Holly Green
Think your job has changed significantly over the past decade or two? Compound that with the complexity of leading an entire organization! Previous generations of leaders could at least count on a reasonably stable world, where change unfolded at a much slower pace. These days, the past is increasingly less predictive, the future is almost…
In today’s business world, leaders need to get ideas, opinions, and perspectives from diverse sources. In particular, there are times when we need to tune in to people and sources of information that contradict our prevailing view of the world. Unfortunately, many of the online sources we turn to for information are surreptitiously moving us…
How many times have you had this happen within the past year? You attend a seminar or workshop led by a brilliant speaker. You take copious notes and receive excellent handout materials that reinforce the speaker’s key points. You return to the office brimming with a plethora of ideas and the best intentions for putting…
I rarely stray into the realm of politics in this blog, but I am really ticked off! I’m angry with political leaders who continue to put their own interests ahead of those of our nation. And I’m angry with politicians and the media for getting trapped in their own thought bubbles and constantly making stuff…
The interview stage of the job application process is, understandably, crucial. Whilst a good CV will get you noticed, and a good covering letter will let you get your foot in the door, it all amounts to nothing if you’re unprepared for the interview process. There are certain things you can do to prepare for…
The ability to inspire trust is an essential leadership trait. According to a recent survey conducted by the marketing research firm, Maritz Research, our current crop of leaders has a lot of work to do in this area. Conducted in March of this year, the survey reported that: 25 percent of U.S. employees have less…
What? Cookie Monster mislead us? That’s like questioning mom, apple pie and the 4th of July! But he did. If you don’t believe me, just watch this very short (one-minute) video clip <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WhuikFY1Pg>. Where’s the fib? In his implication that there’s only one right answer to the question. From a very early age we’˜re taught…
Have you ever had a meeting that didn’t work out quite as planned? Where everyone agreed to a specific course of action and two weeks later you discover that what they’ve been working on doesn’t come close to your vision of what should happen? When these situations arise, we usually blame poor communication. We didn’t…
July 4th is one of my favorite times to pause. I am perhaps one of the most patriotic people you could meet. I love this country. I am proud every day to be an American and proud of all that we have accomplished. I am proud of the men and women who serve us in…
Is there a gorilla in your market? I’m not talking about the proverbial “800-lb. gorilla” that dominates a market. Almost every industry has one of those. I’m talking about the gorilla we don’t see. There’s a well-known experiment in which a researcher shows a videotape of six college students standing on a basketball court. Three…
Feeling a little pressed for time these days? (Who isn’t!) It turns out you have more time than you think. In fact, that’s the title of a great book new book by journalist Laura Vanderkam — “168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think.” (168 = the number of hours in a week.) According…
Salespeople have known it for years. People buy on emotion and then justify their decision with facts and logic. That’s why the best salespeople always lead with an emotional “hook” before presenting the facts and features about their product or service. So why, as business leaders, do we usually get it bass-ackwards when trying to…
