Even though there are literally tens of thousands of books on leaders and leadership – not to mention podcasts, blog posts, scholarly articles and social media posts — there is a huge disconnect between what most leaders are supposed to do and what they actually do. That is the gap that always exists between theory and practice, and it is especially true in the area of business leadership. For every business leader who has received training on how to lead a team, department or company, there are ten who are thrust into the position with little or no knowledge, skill or ability to lead. Many are intelligent, capable experts in their fields but haven’t a clue what leadership looks or sounds like. Here is some insight into what great leaders say. Continue reading →

How does a company go about making itself really stand out from the crowd? It is important to look at how different industries and organizations – from aviation to tourism to cosmetics — have tackled this very question, and consider the creative process for finding a niche upon which to stand apart.  Continue reading →

No matter how the economy is doing or what industry a business is in, there is always a need for a business to stand out from the crowd. Those that differentiate or reinvent themselves are able to survive and thrive, even in a recession. Can any company do that? In a word, yes. It just requires creativity and innovation… the kind that has nothing to do with technology. Here are some examples of how companies have successfully differentiated themselves. And how to emulate their efforts. Continue reading →

Price, cost and value are not synonymous. That is why there is usually a huge range in the price of most any manufactured, tailored or customized goods and services — and even in the price of commodities — even when there isn’t a big difference in its cost. But, how businesses go about pricing goods or services often ignores the relationship between the cost to produce or provide something, the price charged for it and, most importantly, the value that the customer perceives it has and assigns to it.

It is time to rethink pricing factoring in value. Continue reading →

Running a business is a lot like a story. The story has characters. Some are employees. Others are customers, and still others are vendors. The story often starts slow and then picks up momentum as more is understood about the plot. What product or service is being provided? How does the company reach and interact with its clients? As the business grows, the story unfolds. Sometimes the story is a happy tale of challenges overcome and goals met. But most stories will invariably have a plot twist… a radical change in the expected direction or outcome of the plot of the narrative. While a business cannot choose the plot twists it faces, it can control a big part of how it responds.

Here are tips for handling the unexpected. Continue reading →

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With few exceptions, most would agree that 2020 was a tough year… frustrating, sad and even downright scary at times. And so, most people hope that 2021 is better. However, there is no assurance that the first few months of 2021 will be much different than 2020. There are still a lot of unknowns about how the next 12 months will play out. Wanting and hoping things will turn out fine is not nearly as good as ensuring it is a great year. The goal is to make it great. How? Turn the tide on trouble and tragedy and make 2021 great simply by changing your own perception, attitude, approach and action.

Here’s how.
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Being consistent is both a skill and a quality. And it is an approach…. a way of doing things and, for some it is even a way of being. But likely no one has ever been cheered or celebrated for being “steady” or “unswerving”. Consistency is underrated because is not exciting or appealing. In fact, to be consistent can even be downright boring. But it is one of the key differentiators between those who are successful and those who are not. And it is one of the hardest things to do and be in life. Anyone who wants 2021 to be a breakout, banner year should master the art of consistency.

Here’s how. Continue reading →

Researchers estimate that the average person hears between 20,000 and 30,000 words during the course of a 24-hour period. Multiply that by 365 days in a year and that means on average we hear about 11 Million spoken words a year. Then multiply that by the number of years lived. It becomes clear that the average person will have listen to hundreds of millions of spoken words in their lifetime. Clearly, it would be impossible to remember everything ever heard. Yet, despite the sheer volume of talk, most people can recall distinctly hurtful words spoken to them by someone near or dear years or even decades later. This is true both in personal and professional life. So what we say to others can have a BIG impact at home and work.

Here’s how to be more tactful. Continue reading →

We all have an internal dialogue that runs through our minds on a daily basis. We share very little – out loud – of what we think or feel about others (and that is probably a good thing.) But internally we hear 100% of what we think and feel about ourselves. That “self-talk” is a conversation that can either be based on truth or distortions. And it can be kind, benign or brutal. But one thing is certain. When you talk to yourself, someone very important is listening, and it can make all the difference.

Here’s the science about self-talk.
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There are a lot of preconceived ideas related to employees and age. For example, many believe that younger employees have more energy, enthusiasm and drive. They’re also thought to have sharper minds and better memory. It’s also believed that younger, digital-native employees are more tech savvy. By contrast, many believe older employees are wiser and more experienced. They are thought to be good with people and have better social skills. And most assume older employees have schedules that are more flexible with fewer family demands. And there are even more negative beliefs as well. But all of these are just stereotypes. Here is why employee age does not matter. Continue reading →