There is an ever-increasing demand today for transformational leaders. The rapid evolution of disruptive business models and technologies combined with intense global competition is producing this demand. The need for transformational change leaders who can use breakthrough designs to create…
One might think that the leadership in strategic execution is obvious and straight forward. For example, the role of leaders is to guide the organization in executing its strategies and achieving expected results. This seems so obvious. My mom often…
This article was previously published in Harvard Business Review on April 12, 2016. It was co-authored by Ron Ashkenas, Partner Emeritus at Schaffer Consulting. Leadership development represents a huge and growing investment for most organizations. Industry research, for example, shows…
If you are a North American, you may be unfamiliar with the term parapet. The expression ‘put your head over the parapet’ is used to describe being brave enough to state an opinion that might upset someone. I learned a…
Leadership and communication are so intertwined that they could be thought of as synonymous. It is important to remember that in this case, the term communication is shaped more by what employees feel, hear and perceive, rather than what the leader says.…
Perhaps you have heard the expression: “I can’t hear what you're saying because who you are being speaks so loudly”. This implies that the 'being' of a leader is a stronger force than any words the leader uses. Consider that for…
There is a common misconception that effective communication is a formal activity, such as a manager conducting a town hall meeting. Further, communication is thought to be what a specific functional group does. That is, communication is what our 'communications…
2009: “The Economy Falling Off a Cliff...' A Latin American country manager was facing a huge challenge. Through the first 7 months of the year, current expectations for profit ranged from £2million to £35million, on a business plan of £95million,…
The American filmmaker Ken Burns received the Peabody Award in 2013 for his powerful documentary Central Park Five. The film tells a story of a horrible crime committed in 1989. A New York Times critic described the film as follows: “A…
Perhaps you have heard the expression “A fish rots from the head down”. It is an old proverb of uncertain origin that exists in many different languages. While this proverb is not anatomically correct, it is a powerful metaphor for…