Leaders should debate vigorously, then STFU and unify behind their decision. I’ve written elsewhere about what a company loses when its leaders shut down debate. This is more pronounced in those boards where dissent is viewed as treachery. People paid as decision-shapers effectively become an overpaid board of one. But I’ve also seen leadership teams […]
Strategy
Decisions – Delay some, speed others through
Being decisive is a values business asset, especially for leaders and founders of businesses. For good reason – indecisiveness can kill businesses, projects and sometimes people. It’s the topic of much research and writing. I’m currently enjoying “The Little Black Book of Decision Making: Making Complex Decisions with Confidence in a Fast-Moving World”, kindly gifted […]
“Grow Grow Grow Sell” Isn’t the Only Path for your Company
It’s interesting talking to founders of companies about where they’d like their companies to get to. There seems to be an implicit assumption that it should be grow, grow, grow, sell. Probably a result of the insane valuations and exits of those Silicon Valley companies, small in number, but large in PR column inches. Pursuing […]
The best leaders on your team may be ignoring your KPIs
When you’re evaluating leadership potential in your team, remember that all the metrics you have are proxy metrics. You can’t easily evaluate such a complex concept as leadership. If you’ve assigned them metrics, or SMART (spare me) objectives, again you’re measuring proxy. The best leaders go beyond them and do the bigger right thing. You […]
“Employees First” isn’t the path to a successful business
Business Half-Truth #2: Look after your employees first. I’ve seen too many turn this into making customers a distant second (or third). Yes, team is important. And if you treat your team as an investment, rather than a cost, then your business should reap rewards. But “employees first” works well ONLY IF you have a […]