In a Company Transition, It Can Really Save Your Butt I was recently on a development call with a high-tech company experiencing a period of intense growth and expansion. The leader I spoke with painted a picture of the overwhelm that had crept into the organization. Employees had too much…

The “Great Resignation” is upon us. According to one study conducted by Microsoft, 41% of the global workforce will consider leaving their current employer within the year. The Wall Street Journal reports that more U.S. workers are quitting their jobs now than at any time in the last 20 years. …

Navigating Stakeholder Trade-offs I talk a lot about the importance of “managing stakeholder cares.” It’s important to remember that this isn’t just some abstract, conceptual idea. Managing stakeholder cares means making tough, real-life, decisions, nearly every day that affect real people. The pandemic has made this even more pronounced. This came to my…

Each week, every kid in my daughter’s first grade class takes on a different “job.” The jobs include things like wiping down the tables, sweeping the floors, or ensuring the books are lined up to the edge of the shelves. But there is one job that my daughter considers…

Don’t Tell Me You Care — Show Me. The other day, a headline in my inbox threw me for a loop: “McKinsey to pay $573 million for role in opioid crisis.” It wasn’t the headline itself that surprised me. The idea that the most prestigious management consulting firm in the world helped its client “turbocharge” sales of an…

I don’t know about you, but I have never felt more ready for a fresh, new year! I am connecting with my family, colleagues, and community to savor this time of reflection and possibilities — to do the satisfying work of imagining who we are going to be this year. …

Tony Hsieh, the former CEO of Zappos and legendary Silicon Valley figure, died tragically on November 26 at just 46 years old. Several news outlets in the last few days have reported on Tony’s reclusive descent into drugs, alcohol, and other dangerous behaviors since leaving Zappos. His death serves as…

Gratitude at work begins with a recognition — The numerous physical and emotional benefits of gratitude are well-documented. In particular, researchers like Robert Emmons and Martin Seligman have demonstrated the link between gratitude and happiness. That link makes intuitive sense. As the saying goes, “you are what you pay attention to.” If you’re focused on and grateful for…

The Allure and The Danger of “More” As a business owner, one of the most important contracts that ever came my way was the one I didn’t end up signing. On paper, it was a no-brainer. The prospective client was a powerhouse in the beauty care space. It was a lucrative contract with ample room to expand…