The Corner Office
From Vision to Execution: A CEO’s Reality Check
When Mark took over as CEO of a mid-sized tech firm, he was confident that his vision for growth was clear. He had outlined an ambitious three-year strategy, presented it to his leadership team, and assumed that execution would follow naturally. But months later, something felt off. Despite strong talent and significant investments in new
The Power of First Team Alignment: A CEO’s Wake-Up Call
When Sarah became CEO of a fast-growing tech company, she assumed her leadership team was aligned. After all, they were seasoned executives, each an expert in their domain. But cracks quickly began to show. Product development was moving in one direction, while sales was making promises that couldn’t be fulfilled. The CFO was focused on
The CEO’s Edge: How Personal Effectiveness Drives Operational Excellence
As a CEO, your ability to lead with clarity and purpose has a direct impact on your organization’s operational performance. We’ve long known that high-performing leaders create high-performing organizations. But what often gets overlooked is how personal effectiveness—your time, energy, and focus—shapes your company’s ability to achieve operational excellence.In a world of constant pressure and competing priorities,
Stakeholder Engagement: The CEO’s Secret to Long-Term Success
In today’s complex and interconnected business environment, no company succeeds in isolation. Relationships are the lifeblood of sustainable growth, and as a CEO, it’s your responsibility to nurture and expand those connections. Stakeholder Engagement is not just a box to check—it’s a critical driver of your company’s success and one of the six things only you, the CEO, can do!
Vision Clarity: Inspect What You Expect
As we settle into 2025, it’s the perfect time to “inspect what you expect.” Does everyone in your organization know your 10-year vision for the company? Do they understand your 3-year Strategic Intent? Do they truly embody your core values? If the answer is unclear, you might be facing a challenge. Consider this alarming statistic
Your First Team: Building a High-Performing Leadership Team
Your senior leadership team—your “First Team”—can make or break your company. How well does your First Team work together?Achieving alignment and excellence within this group is one of the six things only you, the CEO, can do! Let’s explore the key elements that define a high-performing First Team:1. Team CompositionDo you have the right team in place?In the middle market,
Improving Your Personal Effectiveness as a Leader
Happy New Year! I hope you had time to Pause, Rest, and Reflect over the holidays. A new year brings the perfect opportunity for a “new you”! By now, I’m sure you’ve completed your 2028 Strategic Plan and 2025 Yearly Plan. But as leaders, our personal effectiveness is just as critical to achieving those goals.While strategic plans focus on organizational priorities,
Pause, Rest, and Reflect
As the year winds down, I want to take a moment to encourage you to pause, rest, and reflect—not just for yourself but also for your team and loved ones. For CEOs like you, the demands of work and life are rarely slow. Yet, intentional rest is a critical part of high performance. This is
Creating your 2025 Yearly Plan & KPIs
With your 3-year strategic plan finalized, it’s time to narrow your focus and build a robust Yearly Plan for 2025. A strategy without clear, measurable benchmarks is merely an idea; translating that idea into actionable results demands precision, planning, and adaptability. These steps will ensure your 2025 Yearly Plan is not only actionable but also
6 Steps to Building a BOLD 2028 Plan for Growth
Once you’ve reflected on your 2024 performance and gathered key insights, it’s time to move into the next crucial phase—formulating your strategic plan for 2028 and your 2025 Yearly Plan. Your strategic plan for 2028 and your 2025 Yearly Plan needs to be more than just sitting around a table with your First Team doing a financial exercise.
