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August 18, 2023
Leadership and Character
Dear Leaders, Pop quiz: What’s the most underrated component in leadership today? It’s not charisma. It’s not strategy. And no, it’s not even about being a “thought leader” (whatever that means). It’s Character. Character is that silent pulse beneath every decision, every interaction, and every pivotal moment in leadership. It’s the unsung hero behind every …
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August 11, 2023
Strawmanning Our Brilliance
Dear Leaders, Last week, I wrote about how the Steelman technique is useful in conflict resolution, decision-making, and building consensus. This note is about situations in which Strawmanning is essential to, well, conflict resolution, decision-making, and building consensus. It’s also highly useful in keeping our egos in check, bulletproofing the strategic planning process, and simplifying …
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August 4, 2023
Steelmanning: Understand Deeper and Win More
Dear Leaders, As C-suite executives, the ability to present your arguments concisely is crucial. But the ability to understand others’ arguments and craft an articulate response that’s well-suited for a given situation is pivotal to your effectiveness as a leader. Your role entails making high-quality decisions – and fast, resolving conflicts in a way all …
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July 28, 2023
Integrating Thoughtfulness into Leadership
Dear Leaders, Almost by definition, an executive is responsible for serving a group of people. Whether it’s identifying opportunities, problem-solving, decision-making, conflict resolution, collaboration, delegation, etc. – all involve people. And the higher the quality of your relationships, the more effective you are as an executive. Technology makes organizing oneself easier, tasks more automated, reminder …
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July 21, 2023
The Magnetic Power of Executive Presence
Dear Leaders, In a world where leadership is often misunderstood, there exists a rare quality that sets exceptional leaders apart: the undeniable allure of executive presence. Picture a leader who walks into a room, and without uttering a word, captivates everyone’s attention. This enigmatic power is not merely about looking the part or playing the …
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July 14, 2023
Leadership and Power
Dear Leaders, In your current position, it’s how you manage the delicate dynamic of leadership and power that determines your overall effectiveness, especially when dealing with subordinates. By definition, leaders always have a measure of power. But many power holders have no trace of leadership. Leadership humanizes you, while exercise of power, although often necessary, …
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July 7, 2023
Executive Behavior: Challenges and Solutions
Dear Leaders, In the fast-paced realm of C-suite leadership, the battle to navigate behavioral challenges is one that separates the exceptional from the ordinary. Decision-making dilemmas, communication hurdles, delegation quandaries, work-life imbalances, and the imperative of adaptability pose formidable obstacles for executives. Yet, with strategic awareness and purposeful action, these challenges can be transformed into …
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July 1, 2023
Bulletproof Problem Solving
Given today’s fast changing business environment, the Future of Jobs report placed complex problem solving at #1 in its top 10 skills for 2020 and beyond. An effective twenty-first century executive is quick on their feet, possesses learning agility, and attacks emerging problems with confidence. While there are plenty of problem-solving methodologies, one of the …
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June 24, 2023
Don’t Lose Customers, Forge Elite Teams Instead
I’ve been a loyal Starbucks customer for 20+ years, mainly because of the consistency in their service and product. However, one of the locations close to me nowadays is a true test of patience; horrible attitude towards customers, lack of consistency in drinks and, worst of all, employees backbiting about each other, their superiors, and …
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June 17, 2023
Email Etiquette: Taming the Beast
“Because the mail never stops, Jerry! It just keeps coming and coming and coming, there’s never a let-up. It’s relentless. Every day it piles up more and more and more, and you gotta get it out but the more you get it out the more it keeps coming in!” -Newman, Seinfeld Most executives I know …
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June 10, 2023
Benefits Administration
Benefits Administration A company’s benefits package can be a very significant part of its total expenses, but in many companies, benefits are not really viewed as expenses. Instead, because of the need to hire and retain top-quality employees, the benefits package is considered a key asset that must be maintained if not increased. While a …
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June 3, 2023
Cost Leadership
Strong leadership is a prerequisite for good cost management. Cost leadership starts with the CEO or business unit head and cascades down through the top management team. They need to build a tough cost culture and be good role models in their personal behavior. They need two key staff functions to be very active supporters …
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May 27, 2023
Zero-Based Budgeting
“If the company’s problem did not lie in revenues, it could only stem from expenses.” -Carlos Brito, AB InBev Simply put, Zero-Based Budgeting (ZBB) is a radical cost-control program that foresees a complete annual revision of all the company’s spending. In zero-based budgeting, managers are responsible for creating their budget from “zero costs” every year, …
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May 20, 2023
Hiring and Firing
People Cost The cost of people is the most difficult cost to manage. Because it is so tricky it is usually left until last in any cost-cutting program and any discussion of cost management. Why is people cost so problematic? First, people cost is very sticky. Once people are on the payroll it’s hard to …
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May 13, 2021
Workers’ Compensation
Workers’ Compensation Insurance There are a number of techniques for bringing about modest reductions in the cost of workers’ compensation insurance. Job Classifications: One of the key determinants of the cost of workers’ compensation insurance is the job classifications into which all employees are slotted. An employee designated in a high-risk classification will cost far …
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