Holly Green
Which is more important for a business to engage in – strategic planning or strategic thinking? If you answered “both,” you win the prize. What’s the difference between the two? Typically, strategic planning involves a formal process whereby company leaders and senior managers gather for a day or two and peer into the future to…
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays of the year. The days are still warm (in Southern California) and the nights are starting to cool. The stress of last-minute Christmas shopping trips to the mall hasn’t yet reared its ugly head. I do know the holidays are approaching quickly because my Google Alerts for “Holly…
They say that denial is a river in Egypt. Maybe so, but I contend that denial is also running rampant in the conference rooms and corridors of most of today’s companies. I’m not talking about the stuff you need to see a psychiatrist for. I’m referring to something far more subtle and insidious, a kind…
It takes many different qualities to make a great leader. Vision. Honesty. Integrity. Passion. Commitment. Communication skills. The ability to build relationships. And in today’s world of rapid-fire change, I also put flexibility at the top of the leadership attribute list. The dictionary defines flexibility as “a ready capability to adapt to new, different, or…
Identify Key Lessons from Troubled Times Signs of an economic recovery are starting to come into view. Are you prepared to seize the momentum? Or is your organization still in a holding pattern as you ride out the storm? Those companies that act carefully, but swiftly, will have an unfair advantage in re-building as the…
There’s a new normal for today’s businesses Part 1 of a 3-Part Series All great leaders are constant learners and unlearners. They study, analyze and question everything regardless of the economic situation. They shift when the need arises, not depending on those things they have always done the same way. Effective leaders don’t take anything…
To most Americans, Labor Day represents just another three-day weekend that signals the end of summer and a return to school for the kids. But as with all holidays, there’s more to it than the barbeques, beach bashes and family get-togethers. Created by the Central Labor Union of New York, a forerunner of various trade…
At last, some evidence that suggests the economy is about to escape the doldrums. In its June 2009 Investment Outlook, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney pointed to a number of important economic signposts that have charted upward since the beginning of the year. And while many economists and financial experts have been predicting the demise of…
Finally, some evidence that the economy is starting to show signs of life! In its June 2009 Investment Outlook, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney reported that eight of their nine economic signposts for 2009, which represent a varied mix of indicators from consumer sentiment to U.S. leading economic indicators, have posted an upward trend since the…
Today’s business leaders understand the importance of growing their people. They know that with so many demands on everyone’s time, employees won’t acquire the knowledge and skills needed to move the company forward unless management makes people development a strategic priority. Accordingly, smart leaders take the time to set clear performance expectations with each person…
Creating Your Destination Statement: How to Get From Here to Where You Want to Go When Roger Bannister was attempting to become the first athlete to break the four-minute mile, all the “experts” told him it was impossible. Some even suggested he risked death by pushing his body beyond human limits. Of course, we now…
Have you ever noticed that no matter how much some things change, others remain the same? The modern workplace has changed almost beyond recognition, yet, many companies still manage their employees as if we were in the 80’s. Twenty-five years ago, managers basically gave employees tasks to complete, providing only as much detail as needed…
