When companies plan to expand to international markets, one of the key considerations is the depth and strength of executive talent. Depending on the scope of the growth plan, additional managers may be needed to lead the new operations, and many organizations are creating new positions, such as Chief International Officer, to lead their teams. Careful evaluation of the leadership team’s skills, experiences and attitudes is crucial to making good […]
A stable senior leadership team is usually good for an organization. When everyone in the C-suite has worked together for a number of years, executives get to know each other’s thinking patterns, management styles and areas of expertise. When a major issue arises, the CEO generally knows whom to appoint to a committee or task force to find a solution. But there can be a downside to a longtime leadership […]
In the past decade, the power of innovation has been in the spotlight. Technology entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs built their careers (and their companies) by developing and launching innovative products at the right time in the market— at least most of the time. Today, start-ups emphasize their innovative solutions when searching for financial support or recruiting new executives. But not everyone is eager to join the innovation movement. In fact, […]
Successful executives have many skills and qualities that enable them to excel in their roles and create value for their companies. These might include strategic thinking, vision, creativity, leadership, communications skills, emotional intelligence and decision making—to name just a few. However, superior decision making is arguably the most important ingredient for success, especially in the C-suite. In fact, as a June 2010 Harvard Business Review article by Blenko, Mankins and […]
Many executives have no problem reprimanding a supplier for doing a poor job. They can easily pick up the phone and complain: “Your shipment arrived two days late and cost our company $10,000 in lost sales. What are you going to do about it?” But that same executive may agonize about how to address a performance issue with a subordinate. But hoping the problem will eventually go away is just […]
There is a great deal of power in the nature of your relationships with prospects and customers—even in the words you use when talking with them. Language can have a significant impact on your customers’ perception of you and thus, your relationship. For instance, referring to yourself as a vendor or supplier can put a damper on your customer relationship right from the start. It is much better to present […]
When LeBron James entered the National Basketball Association a decade ago, he had enough raw athletic talent to be considered the potential heir to Michael Jordan. He began his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he carried his team to the 2007 conference final but faced criticism about his mental toughness and judgment, particularly after his 2010 nationally televised decision to leave Cleveland and join the Miami Heat. Since then, […]
One of the more difficult HR questions for every enterprise is determining the size and scope of its internal information technology (IT) talent pool. On one hand, having a large, experienced in-house staff allows the organization to respond quickly to requests from internal customers and changes in the market. It also can reduce the fees paid to outside consultants, developers and designers. But it’s also expensive to maintain a large […]
As any successful business leader knows, it’s quality service that brings in repeat business, and word-of-mouth referrals that provide the foundation for growth. Nearly all companies say that delivering great customer service is one of their strategic priorities. In fact, a recent Forrester Research study, “Navigate the Future of Customer Service,” found that 40 percent of surveyed executives said that improving the customer experience was their top customer service goal, […]
Most senior leadership development programs take a top-down approach, focusing on the traits and personalities of individual executives. The goal, in many cases, is to look at various leadership styles—such as autocratic, democratic or somewhere in between—and help executives learn new attitudes and behaviors. With a dynamic facilitator and a well-planned curriculum, these leadership programs can boost individual careers and increase an organization’s human capital. But there’s another perspective to […]
