Dan Hesse, Sprint CEO

Dan Hesse, Sprint CEO

The former CEO of Sprint shared his leadership lessons one morning… A leader should be “classy.” Yes, you have competitors – respect them similar to how Larry Bird & Magic Johnson competed in the NBA. “No infrastructure in our country that is more important than the development of our workforce.” Invest in your people, not…

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Skip Level Succession

Skip Level Succession

Cisco recently transitioned their CEO role after a long successful career by John Chambers. He was a leader who had a list of employees’ medical issues on his desk every day so that he could reach out to them personally. Their succession planning, led by a friend of mine, was to consider all options –…

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Dream Leader

Dream Leader

Employees often create an “ideal image” of what a leader seems to be. When looking at an organization’s leader, employees tend to judge the book by its cover, because that is easier to digest than what is really “in the pages.” They ask themselves several questions. Does the leader: Care about me? Have high standards?…

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Digital Learning

Digital Learning

Regis Chasse, a friend at Cap Gemini’s learning, has researched and written about digital learning. Three key takeaways are digital learning, business games and online communities: Employees are overwhelmed, distracted and impatient. Flexibility on where and when they learn is increasingly important. They want to learn from their peers and managers, just as much as…

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People Management

People Management

In a survey of 200,000, BCG found that employees look for: Appreciation for work Relationship with colleagues, Work/life balance, and Relationship with boss   Number 8 was salary. To help address these employee desires, Bersin by Deloitte advocates for transforming “talent management” to “people management,” with a renewed focus on corporate culture, engagement, environment, leadership,…

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Purpose As Motivation

Purpose As Motivation

Purpose drives performance. This is how leaders unleash the power and drive of their entire workforce, while focusing that combined effort in one aligned direction. With purpose, employees bring their “whole selves” to work with passion and commitment (Source: Korn Ferry). This also results in them tapping into “discretionary energy” (i.e., going the extra mile)…

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Financial Services CEO

Financial Services CEO

I was facilitating a leadership development program for a global financial services firm, and the CEO spoke to the audience. Some key takeaways: Mitigate global external risks Price of oil decreasing by half Venezuela’s 100% annual inflation, which means corporate investments there decrease by 8-9% a month As Russia business expansion grows, the money falls…

Professional Development

CEO Leadership Lessons

CEO Leadership Lessons

I was delivering a leadership development program for a medical device company recently. The CEO came in to provide some of his key leadership insights: Leaders don’t have the full information to make decisions…this is not unusual; it is every day. There are no easy answers; otherwise, a problem would have been solved instead of…

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The Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center

The Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center

In talking with an executive at the Ritz-Carlton, she said that this service hospitality company is all about the creation of a positive experience so customers have a story to tell their friends/family. Their success is measured: Ritz-Carlton has won the Malcolm Baldrige Quality Award twice; turnover is 25% below industry; Gallup metrics are tracked…

Professional Development

Welcome to Nordstrom

Welcome to Nordstrom

For new hires during onboarding… “We’re glad to have you with our Company. Our number one goal is to provide outstanding customer service. Set both your personal and professional goals high. We have great confidence in your ability to achieve them.” Nordstrom Rules: Use best judgment in all situations. “There will be no other rules….

Professional Development
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