I was sitting with the team in a bar after a great workshop. You know the feeling: 100’s of Post-It notes, lots of flip charts, the frameworks click and you know you’ve identified the right project. The topic then turned to taking the next steps. Specifically, establishing the team and execution. I always wince when […]
Just as a golf course designer lays out a course that challenges the skill of the player to place the ball around sand traps, executives that undertake growth initiatives will have their skills challenged in predictable locations that require anticipation, preparation and skill to deliver results. These three common “sand traps” come to the growth […]
You know the feeling: you’ve started something big in your firm, with much promise of growth, and the ball is rolling well. You have the sponsorship, you’re working through the issues and then you hit the wall – the sales team refuses to give you the time of day. I have good news. While your […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
