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I applaud what McDonald’s did from the start; create extraordinary results from ordinary people through the repeatable system. In fact it’s the basis for Pillar 4 of the Big6 Operating System: build, teach, institutionalize and continuously improve processes (incl. systems, protocols) across the organization.  But processes are not enough. We can know what to do and still

So you did a good job qualifying the candidate and you found the “A” player you need.  You’re excited – and ready to bring them in. Great!  To do that though, you have to lure them away from their current position.  But unfortunately they may be OK where they are and, although intrigued by your

“Human beings seem to have an almost unlimited capacity to deceive themselves”. — R.D Laing Here’s a great topic we all need to master: honesty with ourselves. We’ve all been there, haven’t we? Maybe you convinced yourself that a struggling project would magically turn around—despite all signs pointing the other way. Or perhaps you told

The theory behind The Tipping Point is understanding when cultural movements, products and services “tip” and go viral. Nike wasn’t the first sneaker company. The iPhone was not the first smartphone. Facebook was not the first social media company. Google was not the first search engine. However, they are an integral part of our daily lives in

In order to achieve your highest potential, you must harness the 5 powers of a sage, as outlined by Shirzad Chamine in the book Positive Intelligence. These powers—empathy, exploration, innovation, navigation, and activation—serve as essential pillars that strengthen your ability to thrive and lead a more fulfilled life. Much like the key principles in Malcolm

“Business opportunities are like buses, there’s always another one coming.” – Richard Branson. No matter how many times you have failed and no matter how many buses you miss, rest assured—there is always another one on the way. This perspective is essential for entrepreneurs, leaders, and innovators alike. While failure can feel final, it’s often

The 20th century French philosopher, Albert Camus, famously said “Life is the sum of all our choices.” How true! Our choices do matter… what profession we choose, who we marry, who we spend time with, what we eat, what we read, and so on. Many times we make a choice by not making a choice. We

Let’s talk about how to build a winning team using the Jack Welch matrix.  Jack Welch was the best CEO of the 1980s and 90s having increased GE’s market value 30X from $14billion to $410 billion.  One of the tools he used was a Performance-Values matrix that rates values and behaviors more highly than performance.  Winning

Getting the right people in the right seats is the foundation of a winning team. But what does it mean and how do we approach it?  Well, let’s start with “RIGHT PEOPLE.”  Jim Collins, author of the classic management book Good to Great, says this: I agree. Right People refers to underlying culture. But what is culture exactly?    “If you

Well, actually, let’s ban all BAD meetings. Meetings that start late, go on too long, get lost down rabbit holes, include people who aren’t relevant, are dominated by strong or loud personalities, rehash what’s been discussed umpteen times before, etc..  Let’s ban meetings! No good comes from them, at all … ! We all know

Grit and relaxation—two forces that seem at odds but are both crucial for success and well-being. In our lives, it’s about modulating our energy—pushing hard when we need to, but also taking time to truly unplug and recover. Video transcript: I wanted to talk with you about grit grit and relaxation okay putting in the

High performing teams make mostly good, often great, decisions most of the time.   Let’s say you’re deciding on new product features. Pick the right ones and the product is a hit. Pick the wrong ones and it languishes or flops. The difference can represent millions of dollars and possibly the survival of your business.   And

Putting out fires and plugging leaks in your business is a losing strategy – there’s no end. Especially as your company grows, complexity increases and problems multiply.   Instead of addressing the problem piecemeal, take a holistic approach and systematically go from reacting to attacking. How? Understand that a business is People, Team and Process. Get

In an earlier piece I laid out exactly how to design your company’s ideal culture by identifying desired behaviors and describing them in relation to values. The outcome is a list of values and descriptive behaviors that your people understand clearly.   Once you have your values listed, it’s a matter of putting them into action.

Most managers know that culture plays a big role in shaping a company’s success. But most aren’t clear on exactly how to establish a strong, productive, culture on their team. And because of that, culture never achieves its full potential.   Many of us have been in a negative, unproductive, culture somewhere along the way.  We’ve

How to be a good person and still win the game Bad News? I was recently diagnosed with Melanoma. But my dermatologist told me that the kind I have won’t kill me anytime soon and that she’s qualified to remove it. Good news!   When I got home, my wife and daughter asked if I’d be

Does Your Mindset Support Your Ambition? “We are making a ton of mistakes, and I’m thrilled!” That’s what a seasoned CEO recently told me. She was referring to a new market expansion project that she is convinced will eventually double her company’s revenues and profits. Celebrating Missteps  I say eventually because at the moment things