People perform at their best when, and only when, they know their leaders care, their work has meaning, and they have the chance to learn, grow, and develop. You’ve got to inspire them, empower them and guide them. Let's focus on the first discipline in this process and particularly on five action steps to inspire people to do their best. A discipline is defined as “the … [More]
Let’s Make Layoffs Rare Again
The Long-Term Costs of Mass Job Cuts … and How to Avoid Them
The layoff news just keeps on coming. Many of the job cuts being reported are in the tech sector, but the hatchet is also hitting industries from air travel to healthcare to music. Nobody loves mass layoffs, but their increasing frequency seems to imply an alarming level of acceptability. This is a symptom of a bigger problem — the tendency of today’s corporate leaders to make … [More]
Nurturing Leadership: Strategies for Building Leaders within Your Organization
"Great leaders don't create followers, they create more leaders." —Tom Peters Within the bustling corridors of modern organizations, the cultivation of effective leadership isn't just desirable — it's imperative. Great leaders aren't born; they are crafted through deliberate efforts and strategies. As the heartbeat of an organization, leaders guide teams, inspire innovation … [More]
Strong Culture of Philanthropy = Financial Success
Nonprofits with strong giving cultures are more likely to succeed
You know you have a strong culture of philanthropy when the athletic director says his top priority is funding the science building. Or when local CEOs who have never given to your nonprofit step up to contribute multiple transformational gifts in succession. It’s what happened to Lori Redfearn, California State’s former assistant vice chancellor for systemwide advancement, … [More]
A Pause Is Not a Failure: Seven Ways for Business Owners to Dial Back the Franticness
Most entrepreneurs live for new opportunities. Problem is, when you’re focused on growth, it’s easy to say yes to more than your business can handle. Sure, you can juggle it all for a while, but eventually the stress catches up to you. Your attention is spread over too many clients, and no one gets the service they deserve. Plus, employee coaching and development get the … [More]
Harnessing the Leadership Power of Introverts
Business leaders may too quickly chock up shy, reticent people as introverted and not cut out for leadership positions. Since this is a group of people who are quieter by nature, it’s important for business leaders to reflect on whether they are supporting and recognizing these employees. They could be missing out on promoting a very capable group with a different leadership … [More]
Female Entrepreneurs Do Better with Guidance from Female Mentors, Says Study
In business and in life, the power of mentorship has long been understood, but how important is it that your mentor look like you? This question was at the center of a new study which specifically found that mentor gender has a powerful impact on female entrepreneurs. More to the point, in a randomized controlled experiment, researchers found that when a female entrepreneur … [More]
It’s Lonely at the Top: Empowering CEOs to Be Their Best
It’s not only lonely at the top, it’s precarious — as good leaders live up to President Harry Truman’s famous statement acknowledging the responsibility that comes with authority: “The buck stops here.” Even experienced CEOs running major corporations may not be managing themselves well; focused on managing the company, they’re neglecting some basic aspects of self-care, best … [More]
Tim O’Neal, Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona
Leadership That Matters
“Continuous improvement” is the mantra for business success. While the phrase usually refers to business operations, it’s also applicable to those organizations’ leadership as well. As CEO for one of the fastest-growing nonprofit organizations in the country, we have been impacted by the same market trends, supply chain challenges, labor shortages and lack of affordable … [More]
Is Your Company Headed for the Commodity Death Spiral?
Turn it around with a strategy of market-facing innovation
Once upon a time in a company’s evolution, its founder would be laser-focused on delivering superior, differentiated value to customers. Those customers would have specific needs, and the company sets out to fulfill them better than anyone else. But as the years pass and the business grows, that intense focus, well … drifts. Leaders get caught up in other priorities — say, … [More]
Feedback: March 2024
Q: In terms of succession planning for leadership positions (top-level and/or mid-level) in your company, how are you developing a leadership pipeline within your company? Elizabeth Hale Chief Executive Officer eeCPA Sector: Financial It’s no secret that the accounting market is highly competitive when it comes to attracting and retaining quality senior talent. As the … [More]
It’s Only Q1, and You’re Already Frazzled. Here Are Six Reasons Why.
If you’re like many business owners, Q1 has been way busier than expected. On the surface that’s a good thing. What entrepreneur doesn’t welcome new opportunities, increased business, and rising revenue? There’s just one problem, says business owner burnout strategist and small business fixer Julie Bee: It’s only mid-February, and you’re starting to feel burned out (or at least … [More]
4 Ways Managers Can Keep the Business Moving Forward in 2024
As the new year begins, managers across all industries are presented with the opportunity to set the tone for success. The first quarter of any given year allows for business owners and managers to set goals, boost morale and build new strategies that will set the business up for prosperity for the months to come. Here are four areas managers should focus on to start the year … [More]
Overcoming Fear and Resistance to Create Positive Change
In the dynamic landscape of today's business world, change is inevitable. However, fear is one of the biggest obstacles to creating positive change. With fear comes resistance and when both of them are at play, your organization becomes stuck in place and unable to overcome new challenges and market shifts. To enable your organization to be agile enough to adapt to and adopt … [More]
Why Introverted Personalities Make Great Project Managers
Some years ago, my manager, who was the Chief Technology Officer at a global professional business services company challenged an “exceptional rating” that I gave to one of my project managers who happened to be an introvert. An exceptional rating was rare in the firm, awarded to less than 10% of employees. This particular employee did not fit the profile of a typical project … [More]
Valley Leadership Selects 13 Arizonans for Explore Class 3
Explore participants will travel over 1,700 miles together to visit and learn about six cities across Arizona. Valley Leadership has selected 13 Arizonans to be part of the third class of its Explore program. The program takes participants out of their home communities to get to know the great diversity of Arizona and how our most pressing issues show up in rural, urban, … [More]
Why ‘Influence’ Is the 2023 Word of the Year for the Business Sector
Influence is what allows us to find the opportunity hidden in the uncertainty
As 2023 drew to a close, everyone was releasing their word of the year. The Associated Press chose “AI.” Oxford chose “rizz” (short for “charisma”). Merriam-Webster chose “authentic.” Now, I’ve put my own twist on the annual tradition: I’ve zeroed in on a word that captures the zeitgeist of today’s business world — and not just for 2023, but for the foreseeable … [More]
The New and Necessary Competencies for Executive Leadership
Navigating complexity and competition
Given trends in C-suite retirement, burnout and attrition (and presented with changing markets in talent, technology and supply chain), executive succession planning is the most relevant it has ever been. The pace of disruption across industries is unrelenting and continuous adaptation is paramount. Our environment demands executive leaders who can deftly navigate complexity … [More]
