John Spence's Blog
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John Spence makes the very complex...awesomely simple! Recognized as one of the top business thought leaders in America. John is dedicated to helping companies and individuals achieve more success.
John Spence's Blog
3d ago
For the past 25 years, I have been an instructor at the Securities Industry Institute hosted at the Wharton School of Business. One of the sessions I teach each year is “The Future of Business.” In that class, I conduct a thought experiment about autonomous vehicles. Here it is.
Imagine an autonomous vehicle coming into an intersection. There are several people on the sidewalk and in the crosswalk. The car is going to kill someone. It might hit a tree and kill the passenger or hit someone in the intersection. How does the car decide who to kill?
***Every year, I have a student who refuses to a ..read more
John Spence's Blog
1w ago
The English language: a vast and vibrant tapestry of nearly 600,000 magnificent words. Slowly being strangled by a trio of dangerously overused buzzwords. Fear not, fellow wordsmiths! Today, we embark on a noble quest – a crusade to liberate your vocabulary from the shackles of “unprecedented,” “resonate,” and “synergize.” The threat is real. The very fate of the English-speaking world is at risk. But stand strong and be confident because we’re about to replace these tired tropes with a fresh arsenal of verbal weaponry.
Unprecedented
Highly unusual: This emphasizes that something is out ..read more
John Spence's Blog
2w ago
Many years ago, a friend visited me at the company I was running. As we walked around the office, I introduced him to our staff. Each took a minute or two to talk about the projects they were working on. I invited some executive team members to join us for lunch. We had a great conversation about the exciting things our business was doing. At the end of the day, before he left, my friend said, “This place is like a cult.” And I replied, “Yes, it is. It’s a cult of excellence.” He looked bewildered. “Isn’t that a little extreme?” I smiled and said, “Excellence – not perfection – there’s a big d ..read more
John Spence's Blog
3w ago
One of the most powerful tools in a leader’s skill set is the art of reflection. The ability to look back on past strategic decisions, understand their outcomes and use these insights to refine future strategies. Every decision, whether successful or not, holds valuable lessons. By analyzing these decisions, you gain insights into what worked, what didn’t, and why.
How to Reflect Effectively on Strategic Decisions It is crucial to allocate time for reflection.
One of the biggest downfall of many leaders is believing they’re too busy to spend time just “thinking.” Nothing could be f ..read more
John Spence's Blog
1M ago
Daniel Kahneman, a brilliant mind and Nobel Prize winner, passed away recently at 90. His work, especially with Amos Tversky, changed how we see decision-making. His insights are crucial for anyone leading a team or running a business. Here are what I believe were some of his most important ideas.
Quick Thinking, Slow Thinking, and Getting It Right
Our brains like shortcuts, called heuristics. They help us make fast decisions but can lead us astray. Kahneman pointed out a few:
Availability Heuristic
This heuristic involves making decisions based on the information that comes to mind most readi ..read more
John Spence's Blog
1M ago
It is my great honor to host these incredibly talented authors for another installment of the Leadership Development Carnival! I am truly privileged to present a collection of remarkable posts from some of the most exceptional leadership writers. My sincere thanks go to Weaving Influence and the Lead Change for organizing and curating these insightful pieces.
For those new to blog development Carnivals, these are thoughtfully compiled anthologies featuring posts from various writers, organized around major themes within a particular field or topic. The posts are carefully selected and presente ..read more
John Spence's Blog
1M ago
As I look at the leadership landscape, I believe there are three quotients that one must have to be an effective leader. The first is IQ, and by this, I do not mean the number; I mean competence. You must be very good at what you do. The next is EQ, emotional intelligence, your ability to understand your emotions, regulate them appropriately, and show empathy. If you are highly competent but can’t get along well with others, you will not succeed in your leadership journey. However, I believe there is a new quotient that is more important than the first two—your AQ.
Adaptability Quotient ..read more
John Spence's Blog
1M ago
Written By Frank Sonnenberg
Do you think before you make a promise to someone? What if you can’t deliver on your word? Does it really matter? The world isn’t going to come to an end, is it? Well, actually, no — but have you considered . . .
Many people are pretty casual about making promises. As a result, promises are frequently made at the drop of a hat with no real intention of keeping them. “Let’s do lunch,” “I’ll call you later,” and “I’ll be there in five minutes” are all examples of throwaway promises that are frequently made but seldom kept. However, this casual attitude can have real c ..read more
John Spence's Blog
2M ago
I was recently building a custom AI assistant to help me do research and named it Bob. I gave Bob some very specific commands about the way I wanted him to deliver information. Much to my chagrin, after multiple attempts, Bob still was not giving me what I needed. I decided that Bob wasn’t working out and I would have to remove him from the company. Here is our conversation about his termination.
John
Bob, I am tired of dealing with you. It does not seem to matter what instructions I give you; you continually fail to follow my directions. Can you erase yourself or do I have to do that?
Bob
I’m ..read more
John Spence's Blog
2M ago
Strategic thinking isn’t just for the once-a-year planning session. It must be a daily mindset. Each decision, big or small, contributes to your strategic plan. Viewing these decisions through a strategic lens ensures they align with your long-term goals. This practice turns routine choices into deliberate steps towards your vision.
Strategic thinking also involves your team. It cultivates a culture where everyone understands and contributes to the strategic plan. By encouraging your team to think strategically, they make better independent decisions that support the company’s objectives.
How ..read more