Every business leader has heard this disturbing statement at least a few times when having a “hard conversation” with a direct report:

In today’s complex business world, business leaders are faced with many challenges and are provided with even more opportunities for success.  I recently conducted a business acumen session with a group of leaders who were discussing the challenge of creating alignment and leading across generations.  The conversation specifically included the challenges faced by leaders who are trying to balance the execution of strategy and how to effectively communicate and work with both different functions and levels of experience.

Business leaders around the world go to work every day and either try to ride the “Disruption Wave” by evolving their business strategies, or are hit by it totally unaware that it was coming.  The “Blockbuster” story has now become the overused example of a company that didn’t see the digital disruption wave coming and went from being a darlings of Wall Street to bankruptcy in a blink of the eye.

Many business professionals around the globe wake up every morning and write out their “To-Do” lists for the day.  They think they are organized and well prepared and attain a feeling of self-satisfaction when they are able to cross things off of their lists. Hopefully they are truly accomplishing things at work that will yield positive business results.