Speaking of Leadership^® Blog

Reading Time: < 1 minute Half the population of the US has a LinkedIn profile.  That’s a pretty good data set for analyzing the workforce and gaining a “unique insight into the real-time dynamics of Americans starting new jobs, learning new skills and moving to new cities.”  LinkedIn offers a monthly report on workforce dynamics for the

Reading Time: < 1 minute The fourth quarter starts on October 1 and many companies will begin their annual planning rituals for 2019 and beyond.   For many, the ritual assumes a future that looks pretty much like the past and produces a slightly larger version of what they already have.  This is comforting but bound to

Reading Time: < 1 minute Most of us have participated in a planning session using SWOT analysis  (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats).  Often, participants offer suggestions that however well-intentioned, are just “top of mind” or limited to their own area of responsibility or expertise.  This is especially true for weaknesses and threats which often come from outside

Reading Time: < 1 minute Automation has impacted the manufacturing of every product, reducing the amount of labor required to produce everything. If you’d like an object lesson on the impact of automation, look no further than Mr. Rogers (that’s right, the late Fred Rogers of Mr. Rogers neighborhood) and Wired Magazine. Over three decades ago, 

Reading Time: < 1 minute Motivational speaker Jim Rohn famously remarked that  “you’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” ( Or, alternatively, as James Michener wrote, “Bad companions bring bad luck”)  The question is: who should these five people be?  One answer, and maybe the best one,  is “mentors.” Clearly, having

Reading Time: < 1 minute A 50/50 Proposition:   ITR Economics’ President Alan Beaulieu looks at the latest in the tariff tiff and analyzes the back and forth especially between the US and China.  He sorts out the winners and losers and explores whether it will be 50/50   He also sees some ominous signs from stock markets outside

Reading Time: < 1 minute Spouses often complain that their partner brings the office home with them.   Good managers know that the reverse is also true.  This short but insightful article from HBR may help you understand the source of unexpected behavior when your co-workers behave unpredictably…… and why that behavior often has nothing to do with the

Reading Time: < 1 minute Many CEOs have taken a great salesperson and turned them into a mediocre (or worse) sales manager. The folly of this is almost a proverb, yet many leaders keep hoping their superstar in the field will be able to share his or her “secret sauce” with their entire sales force.   Taking

Reading Time: < 1 minute Everyone knows there’s a war for talent, but there are some aspects of it that may surprise you.  For example, despite the hot economy, many workers are finding their wages not keeping pace….unless they quit.  A recent Associated Press article indicates that workers who leave their jobs are enjoying raises that are

Reading Time: < 1 minute The most important person you ever manage is yourself.  Every person’s time talent and energy is finite, so your career advancement involves making choices about your behavior that provide the choices you want. To wit:  Facebook COO Cheryl Sandberg offers some advice in a very short article about whether you are