Strategic Leadership

How critical a thinker are you?

October 10, 2019
To sharpen your critical thinking game, begin by reflecting on problem-solving. Do you have a set method, or does your process depend on the obstacle? Here are some suggestions to orient you.

Fix a terrible, awful, no-good day

October 4, 2019
When humiliation occurs, it can seem nearly impossible to crawl out from underneath it and reclaim some dignity. In the worst moments, advice is difficult to hear, let alone follow. But there are some helpful strategies to guide you forward.

Create a customer avatar

September 12, 2019
Creating a customer avatar is crucial at the start of a business, but marketing at any stage can benefit from going through the steps of building a character. It’s valuable. And, let’s face it: it’s fun.

Inflection points: Beware, prepare

September 12, 2019
An inflection point is defined as a time of significant change, a turning point. Professor Rita McGrath explores how to better identify, prepare for and respond to them.

Open office, open mutiny

August 8, 2019
Q. Two months ago our office switched to an open office plan, which was partly my idea. And guess what? Everyone pretty much hates it. How do I salvage this situation when reverting back to the old way would shine so much light on my bad decision?

Ace the pain points conversation

August 8, 2019
It’s not always easy for your client to identify and communicate the exact source of their pain points, or to know what can be done about them. By knowing the right questions to ask and helping them identify their needs, you’ve made a crucial connection.

6 strategies for making an acquisition painless for all

August 8, 2019
You’ve closed your first acquisition—what comes next? How do you ensure it lives up to expectations?

Whoops! How to lose customers upon first contact

August 8, 2019
In Why Customers Leave, author and CSP David Avrin advocates for and speaks as a customer.

Thwart a true business disaster: 5 steps

August 8, 2019
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, 40 to 60 percent of small businesses close permanently after a disaster. Among businesses that are closed for at least five days, 90 percent fail within a year. Start making a plan today.

9 eye-opening business lies

August 8, 2019
Marcus Buckingham and Ashley Goodall’s book Nine Lies About Work: A Freethinking Leader’s Guide to the Real World is a fascinating and potentially myth-busting reality check. Here is a list and summarization of the nine lies they perceive.