An executive who heard me speak at a conference and then read one of my articles shared with me the following experience. As you read the account below, please understand that this type of behavior is common in many workplaces today, and it results in stifled profits and frustrated team members. Here’s what they shared:: “[Your]…article was of particular interest to me because of a personal Continue →
We Need a Change in Leadership
Over the years as I have mentored executives and consulted organizations, I have noticed that when organizations are in trouble, they rapidly seek new leadership. We see it in large businesses, sports teams, and even churches—the assumption that the subtraction of one person at the helm and the addition of a new person will equal instant growth. How often have you seen a sports franchise Continue →
This One Leadership Principle Could 10X Your Effectiveness
My wife and I have seven grandkids. All are eight years old or less. They call my wife, Mimi, and they call me, G-Bob –which is short for GrandBob. Most likely you have heard of the old adage that you must “crawl-walk-run.” Well, over the past several months, it has been so much fun to watch our two youngest grandsons go through that “trial and error” process of “crawl-walk-run.” Continue →
The Effectiveness Quotient
I don’t think I had ever contemplated either of my parents dying – that is until my father died when I was 20 and left me in charge of our struggling family business. Dad’s death came as a shock, and in the early days, I struggled to adjust to my new roles and responsibilities. However, the situation did force me to develop my leadership abilities as fast as possible - and that led to an import Continue →
House Rules
Leading a family resembles leading a team in the workplace. To lead our “home team”, my wife and I made specific decisions about how we would teach and guide our boys. Continue →
Good News, Bad News (and Great Outcomes)
Years ago, I rolled out some good news to our leadership team. My voice and verbal pace quickened (as much as possible, for a Texas boy) as I shared my exciting news with them, “We’ve just purchased eight acres, including some existing facilities that we’ll transform into our new offices!” After some positive feedback and some clarifying Q&A, they soon began to think about the associated Continue →
Are You Tired of Trying to Know It All?
Do you feel like you’re drowning is a sea of change that surrounds your business? The grocery and apparel (usually known as “fast fashion”) sectors are experiencing this warp-speed change, and much of it is driven by how consumers are buying online. I have found that my own buying habits have changed significantly, just over the last couple of years. Continue →
Plan your Best Summer Vacation Ever!
Good things happened when we asked our two older sons, who had already married, and our youngest son, who was near finishing college, to help plan a holiday vacation! Specifically, we asked them to get involved in the decision-making process to find a common place where everyone could meet for a family vacation during Thanksgiving. Continue →
The Key to Great Workplace Culture
Building a great workplace culture is not about what you get. But what you give! It is not what you get from your employees. It is what you give to your people. Prior to me selling my company of over 150 employees to a publicly-traded company, it was rare that we ever used the word, “culture”. And it was even rarer that we spoke the words, “employee engagement”. Continue →
Political Talk Hotspots and Not-spots
The political climate is hot right now, as are people’s opinions. It seems that everywhere you turn, someone is expressing their political views, whether it’s on Facebook, a blog, on the streets, or at the dinner table. People have the right to speak their mind, have differing opinions, and even share those with each other in a mature way. However, with rights come responsibilities, and there Continue →