With 2012 Around the Corner, It May Be Time for a Mental Makeover
Businesses invest enormous amounts of time and money in 3-year plans and strategies with the hope for certainty. Yet, the environment changes so rapidly that the 3-year plan becomes obsolete after the year one leaving many businesses to run on an obsolete model. Even the most ambitious plans and strategies expire and have an expiration […]
5 Things to Avoid If You Want to Do Well
In last week’s article, I talked about how leaders are different from managers. Leaders intentionally create problems to drive innovation and accelerate revenue growth. Managers solve problems. This time I will give 5 tips on strategies that can give you unwanted problems. As a rule, it is rare to hear me discuss what you should […]
The Difference Between Management and Leadership
Most of what is taught in business school has a focus on steady, incremental improvement. I don’t want to throw that out. I do, however, suggest that businesses can create quantum leaps. And the difference between the two processes is what defines leadership. So, where do I start? I ask: What’s the difference between a […]
Why Do Americans Hate Smart People?
There is a saying: If you make people think they are thinking, they will love you. If you make people really think, they will hate you. In Thomas Friedman’s book, The World is Flat, he talks about how people stand in long lines and buy tickets from scalpers to see Britney Spears. Yet, in China, […]
The Problem Isn’t a Shortage of Talent, It’s How You Hire
Over the decades, many corporations complain about the trouble of finding talent. However, I question whether that’s true. Most businesses look for someone who is experienced at doing exactly what the company needs. This is a poor strategy for recruiting. Because skills and competencies become obsolete in a relatively short time period, companies need talent […]
Watch out! Don’t Be Your Own Worst Enemy
Everyone has moments of self-reflection where they question what makes them who they are. While the answer to that is complicated and depends on the person, I would like to propose that who you are was predetermined before you were born. Each of us was given an identity based on race, social economics, gender, height, […]
Is There a More Effective Method for Hiring Talent?
With companies like Google, Facebook and Apple aggressively seeking top talent, you have to wonder if there is a method to their success. Are the employees at those companies the reason for their success? Or is it the vision? Author and management consultant Peter Drucker said that too many companies focus on “who” to hire. […]
Are Breakthroughs a Matter of Luck? Part I
Introduction This article presents a dilemma for me. My commitment here is to give you a new perspective on problems and disruptions. In many respects, America is a country that is dedicated to finding ways around problems and avoiding inconveniences, and that culture affects our lives and business. We accept the way we are or […]
Are Breakthroughs a Matter of Luck? Part II
To distinguish the method for creating breakthroughs on purpose, it will be important to look at the pieces of the puzzle. However, first let’s understand why it is called disruptive. Most breakthroughs are initially destructive or counter-intuitive to the normal functioning of the organization. It requires people to think and do things differently. Perhaps that is the reason […]
Are Breakthroughs a Matter of Luck? Part III
As you move through the Disruptive Leadership Model™, it becomes clear that the process quickly shapes mental models in the direction of high performance. It allows you to more effectively gain insight into what you really are committed to accomplishing as well as what stops you from getting it done. From experience, the vast majority of […]