When leaders report to an uninspiring executive, the negative impact on productivity and execution is real. Too often, uninspiring leaders often are the last ones to see this behavior in themselves, and in my years coaching executives, I rarely see leaders get more than generalized feedback in this critical area, without many practical steps or […]

I work with senior leaders who spend a good portion of their time in meetings with their peers. Some like this fact more than others.

A common source of frustration shared by CEO clients centers on how others communicate with them. What are they experiencing? It’s a long list.

What does it mean to be a Modern CFO? Here are a few clues: You notice how employees recognize which metrics matter at your company and they care about meeting them as much as you do.   It isn’t uncommon for organizations to provide training and education that helps employees develop financial acumen.  What’s different about the […]

“I may have made a big mistake,” said Mark reflecting on the Chief Operating Officer job he accepted only six months earlier for a global technology company. Taking on the role meant a move with his family halfway across the country, but despite whatever personal disruption the job required, Mark was thrilled to land the […]

A senior leadership team at a medical device company received results from an annual company culture survey and the feedback was disappointing. Employee comments highlighted a lack of trust in senior leadership, frustration with heavy workloads and shrinking resources, and a desire for streamlined processes and less complexity. Understandably, senior leaders were concerned, so a […]

Stan Moss isn’t your typical CEO, which may explain why Polen Capital isn’t your typical global investment management firm. Let’s start with the results the firm has seen over the past decade, or the fact that Polen has been named among the best places to work by Pensions & Investments each of the last seven years. Then, there’s […]

Teams are the lifeblood of organizations, but most teams aren’t scratching the surface of what’s possible for them. It’s surprising because most teams are made up of good people, committed to doing what’s right, and who often like and care about each other. In spite of that, for so many, being on a team isn’t […]

The Chief Procurement Officer for a large technology company was in a bind: He’d been in his role for several years and operating at an exceptional level, by all accounts. A well-liked, respected leader, he was more than overdue for a promotion and was on the short list for several positions. Here’s the problem: “I […]

There’s been a flurry of backlash about the remarks from one CEO during a recent virtual town hall in response to employees’ questions about canceled bonuses. I’ll spare you the play-by-play (you can see the video recording here), but fair to say the CEO’s response could have been better. Predictably, and understandably, the reaction online from […]