The Corner Office

CEO Blog

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

Bill had always prided himself on hiring top talent. His senior leadership team—his First Team—was stacked with accomplished executives, each a proven leader in their own right. But something wasn’t clicking. Board meetings felt disjointed. Major initiatives stalled in execution. And when conflicts arose between departments, his leaders acted more like individual operators than a

As the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Eve, Alex, a seasoned CEO, found himself in a rare moment of stillness. The past year had been a whirlwind—record-breaking growth, major strategic wins, and a relentless pace that left little room for personal reflection. But tonight was different. Sitting by the fire with a glass of

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

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

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. 

As CEOs, we’re wired to move forward—always focused on your First Team’s effectiveness, resolving the next challenge, and focused on the next strategic move. But before you start laying the groundwork for 2025, it’s crucial to hit pause and take a moment to reflect on your 2024 performance. Evaluating where you’ve been is the key to positioning your business for where

As 2024 comes to a close, it’s the perfect time to reflect on your company’s performance and start positioning your business for success in 2025. The business landscape is evolving rapidly, and as a CEO, your leadership and foresight will determine whether your organization thrives or stalls in the coming year. To get ahead, here

Here’s the reality: If you want to hit the ground running in 2025, now is the time to start planning. The earlier you begin, the more time you have to identify gaps, implement changes, and ensure your First Team and their teams are fully aligned. Scrambling at the end of the year, or worse, early next year, makes

In our previous blog, we discussed the sixth and final thing that only a CEO can do, Engaging Stakeholders and why that matters.  This week, I wanted to talk about “how” you do that!  Here are four practical steps that you, as a mid-market CEO, can implement to strengthen stakeholder engagement and ensure that everyone feels connected