It’s one of the most retold moments in the Apple story. Steve Jobs, compelled by the Apple Board of Directors to recruit John Sculley, heir apparent at Pepsi at the time, does the greatest reframe of all time with the words,”You can come with me and change the world, or stay at Pepsi and […]
Decoding Growth: 3 Keys to a Great Discovery Workshop
I’m just leveling off at 34,000 feet after running a workshop with a great team from a major consumer products firm. It is very satisfying to hear during the debrief of a Right Project session that the senior leader in the room is positively surprised by the ability to draw out significant new areas […]
The Dirty Little Secret: Why Smart Leadership Teams Pursue Low ROI Projects (and 4 Ways to Fix it)
We read the headlines every day: large, well-respected companies are investing in waves of programs that have a low return on the investment it takes to get them into your hands. The decisions being made in strategy sessions today about products and services will be in the earnings headlines for the next 24 months […]
The Surprising New Role of Middle Management
I often have the opportunity to speak with high-potential, mid-senior level leaders who are part of my “Growth Leaders” coaching program. Through these talks, I’ve discovered an emergent trend that I believe will have great value for mid-level leaders and their senior management team: Middle managers play a large role in developing the right growth […]
The Right Path: Straight Talk for Senior Leaders Who Need to Clear a Path for Growth
Let’s start with some statistics: not tending the future has big consequences. According to author and researcher Richard Foster, 75 percent of the S&P 500 will be replaced by 2027. In working with a C-level client this fall, I’m reminded that today’s hard-driving operational environment leaves precious little time for future building. I see […]
Preemptive Attack: Twelve Questions to Ask Now to Make Sure Your Growth Plans Don’t Get Derailed
It’s fourth quarter and in conference rooms worldwide, plans are being locked in for new growth programs. Even as this activity takes place, one of the most frequently asked questions in my workshops and coaching sessions is: How do you go about diagnosing the reasons for a stalled innovation team? To answer this question, let’s […]
Right Team + Right Plan: 3 Reasons Organic Growth Creates Winners in Both Sports and Business
Each year as we head into football season, I look forward to watching my team of choice, the Green Bay Packers. Having been a long-time fan, I’ve lived through the ups and downs for years – and am relishing their long streak of great performances. The background on this big performance shift has a lot […]
Five Reasons Your Cross-Functional Team is Misfiring
This recent article highlights a trend many of us have sensed for some time: we are shifting away from a “war on talent” to “the best team wins.” Many organizations have understood the power of cross-functional teams for years, so why is it we find so many teams launched, only to see them get stuck before […]
The Practitioner’s Notebook: Finding Great Strategy Team Members
In helping a firm on a new strategy project, one of the challenges that quickly emerges is finding a great group of internal participants to work on the project. This is an example of the Right Team portion of the triad we have discussed that must be in place for authentic growth work to […]
Three Insights from Experimental Aviation that Innovation Leaders Need to Know
Every year innovation literally drops from the sky into the farm fields of Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The Experimental Aircraft Association’s (EAA) membership convention and airshow, AirVenture, has become a week-long extravaganza of every aspect of aviation – from an appearance of the F22 and the Apollo 13 astronauts to night airshows, the spectacle draws worldwide press. […]