The Latest from Janice

For years, we’ve been making predictions. The objective isn’t only to be right more than we’re wrong, but to catalyze a productive dialog that might shape better outcomes. If you get most/all your predictions right, you’re not predicting … you’re stating the obvious. Also, predicting societal ills, or worse, can highlight…

Transformation—a concept far deeper and more impactful than mere change. Transformation isn't just about gathering new information; it’s about actively engaging with that knowledge to reshape your world. Think about a caterpillar's journey to become a butterfly. It doesn't just grow bigger; it completely alters its form to soar. Similarly,…

Introducing Inc.'s inaugural Female Founders advisory panel: For the first time ever, we tapped our network of impressive women entrepreneurs to share their advice for this year's honorees. These celebrated founders know all too well the challenges business owners need to overcome to grow flourishing companies--and the role persistence plays in success. These…

I'm going to be honest from the start here: I have basically no interest in basketball -- college or professional, men's or women's. But I do love a good neuroscience-backed success tip. Which is why I'm writing about Iowa star and first pick of the 2024 Women's National Basketball Association draft Caitlin Clark. You'll…

Accountability is a deeply personal commitment, a pact we make with ourselves to achieve our goals and aspirations. It's not about answering to someone else; it's about holding ourselves to our own standards and aspirations. When we are truly accountable to ourselves, it signifies a genuine desire to accomplish something…

Protecting Your Financial Interests in the Wake of a Major Data Breach by Mike Foster | Apr/21/2024 In today’s digital age, the security of your personal information is more than a convenience – it’s a crucial aspect of your financial strategy. Recently, a significant breach at a major phone provider has put the…

3 tenets leaders need to understand about the future of work As the world of work continues to evolve, the competition for top talent is becoming increasingly fierce. To attract and retain the best employees, employers need to make their companies more compelling. How? Consider the following tenets about the…

In the dynamic landscape of business, growth transcends mere revenue figures. While top-line revenue is often the primary metric for assessing success , a broader understanding of growth encompasses various dimensions, ranging from financial considerations to personal development and infrastructure building. Beyond the allure of increased revenue lies the critical…

It sure has been a tricky start to the decade. Starting with the COVID-19 pandemic, various challenges have revealed themselves over the past few years, and now some major industries are currently in a recession for 2024. Although ITR Economics is forecasting general economic growth over the next few years,…

Will generative AI destroy humanity or make everyone rich and happy? Business leaders ask a different question: Can generative AI deliver a return on investment? CEOs are spending money to find out the answer. Virtually all--97 percent of leaders according to a KPMG survey released March 22 of 220 business leaders in U.S. companies with at…

When community threads itself through every fiber of our work, weaving together the fabric of our experiences and interactions, it’s a good thing. In addition to creating a space or adopting an attitude; it shapes our actions, perspectives, and aspirations. At its essence, community embodies the spirit of connection and…

Founding father Benjamin Franklin knew better than most the benefits of self-education. In 1727, he established the Philadelphia-based discussion group known as the Junto, which sought “mutual improvement” through intellectual dialogue. Yet while Franklin enjoyed the Junto’s spirited—and secret—debates on matters moral and scientific, he became convinced that the group needed an…

This Inc. article shows how our addiction to dopamine may not be serving us. EXPERT OPINION BY JEFF HADEN, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, INC. @JEFF_HADEN   A friend hates keeping his books. (He hates filing corporate taxes even more, but that's another story.) Over the past three years, he's adopted and abandoned five different small-business accounting packages--not…

Values serve as compasses, guiding us in our actions and decisions, shaping our lives and relationships. Among these values, Care stands out as a beacon of significance, weaving its impact through every aspect of our existence. At its core, Care encompasses both self-preservation and altruism. It begins with nurturing oneself,…

By Dorothy Neufeld   Time is an investor’s biggest ally, even if they start with just a modest portfolio. The reason behind this is compounding interest, of course, thanks to its ability to magnify returns as interest earns interest on itself. With a fortune of $159 billion, Warren Buffett largely…

Warren Buffett is known not only for his prolific investment acumen but also for his wit and wisdom. Having covered Buffett over the years, I've seen how often he has given his followers solid advice on matters related to leadership, hiring, and even the importance of self-care. One helpful tip stood out…

Our values serve as our guiding stars, illuminating the path we tread. Among these virtues, courage stands tall, beckoning us to transcend our fears and embrace the unknown. All too often, we find ourselves paralyzed by apprehension, shackled by the imaginary chains of doubt. Consider for a moment the essence…

BY MICHEL KOOPMAN The sophisticated and often nuanced manner in which leaders communicate is pivotal in forging or fracturing relationships with employees, colleagues, and stakeholders. As a Dutch-American CEO and founder, I’ve painstakingly navigated the intricacies of direct and transparent communication, learning to intricately balance forthrightness with empathy. The Dutch are…

"You really have to stand up for yourself." That's the message Shark Tank star Barbara Corcoran sent loud and clear in a recent interview she gave LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky. The interview is full of powerful lessons from Corcoran's life, but one story stood head and shoulders above the rest: The time Shark Tank "fired" her,…

Letting our values determine what we do and what we don't do, can create a more authentic and fulfilling path. One such value that holds immense power is curiosity. Curiosity is not just about seeking new information but also about embracing diverse perspectives and being open to challenging our own…

We tend to measure performance by what happens when things are going well. Yet how people, organizations, companies, leaders, and other things do on their best day isn’t all that instructive. To find the truth, we need to look at what happens on the worst day. “Anyone can steer the…

A CEO’s daily to-do list is never just about today. Your attention is constantly shifting between “now” and “next,” between what your company needs to hit short-term targets and how hitting those targets is building momentum toward long-term goals. But until AI actually creates more hours in a day, it’s…

One of the most profound responsibilities is the development of others. It's a process that requires patience, commitment, and a keen understanding of individual needs. Whether through formal one-on-one sessions or informal check-ins, investing time is paramount. Formal sessions offer a structured platform to delve into specific development areas. These…

By Dana G. Smith Most of us know that good sleep is a pillar of good health, on par with exercise and nutrition. And yet most of us have had a night (or many nights) when it all went sideways. Maybe you stayed out late and only got six hours, instead…

EXPERT OPINION BY JEFF HADEN, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, INC.@JEFF_HADEN Where success is concerned, self-control clearly matters. A Perspectives in Psychological Science study shows self-control outdoes talent in predicting academic success. A 40-year study published in American Scientist determined self-control strongly predicts adult success, regardless of socioeconomic background or even intelligence. Can you develop greater self-discipline? Sure. But it's really, really hard. Self-discipline implies requires gratification--doing this, so…

In any organization, fostering a culture of continuous learning and development is paramount to success. Just like learning to ride a bike, mastering new skills or tasks in the workplace follows a similar journey of awareness and proficiency. As leaders or colleagues, it's essential to recognize where individuals are in…

Getting your personal finances in order can be daunting. Not many people want to confront how they are spending and saving their money, so they put it off and let problems compound. Wharton marketing professor Wendy De La Rosa has some simple advice to make the process less stressful: take a financial…

Bad communication is a nightmare. Just ask the woman from Belgium who made news headlines years ago after driving 900 miles across Europe on what should’ve been a quick trek to the local train station—all because of a broken navigation system.1 Or the man in Alaska whose incredible story hit the…

Strategy is more than just a destination; it's the roadmap that guides every decision and action within an organization. It delineates not only what needs to be achieved but also how to achieve it. At its core, strategy is imbued with the values and principles that drive decision-making – the…

Read what Marcel Schwantes from Inc. says about the brain science behind owning the room in a social setting.   Stepping into new social situations can be daunting. Whether it's a networking event, a conference, or a gathering with unfamiliar faces, the pressure to connect with others can feel overwhelming (introverts,…

Making decisions, even in areas you know relatively well, usually involves an element of uncertainty. Sometimes decisions can be made quickly, and uncertainty is acceptable or desirable. Other times, decisions are made slowly and deliberately to remove as much uncertainty as possible. Once you are faced with a decision, the…

Today productivity is often equated with constant action; it's easy to overlook the importance of taking time to plan, reflect, and think. Yet, two of history's most iconic figures, Albert Einstein and Abraham Lincoln, recognized the value of this approach. Einstein famously said, "If I had 60 minutes to solve…

In our communication, whether it's in personal relationships, the workplace, or within creative endeavors, understanding the nuances between critique and criticism is crucial. While both involve providing feedback, their impact and effectiveness differ significantly. Critique, unlike criticism, is characterized by its constructive nature. It aims to provide helpful insights, focusing…

Cast your mind back to 2015. It was a time when Trump was mostly still a reality TV star, everyone wanted to see that hot new musical Hamilton, and Instagram was the cool new social network. It was also the moment of another huge craze most of us have long since stopped thinking about, but which…

The Power of Clarity in Communication: Building Stronger Connections Communication is the cornerstone of human interaction, yet it's often plagued by ambiguity and misinterpretation. In the pursuit of effective communication, clarity emerges as the guiding principle, illuminating the path to understanding and fostering meaningful connections. "Clear is Kind" encapsulates the…

Coffee does plenty of cool things. Coffee can reduce your risk of cancer up to 20 percent, your risk of type 2 diabetes by 30 percent, and your risk of Parkinson's disease by 30 percent. A study published in Circulation found that coffee can reduce the risk of stroke by 20 percent. A study of over 260,000 people conducted…

Striking the Right Note in Collaboration: Finding the "Just Right" Balance In the intricate dance of collaboration, much like Goldilocks testing the three bears' beds, finding the "just right" balance is key. The dynamics between collaborators play a pivotal role, making it crucial for both parties to navigate the delicate…

"What am I doing wrong?" That question kept pounding through my head. I had recently learned of a friend whose business was doing huge numbers, much bigger than mine. My newsletter had tens of thousands of subscribers. His had a hundred thousand. My podcast got thousands of downloads. His got…

The Art of Communicating Care: A Lesson in Listening In a world bustling with advice and quick solutions, how often do we truly experience someone just listening? The essence of Communicating Care lies not in solving problems but in the subtle art of being present. It's a skill that transcends…

How do you give feedback to a CEO who’s twice your age? I was 25, a new professor called in as a last-ditch, Hail Mary effort to save a dying company. They had already fired three consultants, so why not try me? The CEO had been leading longer than I’d…

Communicating with celebration Celebrating achievements and fostering effective communication are vital components of a healthy workplace culture. Recognizing when individuals simply want to revel in their accomplishments, free from critique or improvement discussions, is crucial. Failure to acknowledge and celebrate successes can lead to a decline in morale, diminished motivation,…

WASHINGTON (TND) — Remote workers are receiving fewer advancement opportunities than their in-person colleagues, according to new data. The stats from Live Data Technologies show remote workers see promotions 31% less frequently than office workers. Just under 4% of remote employees received position upgrades last year while 5.6% of hybrid or…

Embracing the Platinum Rule: Understanding Others on Their Terms In a world often guided by the golden rule – treating others as you would like to be treated – there's a paradigm shift gaining momentum: the Platinum Rule. This rule advocates for treating others as they would like to be…

Each year, we review/make predictions re the past/coming year. Most years, we hit more than we miss. But we do miss — if we made 10 predictions that all came true, that wouldn’t be predicting but stating the obvious. The caliber of a prediction is a function of what it…

Mark Cuban. Billionaire entrepreneur, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, and one of the sharks on Shark Tank. He's also a boss who has employees. Lots of them. And like all bosses, they look for good employees who'll stick around. In Cuban's case, "The people that tend work for me a long time, not only…

Goal setting and time blocking using 5 gears for success in 2024. As we step into the dawn of a new year, it's essential to equip ourselves with a comprehensive strategy that ensures balance, productivity, and personal fulfillment. Embracing the philosophy of the "5 Gears" can be a transformative approach…

Every year, about 80 million viewers tune in to The Hallmark Channel during the holiday season to catch one (or all) of their dozens of original Christmas movies. These holiday staples, which often feature an aspiring entrepreneur or a struggling small business, are jam-packed with inspiring messages and leave viewers with the gift…

Embracing the Power of Celebration Celebration stands as a powerful chord that harmonizes our achievements, accomplishments, and the sheer effort invested. It is a moment of recognition, not for the distance left to cover but for the ground we've conquered. When we cast aside the measuring stick and focus on…

For Work May you see in what you do The beauty of your soul. May the sacredness of your work Bring light and renewal to those Who work with you and to those  who see and receive your work. May your work never exhaust you. May evening find you gracious…

Finding Warmth in Holiday Connections The holiday season, with its twinkling lights and festive cheer, is often synonymous with joy and togetherness. However, beneath the surface of the celebrations, there exists a poignant reality for many – a time that can be unexpectedly lonely and isolating. Despite the merriment surrounding…

Many strategy execution processes fail because the firm does not have something worth executing. The strategy consultants come in, do their work, and document the new strategy in a PowerPoint presentation and a weighty report. Town hall meetings are organized, employees are told to change their behavior, balanced scorecards are reformulated, and…

Clearly, Jerry Seinfeld knows how to do the work. His standup career spans nearly 50 years. Seinfeld has generated billions in total syndication revenue; to date, Jerry's slice (if you can call it a "slice") is somewhere north of $800 million. Yet money is just one barometer of success: He famously turned down a $100 million offer to do…

Embracing the Gift of Presence in a Hectic Season. In the hustle and bustle of our fast-paced lives, it's easy to find ourselves caught in a whirlwind of obligations, perpetually thinking about what's next on our ever-growing to-do lists. What if, in the midst of this chaos, we shifted our…

I was very sad to hear about the passing of Chuck Feeney. He was one of my personal heroes and one of the greatest philanthropists of all time. Chuck had four important traits that made him so special. First, he was totally dedicated to giving away everything he had. In the…

Innovation is often associated with a relaxed office culture where employees feel safe to try new things and take risks, but new research from Wharton finds comfort is counterproductive in more typical situations. In a co-authored study, management professor Peter Cappelli and his colleagues found that too much “psychological safety” in the workplace…

In a world where possessions often dominate our thoughts during the gift-giving season, it's time to ponder a different question: What makes a truly meaningful gift? Is it the latest gadget or a fashionable accessory, or could it be something more profound that transcends the material? Consider the gift of…

Working with problems They’re everywhere we look. Here are a few thoughts on the ones that won’t go away: First, is it a problem or a situation? Problems, by definition, have solutions. You might not like the cost of the solution, the trade-offs it leads to, or the time and…

The ROI of giving thanks In the midst of Thanksgiving week, the concept of expressing gratitude might appear cliché, but its impact goes beyond mere tradition. Embracing thankfulness opens the door to a multitude of benefits that can significantly enhance our lives. One of the profound advantages of practicing gratitude…

Imagine you're steering your ship through a wild, stormy sea. The waves rear up like angry giants, crashing against your vessel. It feels like the world is throwing its worst at you, daring you to turn back. But you stand firm at the helm, eyes fixed on the distant horizon. Sorry…

BY MARCEL SCHWANTES, INC. CONTRIBUTING EDITOR AND FOUNDER, LEADERSHIP FROM THE CORE We live in a society that values immediate gratification. At work, we negotiate for what we need to get our work done to meet demanding deadlines and look good to our bosses. If we don't get replies to our urgent emails and texts at…

A Holistic Approach to Assessing Our Overall Peace True peace extends beyond mere absence of conflict; it's a delicate interplay of various elements that contribute to our overall well-being. By conscientiously assessing and nurturing these aspects, we can elevate our sense of peace and harmony. Purpose Consider your purpose—the energy…

I still love software as much today as I did when Paul Allen and I started Microsoft. But—even though it has improved a lot in the decades since then—in many ways, software is still pretty dumb. To do any task on a computer, you have to tell your device which…

In a world that often glorifies perfection, embracing imperfections can be a revolutionary act of self-love and personal development. The pursuit of perfection can be paralyzing, hindering our ability to learn and grow. After all, if we were perfect, what would be left to learn? It's in our imperfections that…

It’s easy to lose sight of the profound impact our surroundings can have on our well-being. When we talk about "place," it's not just the physical location you occupy, but the entire ecosystem that surrounds you – your home, office, neighborhood, and the people you interact with on a daily…

Deepak Chopra has asked countless leaders about the secret to their success. They all repeat the same refrain: "I was lucky." While luck is part of the formula, there's more to it, Chopra says. The alternative medicine advocate, author of over 90 books, and Inc.'s latest cover subject, spoke with Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk on…

In a culture that focuses so intensely on success, it’s easy to feel like a failure. But according to the organizational psychologist Adam Grant, that might be because we’re thinking about achievement all wrong. Many people assume that accomplishments are tied closely to innate ability, so they give up on…

Finding Peace Through Purposeful Provision In a world that often encourages us to accumulate more, striving for success and material wealth, we sometimes overlook the simple but profound concept of provision. Provision means living within our means, extending a helping hand to those less fortunate, and prioritizing time spent with…

Special thanks to Patrick Ungaschick of Navix Exit Consultants for his insights! According to the FritoLay company website, FRITOS® are “still satisfying fans after more than 80 years.” Surprisingly, these classic corn chips can also help business owners plan for and achieve successful exits. Here’s how. Exiting from a company…

The pandemic may have been officially over for a while now, but all signs point to the fact that many people are still finding their feet socially. Searches for "What to talk about at work?" have risen over the past two years. Social media is peppered with stories of people struggling to remember how…

The Path to Inner Peace: Nurturing Your Body and Mind In our fast-paced, hectic lives, the pursuit of inner peace often takes a back seat. We're so focused on our responsibilities and commitments that we forget the essential foundation for tranquility lies within ourselves. To embark on the journey toward…

One of the best parts of Garrett Hardin‘s wonderful Filters Against Folly is when he explores the three filters that help us interpret reality. No matter how much we’d like it to, the world does not only operate in our circle of competence. Thus we must learn ways to distinguish reality in areas where we lack…

If you're constantly seeking a competitive advantage -- if you're constantly striving to learn more, make better decisions, and improve your problem-solving skills (in other words, if you're an entrepreneur) -- exercise shouldn't be considered a luxury. Or an afterthought. Exercise can play a major role in your success and overall happiness. Here's one example. Studies conducted by the Military Health System shows that chronic…

Finding Peace Through Introspection: Uncover Your Answers within In our fast-paced world, finding moments of peace can seem like an elusive dream. We often look for external sources of tranquility, but what if the path to peace started from within? As a coach, I believe in providing a safe space…

In today's rapidly evolving work landscape, organizations are increasingly recognizing the importance of employee experience (EX) as a key driver of competitive advantage. Understanding and measuring EX has become paramount, and organizations are turning to the intersection of behavioral science and A.I. to uncover valuable insights into their workforce. McKinsey's recent report on the six…

Achieving happiness isn't about chasing rainbows or waiting for the perfect moment. It's a journey, not a destination. As someone who coaches leaders, I often remind them to acknowledge that happiness is not a constant but a series of moments. Whether you're in a leadership role or an individual contributor, encourage yourself and those you lead…

Peace through purpose The pursuit of inner peace often seems elusive. We search for it in various ways, from meditation to self- help books, but one profound source of tranquility lies within our grasp: knowing our purpose. The Power of Purpose **"Why am I here?"** It's a question that has…

The Jenga situation When an organization first sets out to have an impact, it discovers that it has no customers, no clients, no constituents. So it shows up, it makes an offer and it listens. The early days are exciting. Customers are seen and heard and served. Variations are created…

We want to be respected but no longer think we need to be respectable. -- The Wall Street Journal: September 28, 2023 For years I’ve had a thought whose expression I could never get right, but it applies to our subject this week, so here goes: Since the triumphant end of World…

Peace through our People In a world filled with constant noise and distractions, finding inner peace has become an invaluable pursuit for many. One often overlooked aspect of achieving this peace is the intentional curation of the people we surround ourselves with. Our social circles play a pivotal role in…

The Marathon Mimics Life Fall marathon season is upon us.  The women’s world record was shattered last weekend in Berlin, the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon is this Sunday (I’ll be cheering while drinking a coffee!), Chicago Marathon is a week away (with one of the most impressive elite fields ever…

Traveling on an airplane can be stressful. Even if you aren't afraid of heights or flying, per se, there's still a lot to deal with. One of the worst things is when your flight is delayed. As someone who travels pretty regularly, delays are not my favorite. That's because you usually don't know…

Peace from Acknowledgment “The Power of Giving Credit: Finding Peace Through Acknowledgment" In our fast-paced and often self-centered world, finding inner peace can sometimes feel like an elusive dream. Yet, a simple but profound practice can help us attain that sense of serenity – giving credit to those who have…

These days, more than ever, we are bombarded daily with information about mindset, leadership, emotional intelligence, goal setting, career skills and personal health and mental well-being practices. Day after day, we watch reels and stories, and we read articles, charts, and graphic descriptions of things we can do in order…

Many millions of words have been written on how to be happy, which is both a blessing and a curse. If you're an entrepreneur in the market for tips, there certainly is no shortage of suggestions from everyone from scientists to billionaires to Albert Einstein. But who has time to wade through thousands of articles?…

Finding Peace by Tuning Out: Embracing Digital Discipline In a world dominated by technology, our constant connection to devices has led to a paradox of sorts. While we stay informed and connected like never before, we've also unwittingly invited distractions and a constant sense of urgency into our lives. This…

If we’re honest, we’ve all seen a transformation program fail or go off the rails. Although difficult, now more than ever, our organizations need to successfully transform. That’s because, despite the massive disruption we’ve collectively experienced over the last several years, we’ve not yet reached “peak change.”  Global forces such…

Few figures command the attention and admiration quite like Sir Richard Branson, the founder of the Virgin Group. The billionaire high school dropout is known for his adventurous and risk-taking nature and for taking bold steps to try new things. Branson is also known for being authentic and approachable. He doesn't put on a corporate façade.…

My Wish for You is Peace Through Forgiveness In the journey of life, we often find ourselves carrying the weight of unresolved conflicts and strained relationships. It's a heavy burden to bear, one that keeps us from experiencing the serenity we all yearn for. Today, my wish for you is…

A staggering 85 percent of teams face conflict in the workplace. Nearly 30 percent of those conflicts directly result in reduced productivity. As a Business Growth Coach, I've encountered many entrepreneurs who struggle to initiate difficult conversations in their companies. It usually stems from one of two scenarios: First, there's the guilt-ridden entrepreneur who asks, "How can I…

Whether you are a business professional in a big company, or an entrepreneur with a startup, innovation is a key strategy. Many people believe that new ideas are the critical element of innovation, but in my experience as a mentor and investor, long-term business success is more about implementation than ideas. Everyone has ideas,…

Wish for Peace - Protecting Your Time Let’s explore a crucial aspect of finding tranquility in our busy lives - protecting your time. In this world of constant demands and distractions, we often forget that time is one of our most precious resources. To truly embrace peace, we must learn…

In today's complicated labor market, how do smart CEOs know which candidates to hire, and which to pass by? To find out, we asked this question in our new survey of 1,220 CEOs: "During a job interview, what one question reveals the most about a candidate?" The respondents were CEOs of Inc.…

Peace by reflecting Harvard Business Review did a study that found that a person could increase their productivity by up to 23% if they reflected at the end of the day for just 15 minutes. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t want to increase their productivity. As I asked my…

The most effective strategy in business is getting short shrift in the boardroom, says best-selling author Fred Reichheld, the father of the Net Promoter Score. To truly compete—and build a company with lasting value—directors must refocus attention on the one person that drives everything else: the customer. Here’s how. Quick:…

The four-day workweek is the latest buzzy workplace trend, with experiments and surveys touting improved employee morale, retention and productivity. In one study of 41 businesses across the U.S. and Canada — the majority with 25 or fewer employees — 40% of employees surveyed said they were less stressed after…

Life can be a wild ride, filled with unexpected twists and turns. Often, we find ourselves obsessing over things that are beyond our control. Constantly dwelling on these uncontrollable aspects serves us no good. It's like driving down a never-ending highway, caught in a spiral of worry and anxiety. So, how…

If you want to live a longer, happier life, you're not alone. Life extension is all the rage, especially in Silicon Valley. Ice baths. Supplements. Red light therapy. Ultrasound treatments. Then there are the anti-aging startups; notable names like Amazon's Jeff Bezos, Google co-founder Larry Page, and PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel have invested significant sums. Taking your…

from Harvard Business Review

My Wish For You. My wish for you is PEACE. In the hustle and bustle of life, I've got a wish for you: peace. But not the kind that comes from endlessly wondering why life throws curveballs at us. No, my wish for you is to find peace by seeking…

Warren Buffett, the legendary investor and one of the wealthiest people in the world, has attributed a significant part of his success to a simple yet powerful choice: investing in oneself. Here's what he shared with Good Morning America years back: Investing in yourself is the best thing you can do. Anything that…

Clearly words matter, but if you're a leader, research shows -- especially if you hope to increase performance, build more effective teams, forge better relationships, and gain buy-in -- some words matter more than others. Here we go. "Could" You describe a problem during a meeting. "What should we do?" you ask your team. The first thing…

When the COVID-19 pandemic began, it dramatically changed the way people worked, lived, and shopped in cities around the world. The starkest change was where and how they worked. Obeying lockdowns and office closures, tired of uncomfortable masks, and enabled by remote-work technology, many employees abruptly retreated from traditional offices to…

"Definitely worth it." That's what I thought to myself after a short but crazy family trip. My wife and I run a small business and a large family, including four kids. As you can imagine, traveling can be tricky, as can be finding work-life balance. There's always someone who needs attention--a soccer…

Ever since the pandemic, American companies big and small have been scrambling to find enough workers to stay fully staffed. They've been forced to offer big salaries and generous perks, while employees were free to shop around for better offers or simply walk off the job to join the Great…

My wish for you is peace. And I want you to consider the concept of fostering peace through empowering others. As leaders, we have a unique opportunity to create a harmonious and collaborative environment by empowering those around us to reach their full potential. Peace through empowering others involves recognizing…

A global S&P 500 CEO—and lifelong skydiver—shares the three principles that guide his leadership team in precarious times. For CEOs leading through today’s uncertain and rapidly changing environment, it can sometimes feel like you’re an experienced skydiver – you are reliant on training, experience, and instinct as your guides. As…

Decisiveness is often cited as a desirable trait in leaders. Definitions of decisive include “having the power to decide; conclusive” and “characterized by decision and firmness; resolute.” Yes, a leader must make decisions, but effectiveness depends on when and how the decision is made, not just that it was made. I have observed and interviewed leaders…

My Wish For You. My wish for you is PEACE. Peace beyond circumstance, peace beyond understanding, and peace because you love yourself. What does that look like? One thing that impacts your peace is relationships. Your relationship with yourself and your relationship with others. Having others around you that help…

Warren Buffett, the legendary investor and one of the richest people in the world, is renowned for his financial acumen and profound insights into life and success. One such gem of wisdom from Buffett revolves around the underestimated power of habits. He once said: I think that people underestimate -- until they…

By JAMES CHEN Updated May 16, 2022 Reviewed by GORDON SCOTT   What Is a Pick-and-Shovel Play? A pick-and-shovel play is an investment strategy that invests in the underlying technology needed to produce a good or service instead of in the final output. It is a way to invest in…

My wish for you is Peace through Rest I took a week-long vacation three weeks ago. I really took time off. Before we left, my husband asked me how much I planned to work during our off week. I negotiated one hour a day - just in case. You know,…

What's the smartest way to make a great first impression when you meet a customer, investor, or anyone else? Ask them for advice. It may be counterintuitive, but asking for advice will make you seem smarter. Unfortunately, many of us believe the opposite is true. If we want to impress a new acquaintance…

If the world's most famous creative geniuses had one habit in common, would you try to follow it yourself? Well, it seems many of them did--they got seven to nine hours of sleep every night. That observation is based on a chart created by RJ Andrews, a data visualization expert and founder of the information graphic studio Info…

My wish for you is Peace by living with no regret I have a book I bought last year that asks a question a day for 5 years. Each day a new question is posed and I answer it annually. It is interesting to see after a year has passed…

Remember as a child when you were told, "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all"? Well, that piece of advice is relevant when it comes to managing a team as well. And as anyone who has ever managed a group of people knows, it can be…

My Wednesday Wish is Peace from Playfulness I was just reading a blog that suggested disruption in industries could come from things that look like toys to us. And all of us “buttoned-up” business people could poo-poo something fun because it’s not serious enough. I tend to be one of…

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"I've been avoiding having the ownership conversation with Louis," Ron confided during a coaching session. "I know he'll get upset." Then he paused and took a deep breath, "I need to just do it." In my executive coaching practice, how to have hard conversations comes up again and again. There…

My Wish for You is Peace. My wish for you is peace by finding your truth. Do you know your truth? Are you aware of the lens you use to view the world? How is that lens influencing you? As I have mentioned, I have two dogs. Winnie and Piglet.…

In my ongoing conversations with C-suite leaders, the question about what employers value in their new recruits often leads to a lively exchange. With more talk about what companies need to do to retain talent in a tight labor market, a list of employer expectations might seem like a blast from…

In my work with GiANT Worldwide, I have been taught and believe that you cannot give away what you do not possess. What does that mean? Well in the literal sense, I can’t give you a piece of pie if I don’t have pie to give you. In the theoretical…

My Wednesday Wish is Peace through gathering positive evidence If I tell you to go into the next room and look at the big mess in there, you will probably go looking for the big mess. And even if there are. flowers and nice decorations, you will look past those…

You can read a million articles and books on making better decisions, avoiding bias, and raising your EQ, but they'll do you no good if your emotions regularly swamp your ability to think through problems constructively. A CEO or founder can read about the value of intellectual humility. But if they can't get over their need to prove they're…

My Wish for you is Peace by Creating Margin I was journaling the other night after a 6-week break from writing. I usually get great clarity from the reflection, introspection, and insight I get from the basic act of journaling. I wrote, “I’ve been a little rebellious about journaling even…

Chances are you don’t love your boss. Even if you don’t hate them, you probably don’t understand why they’re the boss, and you’re not. You’re not going to like the answer: It’s because they really are more productive than you. Researchers took a look at the differences in productivity between the big wigs and…

Peace by reflecting Harvard Business Review did a study that found that a person could increase their productivity by up to 23% if they reflected at the end of. the day for just 15 minutes. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t want to increase their productivity. As I asked my…

Are you a manager or are you a leader? As a business coach, this question comes up a lot, and many people use the terms interchangeably. But there is a difference between the two, and there is a time and a place for you to be a manager and to be a leader.…

Meet Janice, the CEO whisperer, the executive coach with the Midas touch. She’s so good at coaching successful business owners to even greater heights that she’s been nationally recognized and even received some awards for her awesomeness. With more than 30 years of experience and degrees in Business Administration, and…

My Wednesday Wish My Wish for you is for Peace by being Present with yourself. How aware are you of your mood? What is your default mood? Are you typically happy and peace- filled? Are you anxious? Are you angry or irritated? Are you stressed? Are you laid-back? If you…

We talk a lot about the importance of emotional intelligence, and how it can help company founders and business executives be better leaders. But how can you tell if you have it or not? To help you figure that out, word usage experts and New York Times bestselling authors Kathryn and Ross Petras have compiled 13…

Conflict happens in the workplace. A lot. We don't see eye-to-eye; we have opposing agendas and often try to get our way at the expense of another person. But here's the reality: These things don't normally occur in workplace communities of care, where people value relationships. Truth is, human beings are inherently designed to…

My Wish for you is for Peace through Forgiveness. There is a saying attributed to Buddha that says, “Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.” I think that is a most telling perspective in that, typically, the person who is harmed most by…

A Six-Month AI Pause? No, Longer Is NeededIt’s crucial that we understand the dangers of this technology before it advances any further. -- The Wall Street Journal: April 6, 2023 Artificial intelligence is unreservedly advanced by the stupid (there’s nothing to fear, you’re being paranoid), the preening (buddy, you don’t know your…

After nearly 20 years of executive coaching, I have seen the best and the worst of people skills in the leaders I've coached. Most of the problems I see with my clients in senior- or middle-management roles come down to three words: lack of communication. Practicing good communication is everything in the workplace. Clear direction…

There is a story of a man who would come home every day and his wife would nag him about the chores he didn’t do, the things he promised to do and hadn’t and she would express how he didn’t meet her expectations. Naturally, he would look for things that…

Warren Buffett once said: "The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything." On its face, it sounds contradictory. But in that one-liner there's a mountain of wisdom that many leaders could benefit from. In the modern workplace, there's no…

My Wednesday Wish is for you to plant a garden It’s not too soon to plant a garden for Spring. Plant three rows of Peas. Peace of heart Peace of mind Peace of soul Plant Four rows of squash Squash Indifference Squash Selfishness Squash Grumbling Squash Gossip Plant Four kinds…

Every workplace has them. Some more than others. Often we work with them, sometimes for them. Idiots can be anywhere and everywhere. They are not restricted to a sector of the work force, parts of society or particular suburbs. To para-phrase child actor Haley Joel Osment from the 1999 movie…

I have a confession to make. As a busy entrepreneur juggling multiple priorities, I am at times completely overwhelmed by the number of choices that I have to make each day. I know I'm not alone. It's estimated that the average adult makes about 35,000 remotely conscious decisions each day. Some of those decisions may lead…

For a lot of business owners, managing a team is one of the hardest but most rewarding parts of the job. If handled properly, you can grow your business and experience a level of growth and freedom that your competition can't. But if done improperly, it can really hurt your business and your…

Today, my wish for you is to find peace in the midst of all the chaos and uncertainty of life. And sometimes, that peace can come from not taking action. As leaders, we're often expected to take charge and be in control at all times. But sometimes, the best thing…

As the head of a company, the CEO carries a great deal of responsibility on their  shoulders. The pressure of managing a business and the constant demand for outstanding results can take a toll on their physical and mental health, leading to burnout. Why are CEO’s prone to burnout? In my…

Silicon Valley Bank's sudden implosion throttled startups, as founders raced to secure their finances before the regulators moved in. Here's the good news: thanks to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's intervention, much of the original concern around accessing funds has been assuaged. Federal banking agencies pledged to backstop all SVB depositors, including both insured…

Wednesday Wish for Peace by Listening to Find Agreement As success-oriented leaders, we often think we have the answer to pretty much anything you throw at us. And if we don’t have the answer, we pretend we do. I often say being positive is being wrong as loudly as possible.…

What happens when you’re faced with a decision that requires a leap of faith? Most of us want to turn and run from these kinds of decisions. Leaps of faith make great scenes in a movie, but in real life they fill us with stress and uncertainty, two emotions that…

Peace through Gratitude I have searched for peace for decades. Peace is the foundation for all the best things I accomplish. During the pandemic I became aware that I was not at peace, and that I could influence whether I was or not. The isolation, the mundane repetition, the lack…

Mistaking one for the other can lead to toxicity in the senior ranks—and create a mess you'll have to clean up later. Here are five traits to look for before promotion. At many companies, leadership development involves identifying top performers and moving them into management positions, with the expectation that…

40 million employees left their jobs after the pandemic, according to the New York Times. Where are they now? Well, according to the same article, the majority of people traded low-paying jobs that made them miserable for better-paying jobs that fulfilled them. The pandemic did not cause the great resignation, but…

On the heels of the pandemic and Great Resignation, companies are now facing an historic crisis of leadership, the likes of which we haven't seen in over a decade. Trust in leadership has eroded substantially, creating hesitancy among up-and-comers to pursue leadership roles. Aiming to quantify the leadership gap and provide insights on…

Harvard study director Robert Waldinger provides the data-backed answer to what makes people live happier and longer lives and shares the choices anyone can make to start feeling more fulfilled right now.   In this edition of Author Talks, McKinsey Global Publishing’s Molly Liebergall chats with Robert Waldinger, director of the Harvard…

Greg Bustin February 1, 2021 “The country needs — and, unless I mistake its temper — the country demands bold, persistent experimentation. It is common sense to take a method and try it: If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something.” —FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT…

Glenn Parker, “Creating a Great Place to Work,” CEOWORLD magazine,” January 20, 2022. The ultimate measure of the man is not where he stands in the moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. — Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Most leaders would prefer to learn new skills or gain…

In our society today, it seems as if every topic immediately polarizes, fragments us and quickly leads to rigidly drawn lines between two opposing sides. Those on our perceived side are right, they’re our allies, the good guys. And those on the other side? They’re just wrong. They are to…

By Brian Beaulieu on February 2, 2023 We endeavor to let people know what the upside and downside risks are in association with every forecast we publish. There are always risks that we must weigh when generating a forecast. In our written and spoken communications we highlight one or more upside risks…

Most of us would like to have more focus and be more productive during the day. Even better, we all seek to be more productive every day without experiencing the effects of burnout or exhaustion. Burnout affects everyone, entry-level employees and C-suite executives alike. No industry is immune. In 2019, the World Health Organization classified burnout as a…

When most people think about being interesting or charismatic, they think about talking or saying interesting things. But you can actually be super charismatic while just listening. Here’s how! Good listening skills are important as they form the foundation of deep and meaningful relationships. When you listen to others well,…

Every day we are faced with having to make decisions for circumstances beyond our control, like being forced to switch flights because of inclement weather to get to your event in Chicago on time. These are things for which we are not directly responsible. But that's life! Here's what you are responsible for, and what you can control: choosing to respond to…

Cybersecurity Concerns and Fun with ChatGPT by Mike Foster | Jan/25/2023 If you’ve not tried Open AI ChatGPT yet, you must. It has changed the world forever and the sooner you try it, the better. You can go to the web address: chat.openai.com/chat. Read the privacy warnings and, if you agree, sign up. When…

What better time than the start of a new year to make some changes to your business planning strategy that will pay dividends in 2023 and beyond? Here are some simple steps that will make a big impact: Look at the Data, Not the Media Data doesn’t have biases. It…

Federal Reserve officials are preparing to slow interest-rate increases for the second straight meeting and debate how much higher to raise them after gaining more confidence inflation will ease further this year. They could begin deliberating at the Jan. 31-Feb. 1 gathering how much more softening in labor demand, spending and inflation they would need to…

What makes you genuinely happy? There could be a wide range of answers ranging from closing a big sale or investment, reaching a mountain summit after an arduous hike, or eating a perfect ice cream cone on a hot summer day. But according to what may be the longest-running scientific study…

I used to think I was a good listener. I could make conversation with just about anyone. But as my emotional intelligence increased, I realized I was making major mistakes in those conversations--mistakes that prevented me from gaining insight into what others were thinking, or that was hurting my relationships in one way or another.…

It’s one of the most famous speeches ever given: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s I Have a Dream speech at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963. It was a catalyst for confronting and changing America’s racial prejudice. But on that day, those famous words…

Last year, I reconnected with an annual practice I learned from Chris Brogan many years ago called My Three Words. Chris describes the practice as a simple idea: Choose three words (not 1, not 4) to help guide your daily choices and actions. Your three words should come from a place of…

December 6, 2022 2022 was not a year for the faint of heart. We welcomed an easing of pandemic restrictions in many parts of the world, but were quickly hit by record inflation, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and repeated reminders that the consequences of climate change aren’t coming, they’re already here. The past year also made clear how…

Your job title isn’t the only thing that determines how influential you are. Every word you use at work expresses your personal brand, from your confidence and authority to your depth of knowledge. And it’s verbs–those action words that should be the engine of a sentence–that most often trip us up. Overusing certain weak verbs…

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employers rate "soft skills" such as communication as essential to success. A recent article in Harvard Business Review indicates that the need for soft skills goes straight to the top. The authors' research showed that C-suite job descriptions that required strength in soft skills increased by almost 30…

Productivity has become a hot topic in recent years. With the shift to remote working, more businesses are looking at ways to make their workforce as productive as possible, even when they’re not in the office. And outside of the workplace, people are looking for ways to manage their ever-busier…

Loneliness is poison. It’s literally killing us. Over the past couple of decades, researchers have repeatedly found a direct link between loneliness and a whole host of physical and psychological problems like heart disease and mental illness.1 Loneliness cripples us physically, unwinds us mentally, and makes it impossible to be spiritually whole. The…

When was the last time you felt excited and sure that you had everything maximized in your life? Most people just get pulled along without ever stopping to decide where they genuinely want to go and how to get there. According to Leigh Ann Orsi, a certified life coach, working with a life…

The higher road to being a good leader is a courageous journey; it's walking the talk of character and integrity, and there are no shortcuts. Good leaders who choose this journey know they can't succeed without learning from others, especially what it means to serve for the good of others. Leaders learn to become leaders by modeling…

How can I increase my emotional intelligence? Over the years, thousands of readers have reached out with that question. They know that emotional intelligence, the ability to understand and manage emotions, is an invaluable quality that can make them better leaders and collaborators, make them more productive, and improve their relationships with…

Confident individuals and teams who feel good about where they work, who they work with, and what they do, are one of many ingredients that supercharge a company culture that drives success. Do you wish your teams felt like they had the autonomy to make more decisions based on their own…

Demanding and Supportive My first Instacart board meeting was in November 2015. I had joined a month earlier as CFO. Our financials were ugly. We had $2M of revenue but were chewing through $11M of cash every four weeks, and lost $15 on every delivery. We were going to exhaust…

My wish for you is Peace through Rest I took a week-long vacation three weeks ago. I really took time off. Before we left, my husband asked me how much I planned to work during the week we were off. I negotiated one hour a day - just in case.…

Deijha Martin, 26 years old, works as a data analyst from her Bronx, N.Y., apartment. On workdays, she’ll chip away at a task until 5:10 p.m. or 5:20 p.m., but never 6 p.m. She loves travel, and earlier this year tapped her company’s unlimited vacation policy to jet to Greece…

Small talk. It's a challenge. It's even harder now, after so many people have scaled back their human interactions during the pandemic. However, we have some good news. Small talk fills an important need, and it turns out that you can learn to make it come more naturally, and even prompt other…

As success-oriented leaders, we often think we have the answer to pretty much anything you throw at us. And if we don’t have the answer, we pretend we do. I often say being positive is being wrong as loudly as possible. “Are you sure?” “I am POSITIVE!” Being “Right” really…

We all thought Derek (not his real name, for reasons that will soon be obvious) had gotten stuck in his ways: too rigid, too conventional, too slow to act on new ideas. We liked him as a person. But as a supervisor? Maybe a little past his sell-by date. Hold that thought. Where success is concerned, luck…

In childhood, we’re told: “Don’t talk to strangers.” But this is short-sighted advice because after we finish high school and move out into the world, everyone we encounter is a stranger. And we’re a social species, which means we need each other. So instead of avoiding strangers, we need to get good…

By Craig Groeschel The lifespan of your current systems, structure, and strategy is diminishing. The way you’re doing what you’re doing won’t work forever—just ask Kodak, Polaroid, Blockbuster, or any of the other companies that were incredibly successful at one point and then lost relevancy. If you're not adapting, you're…

It's time to face a tough truth: we might have emotionally healthier employees in the future, but they may not have a place to be employed. If you are an executive reviewing employees’ movements in the last 18 months, such as the “great resignation,” “quiet quitting,” and #ActYourWage, you are…

BySusanna Vogel November 17, 2022 · 4 min read When Hugh Cassidy received an email from his former employer, healthcare predictive-analytics company LeanTaaS, asking if he or other company alumni knew anyone who might be qualified to run its data science team, he realized he did know a guy: himself. Though he never planned…

Success, in whatever way you choose to define "success," comes down to what you do -- over and over again. But every action starts with a decision. That's why most successful people have a process for making decisions. Oprah Winfrey decides which bridges to cross and which to burn. Jeff Bezos spends little time weighing the pros and cons of easily…

This week as I was thinking about Thanksgiving approaching, (and was dealing with some head trash about the family get togethers and a few other things that were starting to hijack me), I decided to focus on gratitude. And while all week long we have seen something about gratitude, and…

BY JESSICA STILLMAN, CONTRIBUTOR, INC.COM@ENTRYLEVELREBEL At first glance, you might think there isn't much overlap between the skills you need to be a great actor and the skills you need to be a great business owner. But Reese Witherspoon disagrees. Sure, you can make millions in business without being able to cry on…

A walk down the aisle can be a route to greater wealth and prosperity for couples in the U.S. Married people have higher net worths and are more likely to be homeowners than their unmarried counterparts their age are. The mystery, though, is why cohabitating but unmarried couples struggle to build wealth…

May 5, 2022 / David Burkus PhD Just because you don’t have a title, that doesn’t mean you’re not a leader. But if you want to someday gain that title and a position of team leader or manager, then there’s a dilemma you’ll have to reconcile. You’ll have to be able to…

Wright Brothers' Lessons in Lean Oct. 21, 2016 The Lean approach is all about delivering a great product without wasting or underusing time and resources and the Wright Brothers are a great example. NED Staff The Lean approach is all about delivering a great product without wasting or underusing time…

Who could be more different than Elon Musk and “Weird Al” Yankovic? Yet both are in the news, Yankovic because of his new parody biopic and Musk because of Twitter. If you’re looking for leadership advice, you’re more likely to turn to Musk. Many people have written articles praising Musk's “transformational leadership.” SUZANNE…

When Ali Kahlert was diagnosed with a kidney infection last month, she gratefully accepted an IV at urgent care and dutifully swallowed antibiotics as prescribed. It was the last bit of the doctor’s orders that threw her for a loop: rest. “I was starting to climb the walls. I need…

Bill Gates schedules every five minutes of his day. That makes the Microsoft founder turned philanthropist immune from procrastination, right? It certainly makes him busy. But according to science, it's perfectly possible to frantically complete tasks all day and still procrastinate. Researchers call this phenomenon "priority dilution," and it's an issue most of…

When looking to hire the best talent, how can you find people who can help you truly transform your business? Of course, you'll be on the lookout for dedicated hard workers with proven track records, but who will take your team to the next level? Mauro Porcini, chief design officer at PepsiCo, advocates…

Michael Abrashoff was in his mid-thirties when he took command of the USS Benfold, a guided missile destroyer and one of the worst-performing ships in the navy. Despite her potency, the “dysfunctional ship had a sullen crew that resented being there and could not wait to get out of the Navy.” By…

As a leader, when you have a lot on your plate – whether it’s work or family responsibilities– it can feel like things are spiraling out of control.  In my own life, one of the most challenging periods was when I was caring for a deathly ill family member. What…

BY MARCEL SCHWANTES, INC. CONTRIBUTING EDITOR AND FOUNDER, LEADERSHIP FROM THE CORE@MARCELSCHWANTES  At 92, billionaire investor Warren Buffett is still going strong. His sound investing advice is certainly full of wisdom; his practical life and career tips provide even more value. Warren Buffett understands that there are limiting behaviors and bad habits that hold us…

Most people have lived through difficult economic times of some sort. And everyone has at some point learned about the most significant economic downturn in modern US history – the Great Depression of the 1930s. In keeping with our unique business cycle theory, ITR Economics is forecasting that another Great…

BY BILL MURPHY JR., WWW.BILLMURPHYJR.COM @BILLMURPHYJR Recently, I wrote two articles about emotional intelligence here on Inc.com (this article and this one) that got a lot of attention. I heard from business leaders afterward, from students, and even from a youth minister who had printed one of the articles and shared it with teenagers in…

BY JEFF HADEN, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, INC.@JEFF_HADEN Routines are handy, but rules -- deciding what you will or will not do in certain situations, without fail -- are much more powerful. That's why effective leaders follow the On the Dot Rule for meetings; research shows meetings that start even a minute late are…

Fear gets a bad rap. It’s a so-called negative emotion, one that supposedly stands between us and our dreams. It is certainly true that pure fear doesn’t feel good, but that is the whole point of the emotion. Fear tells us to get the hell out of Dodge because Dodge…

Innovation, indeed, thrives in recession: In July, government data confirmed that the American economy shrank for the second quarter in a row. Although this didn’t technically confirm a recession, it has raised worries within the business community. A looming recession may stoke anxiety, but business leaders and entrepreneurs should welcome the…

Poor communication from leaders can disrupt a team's cohesion and performance. Leaders need to take care when communicating with their team to ensure that everyone is on the same page. By Chuck H. Shelton October 11, 2022 Leadership communication can make or break your company. Poorly delivered messages can lead to confusion, disorganization and a…

Are great leaders born or made? In our experience, working with leaders who range from start-up entrepreneurs to CEOs of multi-billion-dollar companies, the answer is: both. We’re all born with a unique set of characteristics that influence our potential as leaders. But CEOs who take self-reflection and accountability seriously also…

“We have always considered Patagonia an experiment in doing business in unconventional ways.” These are the words of Yvon Chouinard – the founder of multi-billion-dollar outdoor apparel company Patagonia. He has often done things differently and even said, “I never wanted to be a businessman.” Recently, you might have read…

As a CEO, you wear many hats. This is especially true if you’re running a startup or emerging company. Although juggling multiple priorities at once can make sense early on, it’s not a sustainable practice. When you try to fill every role in an effort to grow your business, you…

Remember the warnings we issued in late 2020 and throughout 2021 regarding the “positive problems” that tend to accompany business cycle rise – especially steep business cycle rise, such as the rebound that followed the COVID shutdowns?   Well, the positive problems are still with us, and they are still…

By Aaron De Smet, Bonnie Dowling, Bryan Hancock, and Bill Schaninger The Great Attrition is making hiring harder. Are you searching the right talent pools? People keep quitting at record levels, yet companies are still trying to attract and retain them the same old ways. New research identifies five types of workers that employers…

Five Keys to Keeping Your People Swag and other treats are fun, but your employees really need a road map of how they're going to thrive within your organization. BY HOWARD TULLMAN, GENERAL MANAGING PARTNER, G2T3V AND CHICAGO HIGH TECH INVESTORS@TULLMAN If you think that the post-pandemic staffing battle will be…

The women on Inc.'s 2022 Female Founders 100 are full of wisdom on how to, in all things, be bold. Here, a few of our honorees share how that boldness translates to great leadership. 1. Don't forget the power of the human touch. Having earned a PhD in English at the University of…

Many business leaders are asking when the workplace will get back to normal. If by normal, they mean “2019,” the short answer is “never.” And that might be a good thing. Blame, or credit, Covid-19. The pandemic accelerated three workplace trends that were already under way: the search for meaning, the desire…

Self-motivated, self-starting individuals are incredibly motivated to find their weaknesses. It’s not far-fetched to say that some of us actually seek to make ourselves perfect — rational, calculating beings making the right type of decisions at just the right times. But we’ve learned from Star Trek; we don’t look to…

By Martin Zwilling June 15, 2016 Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Every entrepreneur I know starts out with a strong conviction that their solution is a perfect match for their target market, and yet almost every one later admits a need to "pivot" before finding their groove. Course corrections, or pivots, are normal…

By Catherine Pearson Published Sept. 27, 2022Updated Sept. 28, 2022 On a recent weekday morning, during the rush to get out the door, my husband, Ben, started telling me about a podcast he’d just heard on the health impacts of air pollution — seemingly oblivious to the shrieks of our 4-year-old, who couldn’t…

After being battered for two and a half years with abysmal health news, many small businesses are likely in for yet another gut punch. Inflation's next target seems to be premiums: insurers in the Affordable Care Act marketplace are proposing to raise health premiums at higher mark-ups compared with years past, analysis from the Kaiser…

Henry Ford once said, “If I’d ask customers what they wanted, they would’ve told me a faster horse.” Most people in the early 20th century would not have been able to envision a motorized vehicle replacing horse-drawn buggies. But they definitely knew they wanted to get from their homes to…

“I thought you retired,” I say teasingly to an old friend. He turns swiftly and in a somewhat irate tone, responds, “I am retired!” The 66-year old ‘retired’ engineer goes on, “I simply do what I want, when I want.” Pausing, he says, “And, for now, I want to work…

Queen Elizabeth’s Old-School VirtuesBritain’s longest-reigning monarch always accepted her responsibilities with grace and humility. -- The Wall Street Journal: September 15, 2022 “For the British people, Victoria was more than an individual, more even than the queen,” Robert K. Massie wrote in “Dreadnought: Britain, Germany, and the Coming of the Great War.”…

Elon Musk is full of hot takes, and I can't say I agree with all of them. But I have to give credit where credit is due -- the guy's got some pretty solid thoughts when it comes to meetings. You may have heard Musk saying that meetings "are what happens…

‘Virtual Lunch & Learn’ ‘How Self Awareness Can Improve Your Peace, Energy & Reality’ Janice Honeycutt Hering Firecracker Leadership Being aware of how others experience us and understanding how they want to be treated is key in reducing conflict and drama in families, businesses, and our communities. With access to…

If you haven't yet built an effective diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategy at your company, now is the time. There's no shortage of reasons to do so: It can help create a culture of support and appreciation, foster a friendly workspace free from microaggression, and increase overall employee satisfaction, among others.…

I regularly speak to CEOs, executive leaders, and employee work teams. Every one of them is talking about growth in one form or another. Personal Growth. Organizational Growth. Growth through meeting tough challenges. Financial Growth. Growing pains. You name it. It’s among the most common themes among group and team…

When employees feel comfortable asking for help, sharing suggestions informally, or challenging the status quo without fear of negative social consequences, organizations are more likely to innovate quickly, unlock the benefits of diversity, and adapt well to change—all capabilities that have only grown in importance during the COVID-19 crisis.1 Yet a McKinsey Global Survey conducted…

Over the past decade, “purpose” has become a management watchword. Since 2010 it has appeared in the titles of more than 400 new business and leadership books and thousands of articles. And no wonder: Many people—not just Millennials—want to work for organizations whose missions and business philosophies resonate with them intellectually and…

Most people have lived through difficult economic times of some sort. And everyone has at some point learned about the most significant economic downturn in modern US history – the Great Depression of the 1930s. In keeping with our unique business cycle theory, ITR Economics is forecasting that another Great…

The US economy is on track to grow in the third quarter of the year. However, the growth is uneven. The industries and companies that excelled because of the stimulus and/or social restrictions stemming from COVID are doing poorly at present as demand wanes and inventories catch up with or…

In 2021, when Paige West was a 23-year-old transportation analyst at her first job out of college, she realized she had chosen the wrong major and career. “It was pretty high-stress, high output, a lot of deadlines,” West said. “There were people who were super passionate about that aspect, but…

Every year, Inc. enlists the CEOs of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. to complete an in-depth survey. The goal? To find out who they are, how they got started, what made them successful--and what's on their minds. And every year, the responses are both rich and revealing. Read on for…

Mention the word “retirement” to a corporate executive in their 60s, and you’ll see one of two reactions: excitement about the future, or complete denial and dread. In the latter category, much of the anxiety stems from conflicting visions of modern retirement. For many Baby Boomers at the culmination of…

We're all human and wired with the same tendency to evaluate ourselves relative to others. But, comparative thoughts aren't useful. In fact, they keep us stuck exactly where we are. Everyone grapples with the same doubts and fears, and even with this knowledge, it's hard to escape those ingrained thought patterns. Here are a few common comparisons and how…

Coaching within the workplace, is simply a process of delegating thinking to others. Many leaders put off coaching or think they are coaching when, in fact, there is a lot of “telling” going on. My question to them is: “If not now, when?” Working a hybrid environment, connection can be…

It has become a habit of mine to kick off my presentations by inviting people to write down a question. I ask people to follow two rules: the question must be relevant to the context—typically, leaders meeting in or across organizations to discuss leadership—and it must be important to the…

I’ve been ghosted more times than I can count. There was that time a senior leader enthusiastically offered to introduce me to the chief marketing officer of one of the largest tech firms. That never happened. There was that time I went through eight rounds of interviews with a large…

Keeping shelves stocked has been anything but a straightforward task for retail businesses over the past two years. Ongoing supply chain snags and changing customer preference due to the pandemic have forced many businesses to completely rethink the way they stock their shelves to accommodate supply shortages, shifting demand, and ongoing inflation --here are the strategies that…

Sadhguru is an Indian yoga guru who has been teaching yoga in southern India since 1982. Seeing life and happiness through his eyes and state of mind is worth seeing. So, let’s go through some advice from Sadhguru about how to be happy. Recognize that being joyful is a fundamental…

By Lindsey Galloway Published August 1, 2022 After a steady period of growth, the economy has shown initial signs of sputtering. Companies have started laying off employees, consumer sentiment has reached new lows, and the stock market has officially entered a bear market. These indicators have led many to wonder and…

Research shows that the pandemic took a toll on our overall well-being and left many of us drained. Here are seven simple steps to get you thriving again. With vaccination rates on the rise, hope is in the air. But after a year of trauma, isolation and grief, how long…

We’re in the midst of breath-catching revolutions in how America lives and works. Working from home, as an issue, is still shaking itself out, but its implications are huge. If an entire class of people who used to go to the office stay home, it will upend the commuter model…

Almost everyone is thinking about the future of work and the new tools businesses will use. But less thought is given to the tools and strategies they'll stop using. Adam Grant hopes the concept of "best practices" will be on the list. The term used to describe a preferred method of performing a given task…

Dear Ascend, I am a 25-year-old woman just starting out in veterinary marketing. During my first three years in the workforce, I worked as a certified technician in veterinary medicine, but recently, I decided I wanted more out of my career. While working, I went back to school to complete…

Workplace well-being is having its moment. I think that’s safe to say, even though, yes, I’m saying it as a Chief Well-Being Officer. Never before have we had the opportunity we now have to redefine work around well-being. Never before have both employees and leaders been more in alignment on…

Alpha women portray a strength of mind and independence in every sense of the word. Accustomed to taking charge, they can intimidate some people. Alpha women are confident and ambitious and unafraid to tell people what is what. That kind of power can be off-putting for some partners who are…

Davon Cannon never thought he would spend $5,000 on a four-day summer vacation. But there he was, buying Universal Studios tickets for his three sons, reserving a room at one of the theme park’s resorts. On Saturday, they drove down to Florida. “We’ve never spent that much money,” says Mr. Cannon,…

Ask your employees to describe their day in just an emoji, and you might receive some enlightening information. In light of labor shortages and the Great Resignation, more companies have been adopting employee engagement software to regularly take the temperature of the workplace--and some employee retainment experts consider them a new essential. There is…

"If, as it is said to be not unlikely in the near future—the principle of sight is applied to the telephone as well as that of sound, earth will be in truth a paradise, and distance will lose its enchantment by being abolished altogether,” the British author Arthur Mee wrote in 1898. So,…

Not everyone prioritizes their mental fitness. But Prince Harry believes that they should: "We all have greatness within us," the royal says in a video for the wellness startup BetterUp released this week. "Mental fitness helps us unlock it." In the video, the Duke of Sussex sat down with organizational psychologist Adam…

We all experience feelings that are difficult to handle. But between our emotion-phobic society and the debilitating uncertainty of modern times, we usually don’t know how to talk about them, much less handle them. Well, that’s where the online community of Liz Fosslien and Mollie West Duffy — the duo…

In their recent McKinsey Quarterly cover story “‘Great Attrition’ or ‘Great Attraction’? The choice is yours,” authors Aaron De Smet, Bonnie Dowling, Marino Mugayar-Baldocchi, and Bill Schaninger made the point that many employers don’t really know why their employees are leaving in droves. After reading the story, Adria Horn, executive vice president…

Does your business always seem to be trying to catch up with new competitors and changes in the marketplace? One of the things I learned from my years in Silicon Valley is that you must always focus on three steps ahead, as well as on what exists today. For most businesses, that means a…

Years ago in an interview I was asked what I read regularly. I thought my list was weak so I added some things to it. I’m pretty well rounded in the business and leadership periodical space. More recently I decided I needed to get an understanding of both sides of…

Right now is a difficult time for many Americans. The pandemic, inflation, and the war in Ukraine are chipping away at Americans' mental health. The number of people reporting high stress has risen to "alarming levels," according to recent polls conducted for the American Psychological Association. People are recognizing the importance of…

Whenever a company experiences a moment of major public backlash, Luvvie Ajayi Jones always asks the same question: "Who was in that meeting who did not say something?" The founder and CEO of Chicago-based content strategy company Awe Luv Media, Ajayi Jones says that whether it's a marketing campaign that missed that mark or a failed product launch,…

Walter Orthmann has worked for the same textile manufacturer in Brazil for more than 84 years, setting the Guinness World Record last month for longest career at a single company. It’s a remarkable stretch, considering American workers now spend a median of 4.1 years with their employers, according to federal data collected just…

Truth be told, headlines are a poor planning tool for anything. Even the major news organizations don’t get it right, certainly not all the time. They quote famous names, sell their product, and all too often emotions are formed, impressions develop, and decisions are made. What follows is a concise…

Many of us tend to think of personality traits as either good or bad. Being anxious, for instance, is somewhere between unpleasant and debilitating. Extroversion generally helps people enjoy life and get ahead. But studies suggest things aren't nearly that simple. Almost every "good" trait also has drawbacks, and every "negative" one confers benefits.…

The Federal Reserve raised the federal funds target rate by 75 basis points on June 15. The stock market seemed to be pleased at the attempt to quell inflation. That didn’t last long, with the S&P 500 dropping 3.7% the very next day. Recession fears are amped up; one point…

Bill Gates just released his summer book recommendations, and he wants you to know that even though they cover some pretty weighty subjects, such as gender inequality, the future effects of climate change, and how basically everything in the world works, they're also fun to read. None of these books feels heavy,…

This is either a glass-half-full or glass-half-empty moment as you look at the chart below. How you perceive the trends on the chart likely says a lot about your expectations. You could focus on the upper (thicker) line and see that Personal Income (real means adjusted for inflation) surged during…

"What can you make with goat milk?" That's what Josh ­Kilmer-Purcell, 52, and Brent Ridge, 48, Googled after their neighbor--a struggling farmer in Sharon Springs, New York--asked them to take in his herd of 88 goats after the 2008 stock market crash. The results of that query led the couple…

Call it the Great Resignation, Great Reshuffle, Great Realization, or any of the other names that have been coined, the message is the same: Employees have been leaving their jobs in record rates. Attracting and retaining the talent needed for businesses to run is the No. 1 internal issue for…

High-quality listening is an underrated ability. How well and frequently you listen to others is a better predictor of your leadership potential than your actual intelligence or personality. As a recent review shows, good listeners tend to perform better at work, and to report higher level of wellbeing, as well as more meaningful and fulfilling…

If you’ve ever wondered whether changing your mind is the best decision, then you should be reassured that your chances of success are better if you do, according to University of Queensland research. Whether or not changes of mind are behaviorally beneficial has been the focus of a special review by cognitive…

When Sanjay Gupta was a child, his family experienced a traumatic event: Gupta's father was mugged. A horrible experience, for sure. But years later, when Gupta related the story to a teacher, the teacher related a lesson that Gupta hadn't previously considered: Bad guys may be able to steal your possessions.…

Millions of Americans are quitting their jobs and rethinking what they want when it comes to work and work-life balance. Companies are responding, meeting their employees’ needs in areas such as remote work, flexible hours, four-day workweeks, compensation and more. This story is part of a series looking at the…

In the early 2010s, I wrote a self-help book that catapulted me into a strange universe. I went from working an office job in the suburbs to walking onto TV show sets where I was often introduced as “Captain Awesome” or “The Happy Guy!” I was thrust into becoming a spokesperson for…

Plant a garden this Spring It’s not too soon to plant a garden for Spring. Plant three rows of Peas. Peace of heart Peace of mind Peace of soul Plant Four rows of squash Squash Indifference Squash Selfishness Squash Grumbling Squash Gossip Plant Four kinds of lettuce Let us be…

It's official: Post-pandemic America is incredibly burned out. "According to Google Trends, which since 2004 has collected data on what the world is searching for, queries for 'burnout' --from work, life, and school--are at an all-time high in the US," Quartz recently reported. Which means there are a whole lot of…

When Ranjay Gulati, professor of business administration at Harvard Business School, began working on his latest book, he initially planned to call it Purpose. But he quickly realized he needed a new working title: During his research and writing process, he found that many companies like to talk about purpose but few back it up…

The traits of successful entrepreneurs haven’t changed much in the digital age: You need more builders than branders, and it’s key to have a technologist as part of — or near — the founding team. As a professor, I study businesses, and as an entrepreneur, I’ve launched several. So, I’ve…

Taylor Swift has earned a lot of accolades. She has a dozen Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy, and a few hundred awards I'd never even heard of. She also managed to record and release two full-length albums in the second half of 2020. You remember 2020, right? You know, the year when finding a store with…

No, you aren’t imagining it: workers are leaving your company faster than you can replace them. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 4.3 million people voluntarily quit their jobs in December 2021, slightly below a record high in November 2021.   Their departures have left a…

This is either a glass-half-full or glass-half-empty moment as you look at the chart below. How you perceive the trends on the chart likely says a lot about your expectations. You could focus on the upper (thicker) line and see that Personal Income (real means adjusted for inflation) surged during…

The ability to effectively lead others is a key to success in growing a business. But in the transactional business world gone virtual, we spend the majority of our time treating one another as strangers. Taking into account all the digital exchanges we have in the course of a workday, what can we as leaders do…

Launching a new business is risky -- learn from other's mistakes and set yourself up for success. By Anne McAuley Lopez March 31, 2022 What’s the true failure rate of small businesses? Well, it depends on who you ask and whether it includes pandemic closures or not. Or, if there were economic…

"Highlight your competitive advantages so you do not have to compete on price alone." This is a Management Objective™ we frequently give to our clients, and, in today's environment of rising costs and slowing macroeconomic growth, businesses are instinctively practicing it.   The automotive industry is an obvious case. Have auto sellers…

For companies and organizations, there is a surprising silver lining to the dark cloud of inflation which jumped 7.9% over the past year—the highest spike since 1982. The Dark Cloud New Inflation Forecasts First the bad news: According to a report last Friday by Bloomberg, “Economists have boosted their U.S. inflation forecasts—again—and downgraded…

The way I see it, there are four stages of growth that serve as a roadmap to guide how your focus, priorities, and key decisions change as your company grows. The first stage, the startup stage, is normally formed by one to five employees. Then you have a grow-up stage, with six to 15 employees. When the…

By Courtney Connley Published May 1, 2022 Every year, company leaders spend millions of dollars on unconscious bias (UB) training in hopes of fostering a more diverse and inclusive work culture. But, studies show that UB training does not always change biased behavior. In fact, it can sometimes make the prevalence of…

About a decade ago, I decided to join a friend’s retreat. It was a planned weekend for people to take time out. At that time in my life, I needed to get to know new people and expand my circle of friends, so I decided to go. I left without…

Imagine the following scenario. You go in to see your doctor for your annual physical. You get blood work done. She calls you the following week: "Your lab numbers are way below where they should be. I'm concerned about your health ... " Click. She hangs up. That's it. No…

  Research shows that employees who work for compassionate managers are 25% more engaged in their jobs, 20% more committed to the organization, and 11% less likely to burn out. But too many organizations seem not to have gotten the memo yet. They still have rigid hierarchies and treat their employees…

Working from home was a must during the pandemic, and it’s now a choice that many people are making as part of their new work normal. The challenge with having a hybrid and distributed workforce is that the cues that help create cultural norms are diluted, patchy, or even missing…

Before the pandemic, the World Health Organization identified burnout—defined as workplace stress left unmanaged—as an occupational phenomena. In fact, WHO attributed more than 745,000 deaths to overwork. It’s hard to say “no” to work requests because we are pro-social creatures, says Deborah Grayson Riegel, coauthor of Go to Help: 31 Strategies to…

In March, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the Producer Price Index rose a staggering 11%. Inflation is an inconvenient truth--it rebalances supply and demand. As a result of globalization and a vibrant economy, we have had the luxury of over-indulgence and unlimited, unfettered access to products from around the world. This version of inflation…

Learning how to manage money was a required field of study in my childhood home. The first day of the month, my dad would sit at the dining room table to balance his checkbook and pay the household bills. My four siblings and I knew what would happen if we walked by…

After running three companies—and now leading four separate Vistage groups for a decade—Ed Burke admits it took him a while to figure out what his most powerful tool is. “My real value is asking questions.” For those of you who do not know, Vistage is the world’s largest CEO coaching…

Hello. I'm Brian Beaulieu, CEO and Chief Economist for ITR Economics. Thank you for joining us for this edition of TrendsTalk. Short and sweet, to the point. In the media, there's a lot of doom and gloom, negative talk, recession this, recession probability that. I got to tell you, we…

The fourth industrial revolution is here. Advances in big data, artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and high-performance computing are changing the way organizations compete and evolve. In this new age, winners and losers will be decided based on how quickly they can see trends and disrupt industries.…

Contributor: Wharton management professor Peter Cappelli is director of Wharton’s Center for Human Resources and author of The Future of the Office: Work from Home, Remote Work, and the Hard Choices We all Face (Wharton School Press, 2021). The Goal Whether you are fully remote or in a hybrid work environment, avoid the “Zoom ceiling”…

Researchers and leaders have looked for the secret to successful leadership for centuries. Dozens of new books each year promise to deliver the answer. We decided to examine this question empirically, and when we did, we found that the greatest predictor of success for leaders is not their charisma, influence,…

No, you aren’t imagining it: workers are leaving your company faster than you can replace them. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 4.3 million people voluntarily quit their jobs in December 2021, slightly below a record high in November 2021. Their departures have left a huge hole…

In my experience, the right team culture is critical to every business's success, so every business leader wants to know how to create it. In reality, I'm convinced that none of us can create culture directly, but instead, we can create an environment where the desired culture emerges. You do this by driving values and…

When a reporter asked Bill Gates how would he define what he does for a living, he said simply, “I am a scientist.” “I devote maybe ten percent [of my time] to business thinking. Business isn’t that complicated. I wouldn’t want to put it on my business card. I’m a…

You have the power to get through the hard times with a booster shot of positive self-talk. Self-talk is exactly what it sounds like: It's how we talk to ourselves, our internal dialogue. When our self-talk is encouraging, we function like athletes coaching ourselves to the finish line. That internal…

I'm sure you will agree that not all business leaders are created equal, starting from the CEO on down. But I have found the more challenging question to be what distinguishes the best leaders from all the rest, especially before they have been selected and tested in a new role. My own conclusion, after…

If you can do a few of these things, you will retain your talent and possibly recruit more. By Dr. Jerry Bailey March 15, 2022 Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Over the last two years, health and wellness have seen significant shifts and changes which have directly affected almost every single…

Making sure that a new employee fits into the culture of an organization is just as important as ensuring they have the knowledge and skills required to perform well. Sometimes, even if a company strives to hire for fit, a new employee may not assimilate into the culture as quickly…

The pandemic has triggered myriad societal and workplace shifts, from hybrid work styles to a rise in remote collaboration technologies. Perhaps even more notable is a transformation in workers’ mentalities and mindsets. Many are reassessing their career goals, and some are quitting workplaces that no longer serve their needs. It’s…

We are collaborating too much. That’s what Rob Cross has realized after studying high (and low) performers at effective organizations for more than 20 years. “We’re too eager to jump into, or be dragged into, active collaborations that might run better without us and that burn up our valuable time…

For the past couple years, companies have scrambled to understand why they were losing so many employees. Could the pandemic have chased millions out of the corporate ranks and into consulting or freelancing gigs? Did some people simply retire early or live off government stimulus money? It looks as if…

“I’ve never had such a hard time hanging on to good talent.” That’s what a business leader bemoaned to me recently, and I’ve heard similar sentiments almost every day for the past two years. We’re in the midst of one of the most tumultuous times on record for hiring and…

The below transcript is a literal translation of the podcast audio that has been machine generated by Rev. Hi, everyone. I'm Alan Beaulieu from ITR Economics, and I'd like to talk to you about some things that are in the news. There's certainly no lack of things in the news, and…

It’s unclear just where the metaphor got started. Most likely, some well-meaning executive somewhere described their company culture as feeling “like a family.” Over time, more and more corporate leaders started using the phrase “like family” — until one decided to take it to the next level and skip the “like”…

After many years working as a TV producer and network executive, I turned my hobby (flying small airplanes) into a second career as a flight instructor. While you might not be excited by the prospect of getting behind the controls of an aircraft, every day that I teach new pilots…

As a business owner, your plate is already really full. Your to-do list is several pages long, and your calendar is full of meetings and phone calls. Throw in a few fire drills throughout the day, and it's a wonder that you get anything accomplished. It's no surprise, when I bring up productivity…

How to Identify and Tell Your Most Powerful Stories by  Nancy DuarteWhen I ask executives what their favorite speech is, Steve Jobs’s Stanford commencement address is always at the top of the list. Many think of Jobs’s talk as their favorite because it is incredibly moving — thanks to the stories it contains.Execs love…

First, The Great Resignation. Now, The Great Adaptation Gustavo Grodnitzky February 9, 2022 The Great Adaptation has begun. It is a direct result of The Great Resignation. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, 68.9 million employees were separated from their jobs in 2021. Of those separations, 47.4 million, or…

The many changes created by the pandemic, including the Great Resignation, have made clear that culture in the workplace matters. Through my work at Heidrick & Struggles, I have guided all manner of organizations through the process of accelerating business performance by creating strong workplace cultures. In Future Focused: Shape Your Culture. Shape Your…

Wharton management professor Lindsey Cameron was so committed to her research on gig workers that she became one, driving part-time for Uber for three years as she studied how people in the sharing economy give meaning to their work. Her time spent as both a driver and a passenger helped Cameron forge…

The “Great Resignation” is a signal that the balance of power is shifting toward employees, and the pendulum won’t be swinging back any time soon. Americans are increasingly prioritizing personal happiness and the search for purposeful work over jobs that simply pay the bills. As a result, employers like you…

WARNING: Ted Lasso season 2 spoilers ahead. Reader beware. “You can tell a lot about someone by what they do with their pain…do they transform it, or do they transmit it.”- Richard Rohr Yesterday I was a guest on an upcoming episode of the Ted Lasso Richmond Till We Die podcast. (Do check them out…

The One Skill That Will Set You Apart In The Future Leadership requires skills we’ve been learning since we are in school. We know in order to lead successfully we must be resilient, adaptable, have great communication skills, and be an innovator, among other common skills we’re taught growing up.…

Although organizations have been obsessing over the “war for talent” for two decades, it is surprising how often they will end up losing valuable employees for avoidable reasons, such as not knowing they are disengaged and open to other opportunities. A familiar outcome of this cycle has employers trying to match or…

GIVING FEEDBACK THAT WORKS: PLANT THE SEEDS OF CONFIDENCE Nano Tools for Leaders® are fast, effective leadership tools that you can learn and start using in less than 15 minutes—with the potential to significantly impact your success as a leader and the engagement and productivity of the people you lead.…

Your top talent has more opportunities to go elsewhere than ever before -- here's how to stay ahead of the curve. By Brandy Mabra January 21, 2022 The CEO of a business sets the tone regardless of the size or stage of the business. But many CEOs struggle with handling their everyday…

Another way to think of the Great Resignation is as the “Great Disconnection.” In the wake of the pandemic and the vast shift to flexible work from anywhere policies, 65% of workers say they feel less connected to their coworkers. Employee disconnection is one of the main drivers of voluntary turnover, with…

Everyone knows Walt Disney. Almost everyone has been to a Disney park somewhere, seen a Disney movie (live action or a cartoon) or knows some Disney character. Some people even go on Disney cruises. Disney the man. I think in some ways people know more about Disney, fewer people about…

Everywhere you look, the specter of the Great Resignation looms large. Executives, navigating a business climate of profound transformation, are watching some of their most trusted employees abandon ship. Mostly, they’re keenly aware of the problem, of the record number of quits, and the long list of grievances cited by exiting workers: burnout,…

We are at the dawn of a new reality driven by personal and professional change. The pandemic has overhauled nearly every aspect of life, from how people make payments to how doctor's visits are conducted, where people choose to live, and how workplaces operate. It's not a new normal--it's an entirely new reality in…

Do you seek to have a more positive impact on your team, to build better relationships or to simply understand how you got stuck and what to do about it? Executive and professional development coaching is the support you need. Organizations often employ coaches to develop high potential talent or…

It’s been just over one year since I helped to produce a globally televised KISS concert in Dubai on New Year’s Eve 2020. We brought people from all over the world to collaborate with people from the local community to create a diverse and unforgettable experience that won awards for…

Uncertainty has many leaders feeling paralyzed. Return-to-office plans have been written, rewritten, delayed, shelved, and in some cases shredded. Work-from-home requirements from employers have turned into work-from-home expectations from employees. Businesses can't find workers to meet pent-up demand. And the unprecedented willingness of workers to simply quit is keeping leaders awake at night. Then…

For many, meaningful work feels like a pipe dream. Over 80% of college-educated Americans aspire to have such work, according to a recent study by Bates College and Gallup, yet less than 50% actually attain it. There are many reasons for this so-called “purpose gap,” but I’d argue that one of the…

Strike up a conversation about work values, and it won’t be long before someone brings up a pyramid — a famous psychologist’s best-known theory. Abraham Maslow’s big idea was that we all have a hierarchy of needs: once our basic physiological and safety needs are fulfilled, we seek love and belongingness,…

Diversity and inclusion is not only important due to the current racial unrest in America, but also due to the evidence showing exponential return on the investment. From a millennial workforce to diverse backgrounds, corporations are feeling the pressure to compete for business as well as top talent. A former…

Many studies have documented the harm the pandemic is doing to individuals, families and organizations and economies. If you are a leader responsible for the health and well-being of your organization or its people, what should you be doing NOW as we enter the third year of this pandemic? What…

There is ample discussion about the best styles of authority and how to emulate them, but far less about the more nuanced attributes of excellent leadership… until now. By John Peitzman January 2, 2022 Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Depending on what books or articles you read, there are more than…

“So the length of life means that you must love yourself. And you know what loving yourself also means? It means that you’ve got to accept yourself.”- Martin Luther King, Jr.

Over the past year and a half, we’ve lived through a pandemic, a social justice awakening, and the devastating impacts of the climate crisis. The Great Resignation is on the rise and many workplaces are now adapting to a hybrid model. At home, families continue to juggle job and caregiving responsibilities. In…

Executives: Five Key Cybersecurity Steps to Protect Your Organization, and the Vital Timing by Mike Foster | Jan/7/2022 As an executive that leads, and depends on, your IT Professionals or outsourced IT provider, be sure to know these five essential steps that have a massive impact on your cybersecurity protection and how frequently…

Leadership books for women or by women are now firm fixtures on bestsellers lists, and with good reason. Every business leader appreciates gleaning lessons from others’ hard-won successes. When those lessons are told from the perspective of women who have balanced career, family, wage disparities and inherent bias to rise…

As a business coach for over 25 years, I can attest to the power of strategic planning. I have seen business owners come in who were barely making ends meet and struggling to take their businesses to the next level, start to scale and grow at lightning speed once they learned how to properly plan…

Hello, I'm Brian Beaulieu, CEO and Chief Economist of ITR Economics. Coming to you today because I want to give you a brief update on our inflation outlook. Inflation pretty much ran the course as we expected it would in 2021, although it finished the year a little bit stronger.…

As an executive coach, I do a lot of listening to managers worried about losing good employees. People-oriented managers understand what they need to do to get the best out of people. I'm not concerned about them. I am concerned about managers being promoted into leadership roles when they have no business being there. Leadership is demonstrated through competence,…

The workforce has evolved tremendously since the onset of the pandemic, and the pace of change isn't showing signs of slowing down. Leaders are constantly in the position of having to reevaluate strategies and rethink decisions on the fly. With the new year right around the corner, now is a great time to take a moment…

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/vistage_the-softer-side-of-aggressive-growth-activity-6879035217705873408-3QQ5 As an organization scales, the importance of the CEO’s soft skills will skyrocket. Most of us could use some practice—in the right environment. Throughout several decades leading large teams, I consistently noticed one oversight in companies’ talent strategies. They rarely hire for soft skills. Recruitment efforts usually target hard…

Kris hit the end button on a team call and slowly put her head on her desk with a huge sigh. On the call, she learned that her colleague received the promotion she had been aiming for. Kris had navigated the full range of emotions throughout the call — disbelief,…

  Money isn't all that matters to employees; as we collectively embrace more human-centric business practices, it's time companies have a clear strategy for their non-compensation plan. By Sara Rodell December 13, 2021 Most companies devote copious amounts of time to strategizing monetary compensation. However, as we collectively embrace more human-centric business…

I was just reading a blog that suggested disruption in industries could come from things that look like toys to us. All of us “buttoned-up” business people could poo-poo something fun, because it’s not serious enough. I have a tendency to be one of those more serious folks. “Let’s get…

I was journaling the other night after a 6-week break from writing. I usually get great clarity from the reflection, introspection, and insight I get from the basic act of journaling. I wrote, “I’ve been a little rebellious about journaling even though I know it is good for me.” I…

I have searched for peace for decades. Peace is the foundation for all the best things I accomplish. During the pandemic I became aware that I was not at peace, and that I could influence whether I was or not. The isolation, the mundane repetition, the lack of human contact…

I took a week-long vacation three weeks ago. I really took time off. Before we left, my husband asked me how much I planned to work during the week we were off. I negotiated one hour a day – just in case. You know, as leaders, we really do thrive…

As success-oriented leaders, we often think we have the answer to pretty much anything you throw at us.  And if we don’t have the answer, we pretend we do.  I often say being positive is being wrong as loudly as possible.  “Are you sure?” “I am POSITIVE!” Being “Right” really…

A book I bought last year asks a question a day for five years. Each day a new question is posed and I answer it annually. It is interesting to see after a year has passed what has changed, how I have grown (or not) and what intentions I actually…