My wife, Christine, still remembers how, in the early years at Green Mountain, I would often lie awake at night repeating the specific revenue and profit numbers I wanted the company to hit six months out, a year out, and even further in the future: “In three years, we’ll do this much product, and it … Read more
Today, it is cool to be kind in the corporate world. CEOs are expected to promote work life balance. CHROs now organize reset activities like team meditation sessions and walking meetings. And CFOs today realize that happy employees lead to a better bottom line. All these initiatives have one thing in common: simple, human kindness. … Read more
Tara VanDerveer, former coach of Stanford University’s women’s basketball team, is the most winning college basketball coach in history—men’s or women’s. I recently had the pleasure of interviewing the legendary coach for my podcast Think Fast, Talk Smart, and she shared with me profound insights on leadership, communication, and team dynamics. VanDerveer’s advice offers valuable … Read more
Leaders often preach about the importance of building a healthy company culture. Understandably, companies have historically mainly been primarily in building cultures that define and promote their corporation’s values, norms, and beliefs. But while workplace culture is important, it does not ensure that the diverse needs of its members are taken into account. Instead, the … Read more
We are officially halfway through summer. And while summer is a time for fun and sun it is also a natural inflection point for taking stock of the year’s progress. And many workers are feeling midyear burnout. As author Cal Newport explains, burnout happens when we have too much administrative overhead and unnecessary work. The … Read more
What is leadership? Good question. For some, it involves delving into a lucky bag of inspirational quotes from excellent orators and trying to find a personal fit. For others, it requires the comfort blanket of a plan that worked for someone else in the same field. All leaders scavenge bits and pieces. There’s nothing wrong … Read more
Most people can agree that being a leader requires trustworthiness, responsibility, and having the capacity to make tough decisions. However, a lot of people don’t understand that in order to not only be a good leader, but a great one, it takes a significant amount of self-reflection and self-care. I would actually say that a … Read more
“I don’t have the answers.” These aren’t the phrases we typically expect from business leaders. It’s a shame because we need leaders who possess the curiosity and humility to admit their gaps in knowledge and begin the journey of inquiry. In fact, the key to successful leadership is asking the right questions. Here’s why many … Read more
Recently, as I waited for a delayed flight with zero status updates from the airline, I started thinking about uncertainty. Specifically, why it makes human beings so anxious. Sometimes receiving bad news—that your flight is canceled or that you accidentally throw out your keys—is preferable to anxiously wondering. When the stakes are high, uncertainty can … Read more
It can be difficult to maintain high employee morale throughout a major transition, such as a merger or acquisition. Employees are often referred to as the most important assets of a company, and their reaction to change can have a tangible impact on the success of any merger process. According to a 2020 EY report, … Read more
