About this blog
I write about communication, leadership and change, drawing on a 30-year career in journalism, public relations and management.
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Category Archives: Management
The ‘secrets’ to great leadership really aren’t secret
What makes a great leader? I’ve been posing that question to credit union CEOs for an article I’m writing for NAFCU’s magazine. Without spilling too many beans, let me share with you some “secrets” I’ve learned about great leadership. I think … Continue reading
Posted in Leadership, Management
Tagged CEO, communication, continual learning, Credit unions, EQ, NAFCU, networking, soft skills, vision
2 Comments
Are you a good steward or a bad steward?
Remember the scene in “The Wizard of Oz” when Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, asks Dorothy if she is a good witch or a bad witch? It’s right after Dorothy’s house lands in Oz, killing the Wicked Witch … Continue reading
Posted in Communications, Leadership, Management
Tagged accountability, inclusiveness, Oz, service, stewardship, sustainability, teamwork
27 Comments
‘A great day lies ahead in the not-too-distant future’
I have a new Tuesday evening tradition. After my guitar lesson at Music & Arts, I head over to Panda Express for some stir-fry. This is a big change because I’ve always stopped off at Roy Rogers for the #1 … Continue reading
Keep your head in the clouds and your feet on the ground
Years ago, when I was working at a DC trade association, the CEO stopped by my office one night before heading out the door. “Why do businesses fail?” he asked me. I could think of many reasons, but I knew … Continue reading
Posted in Goal setting, Happiness, Management
Tagged execution, failure, Mike Robbins, Teddy Roosevelt, vision
4 Comments
The seven habits of highly effective enterprises
McKinsey & Company published a short article a couple of weeks ago that is long on leadership and organizational insight. “The seven habits of highly effective digital enterprises” by ’Tunde Olanrewaju, Kate Smaje and Paul Willmott is worth a read, … Continue reading
Posted in Leadership, Management, Technology
Tagged customer experience, data driven, digital, Jim Collins, McKinsey, Steve Jobs, talent, transformation
1 Comment
The unintended consequences of change
Just before Christmas, I made a lot of changes to my 2009 Apple iMac computer. I installed new memory cards and doubled its RAM from 4 to 8GB. I upgraded the operating system to Apple’s newest Mavericks OS. I upgraded … Continue reading
Posted in Leadership, Management
Tagged change, change management, iMac, Ron Johnson, unintended consequences
2 Comments
What does a CEO want?
It seems that we are always guessing what CEOs want. Even the Mentalist would be hard-pressed to figure out some of the inscrutable things they say. “Transparency” may have climbed to the top of most organizations’ list of core values, … Continue reading
Posted in Leadership, Management, Organization
Tagged Anthony Shop, CEO, Conference Board, customer relationships, Freud, human capital, innovation, operational excellence, PRSA-NCC
2 Comments
5 lessons children can teach us about employee engagement
You’d think that with all of the books, seminars and coaching out there on building winning teams, we’d be doing a better job of engaging employees. But not according to a pair of studies noted in the latest issue of … Continue reading
Posted in Leadership, Management
Tagged authentic, children, communication, dreams, engagement, focus, imagination, moment, PRSA, stretch goals, team building, teams
4 Comments
On judging people and being a better conversationalist
Judging people is a difficult, but necessary part of running a business, managing a team or being a volunteer leader. It’s especially crucial if you are an independent consultant since you are often entrusting your future in partners, vendors and … Continue reading
The Wayward Journey 