So Your Board is Dysfunctional. What to Do?

It happens. Boards are elected by the shareholders, sometimes with preferred shareholders holding seats by right of their investment. In that instance, often the investor selects the board member and the CEO goes along with the choice, mostly out of having no alternative at the time. How the board can arrive at dysfunction Then there comes…

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CEOs Change the Deeper Meaning of the Ultimate Bottom Line

As I read this morning about the Business Roundtable changing this fundamental principle, I was really glad to see it. It’s about time. Several hundred influential CEOs got together and agreed to revise priorities. The next quarter’s profits—which maximizes short-term share price—are no longer the supreme goal and top priority. Here’s the story: AMERICA’S CEOS JUST…

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10 Innovation Myths for New Venture Founders to Avoid

Most people think innovation is all about ideas, when in fact it is more about delivery, people, and process. Entrepreneurs looking to innovate need to understand the execution challenge if they expect their startup to carve out a profitable niche in the marketplace, and keep innovating to build and maintain a sustainable competitive advantage. Everyone…

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The Secret to Managing Workers with PTSD

Stress in the workplace is common, everyone undergoes some form of stress whether it be trying to hit a deadline, worrying about dealing with a particular customer or facing employees in a meeting. Helping workers manage stress is key for management success, but when a worker has PTSD, a different approach is needed. Statistically, 3.5%…

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Lunch with Your CEO? Here’s How to Prepare

Depending on the size of your organization, you may not have spent much (if any) time with the CEO, especially if you’re new. But in most small businesses, the CEO is right there in the mix, helping with various day-to-day projects to ensure that the business runs smoothly in addition to generating big-picture growth. If…

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Are You a Remote Manager? A Good One?

Are you a virtual manager? Can you be effective if you are a “virtual” manager, commuting from home or a home office and being with your employees only part time? Measuring your performance In a virtual environment, people measure you mostly by your actions, and remember only the most recent good work you’ve done for them…

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5 Elements of Innovation That Are Not Product Related

Having a breakthrough idea or technology alone does not assure business success. “If we build it, they will come” may have worked as a movie theme for Kevin Costner, but as an investor, I tell entrepreneurs a great solution is not enough. Successful businesses require innovative people, who have built an abundance of innovation capital,…

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The One Thing Holding You Back from Making It to the C-Suite

According to a survey on leadership development conducted by the Brandon Hall Group, 77% of organizations are currently experiencing a leadership skills gap. But you’re smart, qualified, and technically brilliant at what you do… So what’s holding you back from the C-Suite? It’s not a lack of ambition. After all, you’re ready, willing, and able to…

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Change Your Management Style to Meet Today’s Culture

Change is hard. But these days it’s required and inevitable. Yet, in my daily role as an advisor to entrepreneurs and small business owners, struggling to boost revenues, profits, and earnings, I still see too many managers falling back on command-and-control, a focus on weaknesses, and not enough time for people. The result is lost…

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Effective Guide for Spotting a Bad Project Manager

Good project managers can make a world of difference in a business. Projects will run smoothly, teams will work together effectively, and productivity will improve as time moves on. The problem is not all project managers are good; some of these people are just bad at their jobs. These individuals may cause more chaos than…

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