“If you want one year of prosperity, grow grain. If you want ten years of prosperity, grow trees. If you want one hundred years of prosperity, grow people.” – Chinese Proverb Mergers, acquisitions, downsizing, and growth all require an unprecedented need for information about key executives and a framework for assessing the competencies required toRead more
Organizations with the greatest possibility of success also have the greatest possibility of failure. That is, the same behaviors and characteristics that exploit a company’s probability of notable success also maximize its probability of failure. The status quo stands firmly at odds with innovation, and the commitments of today often don’t align with the realityRead more
A breakthrough product, dazzling service, or cutting-edge technology can put you in the game, but only rock-solid execution of a well-developed strategy can keep you there. You have to be able to deliver—to transform your brilliant strategy and operational decisions into action. If your organization is like many, however, in an effort to improve performance,Read more
Effective strategy formulation concentrates actions and resources on critical issues, gains commitment, provides a rationale for allocation of resources, enhances communication, and increases your chances of thriving in your industry. However, leaders often face a three-fold problem relative to strategy: they confuse strategy with tactics; they don’t hire enough strategic thinkers who can handle theRead more
In American folklore, the feud between the Hatfields and McCoys has long served as a metaphor for bitterly warring rival parties. However, this thirteen-year dispute in the backcountry of West Virginia pales in comparison to the battle that rages between competence and excellence in most organizations. When people deliver pedestrian performance, senior leaders too oftenRead more
