There are five general market or competitive forces that affect every business to some degree. These are often called Porter’s Five Forces because they were popularized in Michael E. Porter’s book, Competitive Strategy, published in 1980. The...
Read more“Integrity” by Dr. Henry Cloud
When we hear the word integrity in the context of character we think of the definition of being honest and having strong moral principles. In his book, “Integrity”, Dr. Henry Cloud uses another definition of integrity, that of being whole or...
Read moreThe Process of Strategic Planning
Strategic planning is a tool that is useful for guiding day-to-day decisions and also for evaluating progress and changing approaches for moving forward. In a previous article we described the purpose of strategic planning. The process for...
Read moreYour Growth Plans for 2017
At the beginning of a new year it seems appropriate to think about how we can grow in this coming year to increase our effectiveness. I like to think of growth in the three dimensions in which our life should be showing fruit – person, people...
Read moreLeaders Lean In
The natural response to negative situations is to back away. Human nature is wired to be self-protective and so when confronting the negative the common response is to flee, fight, or freeze. But effective leaders learn to lean into the negative...
Read moreLeaders Are Communicators
Good leaders are good communicators. In order to build a team with a shared vision that works in a collaborative fashion, leaders must be great communicators. Three elements of communication are essential for leaders – clarity, candor, and...
Read moreThe Purpose of Strategic Planning
The purpose of strategic planning is to gain control of the future and the destiny of the organization. If your experience of strategic planning is developing a ream of paper full of tables and charts that then gets put in a drawer or on a shelf...
Read moreThe Link between Character and Emotional Intelligence
Character and emotional intelligence can be considered as two layers of our leadership capability, the two layers that are foundational to our leadership effectiveness. Character can be defined as the virtues, values, and traits that underlie our...
Read moreLeaders Are Learners
Effective leaders are committed to constantly learning and growing. This desire to grow is driven by their character. Effective leaders have the following character traits: Confident but not arrogant, they know they have been greatly blessed with...
Read moreExample of a Great Business Strategy
A fever for growth and volume was driving this company toward bankruptcy until they developed a great strategy that turned them around, resulting in consistent value creation. Under previous owners a manufacturing company with which I am fairly...
Read more