I was recently interviewed by The Coaches Network about how coaches develop their leadership style (Spoiler alert: There is no such thing as leadership style). In the interview, I suggest that coaches' leadership is a reflection of who they are as people. I describe how coaches can figure out who they are and how that [...]
In a post from a few years ago titled Why Corporate Change is Difficult, But Possible, I described the obstacles to and steps needed to produce positive and long-lasting change in both individuals and companies. This concern continues to be at the forefront of business leaders’ minds because the corporate world is in a constant [...]
I’m asked regularly by companies to help them find ways to increase their individual and organizational performance, productivity, and profitability. In these situations, two old adages come to mind: “Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” “If all you ever do is all you’ve ever done, then all you’ll ever [...]
I’m the co-founder of Beyond, a tech start-up that is using wearable technology (e.g., smartwatches) and biometric data (e.g., heart rate) to recognize and reduce stress in real-time (meaning in the moment when you experience the stress). We’re in the Alpha testing phase of product development (meaning early stage) and are looking for people who [...]
Is there anything more important to the success of a company than decision making? And is there any other process that occurs so often in a company that is accomplished so haphazardly? The decisions that are made, from the boardroom and the corner office on down, dictate the direction that the company goes. Yet, decision [...]
I’m often brought into a company to help them solve a problem. The problem might have to do with strategic planning, research and development, or entry into a new market. I’m no expert in any of these areas, but what I am pretty good at is helping companies understand and go through the best possible process for making decisions. The first thing I say is that this process isn’t about solving problems; it’s about decision making. When we think about typical problem solving, it involves a series of steps: 1) Identifying the problem…which involves making a decision on what the problem is; 2) Finding a solution…which means making a decision on what will solve the problem; 3) Implementing a solution…which means making a decision on how to put the plan into action. Therefore, when we talk about ‘problem solving,’ what we really mean is ‘decision making.’
A great New York Times article describing the "tyranny" of email and how some countries and companies are attempting to staunch the tsunami of email during non-work hours. Anyone who feels overwhelmed when faced with checking their email or anyone who feels pressure to respond to work email on night and weekends will appreciate this article. [...]
Disruption is certainly in vogue these days in the business world. Yet, an interesting and contrarian article in The New Yorker challenges the conventional wisdom that disruptive innovation actually work. The writer debunks much of the findings of the Harvard professor and business guru Clayton Christensen that businesses and industries evolve or die through disruptive innovation.
In a recent post, I introduced you to The 5 Things Great Leaders Do Very Well, in which I described the five essential roles that leaders must fulfill to be successful: 1. Leader as person 2. Leader as performer 3. Leader as team builder 4. Leader as decision maker 5. Leader as change agent In the follow-up post, I explored Leader as Person in which I argue that who you are is how you lead. In this post, I will examine your role as Leader as Performer and how this focus ensures that you and your team have the necessary tools to maximize your performances and, as a result, your successes. Performance is so vital because it is the foundation for two higher-order goals of individual and organizational success in the business world: productivity and profitability. The only way to maximize these two is to maximize performance.
A fundamental question I have been exploring in the 30 years that I have been working in the field of performance psychology is: What does it take to succeed? My life’s work has been devoted to answering this question so that anyone who is willing to pursue their dreams can find success. Yet, in recent years, I have [...]
