I’ve noticed a pattern when speaking about, and helping clients implement, growth programs: when we talk about the portfolio of products under development, there is a tendency to assume that all of those investments have the same potential return. The key to developing a successful growth portfolio is realizing the basic truth: not all investments […]
There is a magic inflection point in the development of leaders whose functional background is built on professional competence. It’s that moment when they tip from moving from directive to collaborative leadership. What makes it magic? There are several reasons: it opens up the spectrum of possible solutions, allows significant talent development and provides scale […]
Running downhill refers to what happens in the NFL after a team’s running back repeatedly pushes through a defense later in the third and fourth quarters of the game. It’s at this point that the running back often finds there is a seemingly lowered resistance level because they’ve “softened up” the defense and players have […]
I’ve been able to have several face-to-face events in the last 60 days and it feels great. Workshops explode with energy, connections are renewed and new possibilities emerge. But when the conversation inevitably turns to “when are you going back…” everyone’s eyes get a bit cloudy. I hear “some time” in 2022 or maybe not […]
With 2022 right around the corner, many firms are having discussions and making decisions about which new products and services to pursue in the next year and beyond. These choices, and how they are deployed, will lock in one of these three futures: The red path is one of decline, where more effort and investment […]
COVID has raised the stakes and is driving a wholesale rethinking of how we as individuals invest our time, money and resources. We are still in the midst of working through its impact and our response, but one thing is very certain: As humans, COVID has driven us to want more. More from our communities…as […]
The talent shortage we carried into the pandemic, and the shifting contract of how we work, are combining to be a major challenge in our businesses. This two-headed threat has turned the equation of work design inside out and has put our teams into very unfamiliar territory. One tangible data point from this is the […]
For the rider above, the stunt has risks, but with skill planning and practice, it becomes manageable. As we approach 2022, it is essential that we develop the same skills for our firms – so that we can reclaim our ability to manage risks and develop fresh sources of returns for our stakeholders (if you […]
I overheard that quote during a recent family gathering as a spirited game of tag had broken out. I had observed one of the children losing interest and had coached one of the older players to balance the ratio of winning and losing a bit to keep his siblings in the game. I suggested it […]
If you are a senior leader, how do you create standout results? You become the leader of choice to find, form, and execute on true value. And how do you do it? By investing in your best leaders’ transformation capabilities. For this cycle, I’m encouraging senior leaders to think differently about how to structure their […]
