While last week’s market plunge was a shock to the system, it was only mildly surprising. The global economy seems to be hanging on by a string. The energy sector is depressed. China suffers from over-investment, the devaluing of its currency, corruption and a...

I recently found myself in a conversation indicative of the generational divide. I was shopping for bands for my new Apple Watch in the Apple Store and the young man helping me was talking about his generation’s fascination with devices. He said, “Sometimes my iPhone...

The Recovery-Less Recovery The Feds recent language about its unwillingness to raise interest rates is a sign of discomfort on the part of many of the world’s leading economists. The recent melt down in Greece only illustrates ongoing weakness in Europe. Closer to...

Making Your Own Breaks Twitter co-founder Biz Stone, was never much of a conformist. While athletically inclined, he did not participate in sports at a young age. While he lived in an affluent area, his family was on welfare, and he took odd jobs to make ends meet. In...

Managing from the Inside Out It is pretty easy for companies to be consumed by what is happening in the outside world. As professional strategic planning facilitators, we preach the need for constant evaluation of external forces. Yet the value delivered by a company...

Performance Management: Don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater! In a controversial new article in the Harvard Business Review, Marcus Buckingham and Ashley Goodall recount their experiences in reshaping Deloitte’s performance management system. The article calls...

The Future Ain't What it Used to Be... In my speeches around North America, I talk a lot about the transformational nature of business. Such conversations can make people very uncomfortable. The notion that a small or mid-market company could do something radical...

5 Steps for Employers in Crisis Our firm has dozens of clients who all have a common problem, they can’t find qualified workers. Last month’s disappointing job report reflects an employment market that has expanded for 15 consecutive months. The unemployment rate of...

The Profession of Management I live in California which has one of the best state college systems in the country. While the University of California (UC) system has ten campuses and a world renowned focus on the sciences and research, only two campuses offer...