Is your company’s leadership culture an asset or a liability?
Ginni Rometty, CEO of IBM, once said that a company’s culture is its number one asset. What’s amazing to me is she expressed this idea back in 2011, even before she became CEO of Big Blue. Rometty was speaking at the Yale CEO Summit. She told the audience that culture is a defining issue that will […]
How Do You Show Up in Moments that Matter Most?
“Why do some leaders make such stupid decisions when leading their people?” It’s a question I ask myself from time to time, especially as I hear stories from clients on their experiences with their leaders. Case in point, a recent story I heard from a client of mine, really left me scratching my head.
What’s the deal with accountability in your organization?
A few weeks ago, I was in a government service centre to hand in the licence plates for one of my old cars. As you would most likely guess, the waiting room was jam-packed with people. I took a number from the ticket machine and realized there were twenty-two people ahead of me. I sighed […]
Do you undermine the confidence of those you lead?
Stacey was starting to hyperventilate. We were minutes away from kicking off a two-day leader forum. The mounting stress and pressure were getting the best of her. At one moment, I pulled her aside, looked straight into her eyes and said, “Everything is going to be fine. My team and I have your back!” She […]
What is the purpose of a corporation in today’s world?
When I was doing my graduate work, many years ago, I was influenced a lot by the research and thinking of Dr. Willis Harman. He co-founded an organization called the World Business Academy. I was fortunate enough to spend time with him and hear his lectures. At the time, he believed that corporations were becoming […]
Have you conducted your mid-year leadership gut check review?
Summer is finally in full gear. For many this is the time to take some vacation and enjoy the amazing weather. It’s also a good time to reflect on your leadership role. Every year at this time, my Gut Check blog focuses on helping you reflect on the first six months of the year.
Are You Driving High Engagement in Your Company?
Last week I was in Houston on a business trip. My colleague Alex and I were there to work with the top 100 leaders of a Fortune 500 company. We stayed at a Hilton Hotel in the downtown area. I hadn’t been to this particular hotel before and it was absolutely beautiful. As I entered […]
Do you have zero tolerance for bad behavior?
This year’s NBA playoffs have been an exciting ride so far. As a Canadian, the story gaining all the attention has been the play of the Toronto Raptors who now find themselves two wins away from a championship. There have also been some equally charged stories happening courtside as well. Just this week, in Game […]
Does your company have a frat house culture?
Earlier this month in Quartz, Aisha Hassan wrote a fascinating piece on ongoing problem in fraternities in many colleges and universities. Hazing deaths, sexual assault, rampant racism and homophobia are just a few of the serious problems experienced in many fraternities. In February of this year, the New York Times ran an article about three […]
Are you leading effectively in a virtual world?
About four years I jumped on a call with a colleague who was new to our company. He was based in Europe. We were having our first discussion about a proposal we were going to start working on. That call led to several others. More and more people joined this team. The opportunity was global, […]