction. And I do not need to remind you that friction / distraction are absolute kryptonite to productivity and alignment... You and I have both experienced this. Per The Rockefeller Habits Checklist (Verne Harnish), a healthy and aligned executive team has the following characteristics: Team members understand each other‘s differences, priorities, and styles. The team meets frequently (wee ..read more

Prelude: Scaling Your Company Is NOT a Sideline Strategy If you are the Founder / CEO of a business venture and obsessed with scaling your Company, this is your zero hour. Forget the happy talkers and the jargon jugglers; let’s get real with an actionable game plan. Chances are you have heard of Jim Collins’ groundbreaking framework, 'A Culture of Discipline.' If you have not, I strongly recommend this be moved to the top of your reading list. Include Jim Collins' timeless book Good to Great as well. This is not just another ivory tower concept; this is the very "rocket fuel" your scaling str ..read more

The two following forces have the greatest influence on the trajectory of your team and organization: Who you hire. How effectively your team works together. The team effectiveness framework shared in this article was first introduced in 2002 by Patrick Lencioni through his powerful book, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team has been a bestseller for 21 years for good reason. If team members do the work, there is no greater advantage. “If you could get all the people in an organization rowing in the same direction, you could dominate any industry, in any market ..read more

As a management consultant, trusted advisor and coach to those I am privileged to serve, I help guide my Clients in designing their path to a better future. As an outsider specializing in helping companies build their People, Teams, Leaders, and Moats (sustainable competitive advantage), it seems obvious to me what an organization must do. An organization must hard-code into its very DNA—its culture—the mindset to continuously improve, to question everything, allow no sacred cows, be radically candid in pursuing perfection, and consciously choose their hard consciously ..read more

I first learned about Scaling Up when I brought in a consultant to evaluate my business several years ago. My consultant introduced me to several strategy methodologies. One was Scaling Up by Verne Harnish, as outlined in his book. Scaling Up saved my business and helped me get aligned. My team and I completed the requested homework as part of my consultant’s discovery process. We then reviewed the findings and recommendations. This was the beginning of our trajectory intervention ..read more

I first learned about Scaling Up when I brought in a consultant to evaluate my business several years ago. My consultant introduced me to several strategy methodologies. One was Scaling Up by Verne Harnish, as outlined in his book. Scaling Up saved my business and helped me get aligned. My team and I completed the requested homework as part of my consultant’s discovery process. We then reviewed the findings and recommendations. This was the beginning of our trajectory intervention ..read more