Best-Practices Leadership

Leadership Tips, Vol. 1214

December 3, 2014
Stay humble, stay bold, stay flexible. Use these three famous examples as your guide.

Articulate a mission that matters

November 21, 2014
Many CEOs realize that they need a mission statement that guides the organization and its employees. But a trite mission can fall flat.

Think twice before betting against Uber

November 7, 2014
Maybe the only reason Travis Kalanick’s luxury ride service, Uber, is still in business comes down to guts.

When to say ‘tell me more about this’

November 5, 2014

About 10 years ago, Jim McCann sent a memo to his technology staff. He wrote about corporate news and some online strategies for the business he founded, 1-800-Flowers.com. Minutes after emailing his memo, he noticed that one of the recipients had already replied. Opening the email, McCann was surprised to see that a newly hired tech employee had sent the memo back to the CEO with reams of corrections…

At Zingerman’s, everyone’s an owner

November 4, 2014
At Zingerman’s Roadhouse, a popular Michigan restaurant, the weekly sales figures are not a big secret. All 50 em­­ployees gather to discuss the results—and brainstorm on how they can help each other exceed those numbers in the week ahead.

Keep virtual meetings on track: 5 tips

October 20, 2014
It’s hard enough to keep face-to-face meetings on schedule. But conference calls can become a noisy free-for-all. Here’s how to run them smoothly.

The ‘father of containerization’ mastered the art of the long wait

October 15, 2014

Malcom McLean didn’t like to waste time, but in 1937, he had to spend most of a day waiting for his truckload of cotton to be loaded onto a ship in Hoboken, N.J. It gave him a bold idea. He saw what needed to be done to streamline shipping—but it would take him 20 years to make it happen.

Think like an investor: 3 steps

October 13, 2014

To keep your people and products in the lead spot, think the way an investor would in scrutinizing the value proposition of your company. Sound hard? It’s easy. Take these three steps.

Build a great idea, block by block

October 8, 2014
As a young child in northern Sweden, Yngve Bergqvist spent much of his time shoveling snow. Years later, he was so accustomed to snow and ice that he built a thriving business around it. Bergqvist decided to create a hotel made entirely of ice. It seemed crazy, but the concept worked.

Leadership Tips, Vol. 914

September 30, 2014
Take some comfort in some historic business mistakes … Say “no” to corporatespeak … Don’t sacrifice quality.