Business Archives - Insight2Action Advisory

Executive Succession Planning: If you want to build a skyscraper, don’t start by buying a hammer.

“We need a way to identify people who could be promoted to top executive positions. What tools do you use to assess leadership?” the head of HR for a small regional bank asked me. “Are you planning to rely on a “tool” to make that determination?” I asked. “We haven’t thought much about the process itself,” she … Continue reading Executive Succession Planning: If you want to build a skyscraper, don’t start by buying a hammer. MORE >

It’s Not Lonely at the Top: It’s Overcrowded

Here are some ways to reclaim the space you need My client, Bob, was very pleased with his new position at a large health care organization. It was a “skip” promotion in recognition of his leadership capabilities and his reputation as a nationally recognized expert in his field. Despite the challenges of taking on a … Continue reading It’s Not Lonely at the Top: It’s Overcrowded MORE >

Empathy Is A Skill, Not A Feeling – The Empathy Equation

It is widely acknowledged that the ability to empathize is the basis for all productive relationships. It goes without saying in personal relationships empathy is the glue that keeps us together. In business empathy is essential for collaboration, inspiration, and innovation. And today we need empathy more than ever as we attempt to bridge the … Continue reading Empathy Is A Skill, Not A Feeling – The Empathy Equation MORE >

Courageous Leaders: Are You Champions or Reckless?

Courage is often lauded as one of the most important characteristics a leader can possess. Many say that leadership is impossible without courage. But what happens when that courageousness is not informed by curiosity? You have recklessness. Although the following statement is heretical in most of my circles, I think the mob that attacked the … Continue reading Courageous Leaders: Are You Champions or Reckless? MORE >

What are you learning?

Even as we endeavor to survive this pandemic – to see that people have the basic necessities of life, to keep as many healthy as we can and save those who fall ill, it is important to record what we are learning about ourselves, our organizations, and our society. But it is difficult to take … Continue reading What are you learning? MORE >

Not so Fast – Don’t Hire that Executive Coach (…Yet)

This may sound strange coming from someone who coaches many executives and it’s true that some of my best clients begin by telling me that they want executive coaching for one of their senior leaders. But before I start talking about a contract, my first response to such a request is to ask why. The … Continue reading Not so Fast – Don’t Hire that Executive Coach (…Yet) MORE >

Leading, Living Life Well, and Your Legacy

A dear friend and colleague of mine passed away at the end of last month. I know the date because she had intended to let her clients know of her rapidly declining health in her next newsletter. Corrie (far right) sent her newsletter without fail on the 1st of every month – not the 2nd, not the 3rd, … Continue reading Leading, Living Life Well, and Your Legacy MORE >

How to untangle a thorny problem that persists despite the best efforts of your leadership team

The Situation: The senior vice president of a government contracting firm needed help in solving what appeared to be an unsolvable situation. He had recently learned that one of the teams had been completely ignoring critical terms of large contracts and instead was using ad hoc procedures that were completely out of compliance. Needless to … Continue reading How to untangle a thorny problem that persists despite the best efforts of your leadership team MORE >

Forget Work Life Balance

As a senior business executive, do you feel that your entire life is consumed by your work? Do you believe that you have to make tradeoffs between professional commitment and fully embracing life? Do you see the competition between work and personal life as a zero-sum game? If so, your mindset is limiting both. With … Continue reading Forget Work Life Balance MORE >

The Inconvenient Truth About Following Procedures – She called me “Madam”

Processes and procedures are essential for accomplishing goals efficiently and effectively, but is your organization implementing them in a way that erodes customer relationships? Case in point: a recent experience I had with an airline that shall remain un-named. Procedures Over Customer Relationships The flight from Charlotte, NC to Washington, DC should take around 90 … Continue reading The Inconvenient Truth About Following Procedures – She called me “Madam” MORE >

Category: Business