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Why effective execution must come first
Having observed literally hundreds of organizations, both large and small, privately and publicly held, spanning a broad range of industries, and through more than four decades, it is absolutely true that much as parents deserve their children, so do managers deserve their organizations and, for ultimately the same reasons.
Do what you can—delegate the rest
I observed a partner in a CPA firm who preferred to do the simpler work himself because it "saved time". He found himself constantly falling behind because the complex work that only he could do remained in piles on his desk.
Are you just brilliant and admirable or actually indispensable?
The world needs a lot of Einsteins in the C-suite. It also occasionally needs Churchills. If you’re a board member hiring a new CEO, you need to know which one you need. If you’re a candidate for the top job, you need to know who you are.
Are there too many feuding superstars on your team?
If you as a manager take control of the situation, you might be able to get high performers to co-exist, even if they don't personally like each other. At the very least, hopefully you won't have to use your whistle to call a foul at the office.
Have you heard the new business buzzword?
For years, the sole purpose of corporations was to generate profits and create value for owners and shareholders. It turned out that this singular focus on the bottom line didn’t sit well with broader communities when it resulted in poor treatment of employees, practices that damaged the environment and hollow connections to l[...]
Do you default to central control?
My advice on whether the nexus of control should be at the “federal” level (the corporate office) or the “state” level (the individual unit or the shop floor) is that there’s no one right answer in business.
Down with managers — up with success!
I'm aware of 100 or so companies that don't have managers (and there are easily a few thousand that I'm not aware of), and I've never heard them say they can't find good people.
Some cowboy wisdom to foster business success
Some time ago, I wrote a piece on cowboy wisdom for the business world. (You can find it here.) I recently stumbled on some additional Will Rogers quotes that are wonderful observations about a successful life in business. See if you agree with me.
Why knowing who does what makes all the difference
Although I’m skeptical of the “no boss” environments touted by many but with few transferable examples, I’m not arguing for hierarchy — just clarity around who “owns” what.
How to stop self-sabotaging your success
Too often, we excuse our poor performance by blaming external circumstances as if we have no options. The weather is bad. It’s too hard to sell in the holiday season. The competition has an unfair advantage. I can’t win because I don’t have the right training.
Why great leaders beat super managers every time
Semco gets hundreds of unsolicited resumes every month, and no one leaves. In the worst 10-year recession in Brazil's history, revenues grew 600 percent. And unlike Yahoo, Semco hasn't told people how or where to work for more than three decades.
Why it's so critical for everyone to have skin in the game
Not everyone is cut out to be an entrepreneur or a commission-only sales rep, but everyone should receive the benefit (yes, benefit!) of feeling pain when they underperform as well as joy and reward when they add value.
