A business leader in today’s complex business environment is facing challenges that are coming at the speed of light.  Never before in the history of business has there been this much change so quickly on the global stage. Many of the leaders I work with are on the brink of total exhaustion as a result of the 24/7 day that starts in Asia, migrates to Europe, and ends on the West Coast of the US.

This week, I am working with a group of emerging global leaders to develop their business leadership skills that will enable them to work in this chaotic world.  One of the tools that we are using for development is a business leadership simulation where teams of participants are running their own global company making all of the decisions ranging from setting strategy to executing that strategy through tactical and operational decisions.

Read More >

I am just going to come out and say it. I have a hypothesis that the excellent leadership tool “The Yes, AND” approach that is utilized effectively by many leaders around the world may be overused.

Read More >

Last week I had the privilege of working with an amazing group of emerging leaders getting their first real taste of professional leadership development. The focus of the week long workshop was an integration of Business Acumen and Business Leadership skills all centered around a customized business simulation.  In the business simulation, teams of emerging leaders took control of their own company and were responsible to setting and executing the strategy of their business over three simulated years.  As important as the business drivers, outcomes and financial metrics were as part of the learning experience, so were the business leadership and interpersonal skill lessons and opportunities for development gained through team dynamics, creating alignment in their simulated teams, and making decisions that impacted the “employees” working in their simulated companies.

Read More >

One of the most important aspects of developing your Business Acumen skills is to know what to do with data that comes into your world from the outside business ecosystem.  For example, Jobs Data.  Last week, the US Department of Labor released new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics that showed the US economy only added 20,000 new jobs after several months of averaging over 150,000 per month for the past several months on top of 101 months of consecutive growth.

Read More >

Most leaders feel they are defined by the structure and boundaries of their own organization.  Even in complex, global, matrixed organizations leaders see themselves as part of the inner structure constantly looking for new ways to make old perspectives and situations work.  During the past six months, I have been on the road literally every week delivering leadership development programs for leaders who are thirsting for new skills and new perspectives on how to be more effective in their leadership roles.  During this time, it has become increasingly clear that too many leaders have a dangerous internal view and either has lost the ability (or never had the ability) to see and have an outward perspective.  An “Inward-Out” leadership point of view requires leaders to see and understand the big picture of their industry and the economic and strategic drivers of their business that help achieve success.  It requires understanding the trends that are shaping markets and customer demand and seeing things that customers, competitors, and others haven’t seen yet instead of just reacting to everything which is usually too late.

Read More >