I am always amazed at the lack of action I see in companies that are in the midst of crisis. Problems abound and people generally know what they are but everyone seems to tolerate them for some reason or another. …
The difference in company performance between one with an effective Board of Directors and one that is not effective can be dramatic. In the short run, it may seem like it is easier to have a lax board but in …
Last month, I talked about the critical skills needed for an effective C-Suite. In addition to a broad cross section of domain expertise and well rounded individuals, I believe every executive needs to bring Seven Critical Business Skills to the …
I believe there are three things every C-Suite executive needs and these hold true whether one is operating in a very small or very large company. While the bar is much higher at the top of Fortune 500 organizations than …
What’s your deadline? That’s a question that comes up a lot and people may or may not give much thought to the answer. My wife asked me that question about a project that I was working on recently and it …
Are you busy or bored at work? It’s a question worth asking and the answer can probably give you insights into your company’s financial position even if you’ve never seen an income statement or balance sheet. If you’re busy (and …
If you don’t set the agenda, one will be set for you. Guaranteed. Even if you do take the initiative and set an agenda, there is some chance that the boss will overrule you on some or even all of …
One of the trickier problems for smaller businesses is accountability of “the boss.” Whether it is a sole proprietor, family owned business, or one that is majority controlled with “silent” minority partners, accountability is often a real issue. I’ve found …
Believe it or not, one of the first things that I look for when I walk into an office is whether anyone waters the plants? While I care about the health and welfare of the plants, what I am really …
Last month, I talked about the amount of risk that businesses take on through various initiatives. Today, I’d like to address a topic that people usually put into the risk category but which I think goes to the subject of …
