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Lessons learned from my eclectic reading of late   I’ve always believed that reading is more than entertainment—it’s a front-row seat to other people’s ideas, failures, gambles, brilliance, and blind spots. A good book can reframe how we see decisions, power, ambition, or even the quiet forces shaping history. This

Avoid these self-destructive traits to keep your business on track. (Reading time: 5 minutes) In the world of small and mid-sized businesses, there’s a leadership type that emerges with unfortunate regularity: the dysfunctional, self-destructive owner-manager. I’ve come across them more times than I’d like to admit. From profanity-laced Zoom calls

How supervisory skills training will set your leaders and businesses up for success Often employers promote their employees into supervisory positions because of their skills and knowledge of the job, but don’t provide adequate training to enhance their competencies as supervisors. An entirely new set of skills is required when

Why stepping aside might be the best way to grow your business (Reading time: 4 minutes) Does this sound familiar? After working as an HVAC technician at a large company for 10 years, Jeff realized that he knew enough that he could set out on his own. He incorporates, buys

(Reading time: 7 minutes) You wait for this all year…it’s the third annual eclectic round up of books that I’m reading, thinking about, and recommend. These make great gifts for the reader and future leader in your life. They’re also a great way to pass the time during the quiet

Don’t skip this crucial step in the hiring process (Reading time: 5 minutes)   The reference check. It might seem perfunctory, but it’s an important piece of due diligence that can save you from making a hiring decision that could negatively impact your business for years to come. That’s why

Anatomy of a successful search: a case study (Reading time: 4 minutes)   Executive searches don’t always go as they should. As I have detailed elsewhere, it’s not unusual to run into speedbumps along the way. These can include lack of clarity around a role, hiring managers rejecting candidates without

Hint: it comes down to good leadership (Reading time: 5 minutes)   In the early days of my career, I was hired as the general manager of a small cable TV business. Although I had experience as a manager, I knew nothing about cable TV, so I made a point

Don’t rely solely on resumes. (Reading time: 5 minutes)   The frustration of recruiters Imagine the frustration of recruiters when their carefully selected candidates are rejected outright, without even a brief 20-minute meeting with the client. This common scenario is a source of aggravation for recruitment professionals, who often endeavor

Do you know the story behind the development of the Oxford dictionary? It involves a dedicated editor, a mansion housing the criminally insane, and a convicted murderer. This might seem like an off-piste beginning to this month’s blog, but the tale of The Professor and the Madman—one of my reading picks