Management Theory: Two trips to IKEA

Management Theory and IKEA

About three weeks apart, I took two different trips to IKEA. The contrast in those trips taught me a ton about management theory. Continue Reading

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Transparency in business: What’s the value?

Transparency in business

Most executives are quick to dismiss things like “transparency” and “communication” as soft or fluffy skills not relevant to revenue growth. But, ahem… they are, and majorly so. Continue Reading

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Sense of urgency is a managerial trick

Sense of urgency

It’s usually a way for managers to essentially play Hot Potato with projects that scare them or they have no time for. Continue Reading

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Change management: The 2016-2020 wave

Change Management Illustration

If you believe disruption is coming for most companies (it probably is), then change management is absolutely crucial. But most companies are flippin’ terrible at it. How can they get better? Continue Reading

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Management training: The value of context

Management training and context

We tend to focus a lot of our managerial training in America on transactional elements of the process, which often leave managers ill-equipped for dealing with real issues or human beings. It’s time we change that. Continue Reading

Process improvement: End ‘process for the sake of process’

Process Improvement

Process is supposed to make business better and more effective. If it’s not doing that — if it’s just there to be there or make people feel better — then it’s totally worthless. Continue Reading

Difficult conversations at work: A how-to

Difficult conversations at work header

The sheer fact of the matter is … most managers are uncomfortable talking to their employees. It’s been proven time and time again in research. As a result, difficult conversations are going to happen. How do you manage them? Continue Reading

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Your strategic plan: What you’re missing

Strategic Plan

Most people have no idea how to do a strategic plan, often confusing “strategy” with “operations.” Sooo … how can you possibly get close to anything resembling a strategic plan? Continue Reading