Speaking of Leadership^® Blog

Reading Time: 3 minutes As we close the door on 2011, it is time to reflect on those aspects of our life for which we are grateful. In spite of the economic environment and the status of our professional lives (they actually may be very positive!), we can turn to other facets of our

Reading Time: 4 minutes Like most people who reside in the greater Boston community, I have been following closely the Catholic Church sexual abuse scandal and the increasing legal and leadership pain that the church faces. Because of the human drama involved and my interest in leadership, I can’t help but be drawn into

Reading Time: 1 minute Senator Trent Lott, majority leader of the United States Senate had a misstep with words that could—or should—cost him his job. He referred to Senator Strom Thurman’s candidacy for President of the United States in 1948 (one that supported segregationist policies) as being good for the country. At that time,

Reading Time: 2 minutes One of the most complicated areas of leadership is the skill required to truly produce change. The need for change often comes about because of a crisis and frequently the focal point is on financial performance. Major change may be caused by a sustained competitive attack, the integration of two

Reading Time: 3 minutes As we move into the end of the year for company financial reporting, corporate executives are wrestling with the implications of the newly passed Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The Act is named after Paul S. Sarbanes, senator from the State of Maryland, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, and member

Reading Time: 3 minutes One of the most important jobs of a leader—and difficult, I might add—is to gauge the need for organizational change, relate it to the business environment, and then convince the troops that organizational change is not only necessary but desirable. Let me explain. When the external environment is in sync

Reading Time: 2 minutes Generally, leaders are value-based individuals whereas managers are more rules based. However, as a response to the Enron and WorldCom fiascos, the US Congress and other regulatory bodies are tightening the rules regarding corporate governance. Because ethical values are missing, corporate ethics have been newly defined by rigorous rules, ones

Reading Time: 2 minutes As corporate leaders, we evaluate our employees and expect them to do the job up to our standards. Sometimes our standards are out of sync with their ability or training. After all, these individuals have not traveled in the same shoes as we have and may not have the skills

Reading Time: 2 minutes How often have we seen the accountants pushed aside, the decision-makers not respecting their input on the company’s plans. “Oh, what do you know about the business” is typically the unspoken attitude. However, in these economic times, accounting and finance play an even larger role in the company’s plans. Let’s

Reading Time: 2 minutes I found myself weeping the other day as I read the letter from my sixth-grade son’s school telling us of the elaborate preparations they have taken to be ready for tomorrow. They will have an all-school meeting and the school psychologist will be available for the kids and their parents.