Leadership & the Super Committee

It's been a while since I've weighed in on the political front, and with the recent failure of the Budget Super Committee, I thought it would be an interesting time to examine the difference between statesman and politician.  I don’t know about you, but I’m so fed-up with the rhetoric and the gamesmanship in Washington that I’m about ready to give up on all politicians. Our country was founded by…

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Leadership & Discipline

The difference between good and great often comes down to discipline. So my question is this - how disciplined are you as a leader? Context, fluidity, and other nuanced behaviors are positive traits to embrace so long as they don't serve as an excuse for a lack of discipline. I'm not suggesting that leaders should be robotic or static in approach - quite to the contrary. Implementing a framework…

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Leadership Myth: But My Business Is Different

"But my business is different!" Well actually, no it's not. That's an old leadership myth. I cannot even begin to count the number of times I've had a CEO tell me that certain immutable business principles just don't apply to his/her business because "this business is different." I don't dispute that all businesses have certain unique characteristics or contextual differences - I don't even…

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Innovation’s Best Kept Secret

Those of you who frequent this blog know that I'm not a huge fan of either/or propositions. In most, if not all cases, decisions that are made on this basis simply constitute a lack of depth and understanding. This particularly holds true as it applies to the topic of innovation methodology. Most innovators view innovation from one of two perspectives: those who believe disruptive innovation is…

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When to Restructure

To restructure or not to restructure? When to restructure is the question many a business is forced to ask at some point during their life cycle. The mere discussion of corporate reengineering can cause fear, anxiety, and in some cases even panic. This is so much the case that some CEOs will avoid restructuring initiatives at all costs. There are even some business theorists that warn against…

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