In this executive leadership blog, I invite you to tap into my years of experience that has been honed as a CEO and through my work today on the front-lines of business. As a sought-after executive coach, keynote speaker, strategic planning advisor and workshop facilitator, my insights and enthusiasm in this executive leadership blog will inspire you to improve your performance and future.
From leadership to accountability to strategic planning, this executive leadership blog is intended to guide and inform your decision-making, whether a current leader or an aspiring one.
March 5th, 2019 | Published in Strategic Planning
A Leader’s Job: Confront Reality America’s early days as a nation were shaped by big decisions. Bold, gutsy decisions. Even decisions to intentionally avoid making a decision. The signers of …
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February 5th, 2019 | Published in Problem Solving
Start the New Year with Your Values, Goals and Relationships Aligned As 1968 became 1969, George Harrison felt as if the Beatles “were reaching the end of the line.” While …
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January 7th, 2019 | Published in Leadership
Herb Kelleher, the co-founder, CEO and Chairman Emeritus of Southwest Airlines passed away last Thursday at the age of 87. He was an admirable innovator and an exceptional leader that …
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January 4th, 2019 | Published in Branding, Customer Service
Announcement as airplane is pushing back from the gate: “Hello ladies and gentlemen and welcome aboard. This is Southwest flight ABC with nonstop service to Dallas Love Field. So if …
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December 18th, 2018 | Published in Event, Goal Setting
Watching The Nutcracker in its various forms is an integral part of the holidays in America. These performances generate around 40% of annual ticket revenues for many major ballet companies. …
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December 4th, 2018 | Published in Accountability
Brown’s Job was Difficult to Describe The memo—folded once and stamped “Personal & Confidential” in red ink—was slipped under my office door after hours on December 29. December 29, 1988. …
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November 7th, 2018 | Published in Productivity
A Timely Leadership Lesson from Eleanor Roosevelt Today in America is Election Day. Have you voted? If not, will you? It’s easy to take certain freedoms for granted, and in …
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October 2nd, 2018 | Published in Accountability, Organization Health, Productivity
Wit and Wisdom from Football’s Best We’re five weeks into the college football season and some teams are peaking while others are already fading. How’s your team doing? When the …
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September 26th, 2018 | Published in Conflict Resolution
We’ve seen plenty of dysfunction in our government for quite some time now. But The New York Times op-ed essay by an anonymous senior official in the Trump administration offers …
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September 17th, 2018 | Published in Leadership
What’s the difference between consulting and coaching? Fourteen years ago I was contacted by Vistage International—the world’s largest peer advisory organization for CEOs, presidents and partners. I’d been referred as someone …
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August 31st, 2018 | Published in Strategic Planning
Animal House Turns 40 September means “Back to school,” and this year one of America’s most famous college campuses—the fictional Faber College in National Lampoon’s Animal House—turns 40. The 1978 film …
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August 15th, 2018 | Published in Strategic Planning
Three Secrets for an Effective Planning Session Ten years ago, David Collis and Michael Rukstad’s article “Can You Say What Your Strategy Is?” was published in the Harvard Business Review. …
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August 7th, 2018 | Published in Leadership, Strategic Planning
The Leaning Tower of Pisa Offers Clues for Your Upcoming Planning Session The period between Labor Day and Thanksgiving is often when leaders gather to affirm their organization’s strategies and …
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August 6th, 2018 | Published in Accountability
We live in a time when accountability is often sidelined. When it is, there can be disastrous consequences. In government, in politics, in the media-and in business. The antidote, I’ve …
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July 9th, 2018 | Published in Organization Health
It’s July and time to take a break. Here are seven smart reasons getting away from the office will make you better, including links to two thought-provoking perspectives about leaving …
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June 18th, 2018 | Published in Leadership
Continuous Learners Will Dig Into These Books As an accountability speaker and business consultant for more than 20 years, I’ve seen firsthand what makes companies like Marriott, Container Store, Ernst …
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June 14th, 2018 | Published in Accountability
The “A” word can be intimidating. As an accountability speaker, I understand that the concept of “holding people accountable” has about as much appeal as “holding people hostage.” In some …
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June 4th, 2018 | Published in Strategic Planning
A Guide to Unlocking Your Organization’s Potential I’ve led more than 200 strategic planning sessions in a range of industries. It’s not unusual to find myself correcting faulty assumptions that …
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April 27th, 2018 | Published in Accountability
Accountability in the workplace is not restrictive; it’s freeing. When every member of an organization — from the top-level executives to the summer intern — has clarity about their …
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April 27th, 2018 | Published in Leadership
When do you collaborate and when do you lead? <span data-mce-type=”bookmark” style=”display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;” class=”mce_SELRES_start”></span> On 7 May 1429, Joan of Arc led 1,500 French …
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To dive even deeper into the topic of accountability, I invite you to purchase a copy of my bestselling book, “Accountability: The Key to Driving a High-Performance Culture.”
Business schools teach case studies. Hollywood blockbusters are inspired by true events.
Exceptional leaders are students of history. Decision-making comes with the territory.