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Category Archives: Surrounding yourself with talent
Over-promoting employees. Recalling the Peter Principle
Remember the Peter Principle? Funny how good messages come back in new forms after years of languishing out in the ether. Dr. Laurence J. Peter in The Peter Principle: Why Things Always Go Wrong wrote in the early 1960’s of … Continue reading
Gamify those otherwise dull work assignments
Most of us are driven by the competitive spirit, the desire or need to win. It reinforces self-worth, provides closure at the end of a good effort, and energizes us during the effort to achieve. Being driven to achieve results … Continue reading
“What’s in it for me?” A motivational lesson
Ever wonder why one of your employees, shareholders, managers, suppliers, or board members sometimes behaves in a way you might consider irrational? Putting yourself in their shoes If you want to best describe the motivation behind the action, think “What’s … Continue reading
Do people follow when you (think you) lead?
Let’s get personal. Do you think you’re much better than a marginal leader? Well, here are a few tests for you to help come to an answer. And a few tips for you if you fall a bit short. Why … Continue reading
Most of your big problems start as small problems.
Let’s talk about surprises. And whether to warn your superiors or your boards about these unraveling events early. You have a dashboard or KPI’s, don’t you? Every good executive has a set of critical data points that best alert him … Continue reading
Are your chairman and CEO the same person?
Here’s one that targets most any company that has taken investments at any stage, as well as more mature companies. Why would you split the positions? More and more today, shareholder organizations recommend that the positions of chairman and president … Continue reading
The best things about your company board
For weeks, we’ve highlighted both good and bad things about boards of directors for your company (or non-profit.) This week, let’s focus upon number one – aside from the requirements of boards to protect the company itself (not the shareholders.) … Continue reading
So, your board is dysfunctional. What to do?
It happens. Boards are elected by the shareholders, sometimes with preferred shareholders holding seats by right of their investment. In that instance, often the investor selects the board member and the CEO goes along with the choice, mostly out of … Continue reading
Let your board help with “what” and “why” – but rarely “how.”
I am sure you can argue with this one. Sometimes a board member is valuable in teaching the “how” to get things done inside the company. But experience reinforces the usual fact that a board member telling the CEO or … Continue reading
Does your board give you good advice?
This may be news, but boards of directors can offer bad advice. Having served on more than forty boards, I’ve seen such a variety of good and bad advice that my stories could fill a book. (oh, wait. They have…) … Continue reading
