Speaking of Leadership^® Blog

Reading Time: < 1 minute One of the hardest things for CEOs to get right is how to pay people….but most of them would agree that variable commissions are essential to properly incent sales people.  An Inc Magazine article looks at incentive compensation for sales people and suggests that in companies with good cultures that Sales

Reading Time: < 1 minute Many of us can think of a chance encounter with someone that took an interest in us that led to a new job, career, spouse or destiny that we weren’t looking for or didn’t expect. Instead of waiting for that “big break” , why not make it happen.  Check out this short article from Forbes that

Reading Time: < 1 minute It can be hard to give the young people in your life advice because of the age difference.  So here’s some advice from a younger person for his peers that I wish someone had given me.   Pass on 20 things I Should have known at 20  to someone with more years ahead than

Reading Time: < 1 minute The aviation industry has always been cutting edge when it comes to developing and using new technology, most notably the autopilot function in aircraft.  But there are no unmixed blessings in life and technology is no exception.  The Hazards of Going on Autopilot.” from the New Yorker begins by looking at the use

Reading Time: < 1 minute The unexpected death of iconic comedian Joan Rivers brought the usual torrent of information from celebrity sources that either did not know her, wish they did, wished they didn’t …or wished she knew them! One of the more thoughtful  tributes to Rivers came from someone who actually knew her well.

Reading Time: < 1 minute Henry Ford once remarked that he didn’t do market research because if he asked people want they wanted they would have said a faster horse!  He trusted his instinct as to what the customer would want even if they themselves could not articulate it today.  He built it and they came. (Though

Reading Time: < 1 minute It’s amazing how a small change in how we ask a question can lead to a big difference in the answers. Researchers compared the impact on creative problem solving when a question we ask everyday  was altered ever so slightly; in fact by changing only one word.  A very short article summarizes their findings and

Reading Time: 2 minutes The art of competition requires a sense of where , and where not, to play.  In the music business, it turns out that knowing what to play is equally important.  Case in point: Jethro Tull,  one of the most successful and enduring rock and roll bands in the world led by frontman Ian Anderson for nearly

Reading Time: < 1 minute First it was secretaries and receptionists, then it was caller ID, next it was voicemail.  These are just a few of the obstacles which have kept us from connecting to decision makers whom we are convinced need our help; but for some strange reason think they have better things to

Reading Time: < 1 minute Making the shortlist is more important than ever in world of increasing competition and “make or break” contracts. In an era dominated by a short term mentality, Marketing Guru Seth Godin has some quick common sense for getting on this list that will not only serve you and your team well, but the