Here’s what we’re thinking about

Talent Acquisition and Retention in Social Enterprise

While reading the Harvard Business Review in June, I came across “3 Ways Social Entrepreneurs Can Solve Their Talent Problem,” by Rebecca Doherty and Alfonso Pulido. Here is a summary of that article; I think the author’s conclusions are useful particularly for early-stage entrepreneurs in mission-driven, socially conscious companies. *** Today’s business organizations are increasingly […]

Measuring Corporate Sustainability: The Wild West

Over a year ago, I decided to find out what it takes to lead a successful company that has a strong social or environmental purpose baked into its business activities. Interest in this area has surged in recent years, and many organizations are embracing the pursuit of impactful change. But understanding the full picture of […]

Managing Status in the Medical Community

I once attended a gathering to celebrate the opening of a new, expensive university facility. Since I had been affiliated with the organization for several years, I decided to introduce myself to one of the senior leaders whom I had not met. We spoke briefly, but the moment he realized I was not a wealthy […]

Four Elements of a Great Presentation

The longer I’m in the coaching business, the more I realize how helpful it can be to break a skill or behavior down into its component parts.  There’s something about knowing what the ingredients are—the recipe, if you will—that makes it easier to learn or improve a behavior. Several years ago a colleague and I […]

Know Your Audience

I once worked with a pharmaceutical CEO who had been presenting effectively for decades.  He had passion and flair—a great salesman and engaging communicator.  But for the scientific regulatory audience he was preparing to speak to, his tone was a bit too commercial.  He was skilled presenting to investors and many other audiences, but he […]

The Communication Toolbox

We all grow up with our own unique communication style. Some people by nature are very direct. They come right to the point. They tell it like it is. They don’t mince words. Other people are more diplomatic, more indirect, more subtle in their communication. Indeed, there are a variety of communication styles—quiet, loud, forceful, […]

Don’t Climb Alone

I recently wrote about an experience I had trekking in Nepal and how its lessons apply to leadership.  Another powerful lesson came to me when I was sick, scared and alone in a remote village in the foothills of Mt. Everest. Ask for help The village of Namche Bazaar is one of the most unusual places I’ve […]

To Acheive a Big Goal, Look at Your Feet

In a previous post I talked about a lesson I learned from a slow-moving old man who passed me again and again in the hills of Nepal.  At another point as I climbed higher, another lesson was waiting. One of my most memorable moments of trekking in Nepal was the day that I reached the […]

What An Old Man In Nepal Taught Me About Focus

Some years ago, I was fortunate enough to spend four weeks in Nepal, three of those weeks exploring the foothills of Mount Everest. Some memories from that time recently came into my mind, and I thought I would share a few. The power of steady focus. One of my vivid memories from Nepal is of […]