CEO

The panoply of upheavals that 2020 brought, from existential and economic to social and environmental, was a rollercoaster of storm clouds and silver-linings.. The shift to remote work that stirred chaos and left many feeling isolated simultaneously created flexibility in how, when and where people worked, giving them space back to care for themselves and

From Gordon Gecko in ‘Wall Street’ to Miranda Priestly in ‘The Devil Wears Prada’, a bad boss story makes a good movie. However, when you are working for one, it’s not so much fun. A horrible boss can make your working day feel like hell and impact your effectiveness and self-esteem.  Dealing with a bad

Construction is a complex, tough industry in the best of times. These past two-plus years have shone a light on the absence of mental health consideration in the workplace—it urgently needs to be addressed across all industries, and especially in construction. While incredibly rewarding, construction is one of the most taxing, challenging jobs—frontline teams can

Many people think of part-time work as a zero-sum game. They know there are benefits for the individuals who work part-time, including better life balance and improved well-being. But they assume it’s only a downside and inconvenience for organizations. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. Part-time work, done well, can drive hugely

In a period marked by never-ending challenges for employers, there is a little bit of good news. The Great Resignation may have peaked. Resignations are leveling off at just below 3% monthly, and it’s clear that most American workers are less inclined to throw in the towel and quit their jobs. We’re also observing that

No business can succeed without a strategic plan. Yet, based on my fifty years of experience leading companies like Reebok and HBO Video, I’ve come to realize that often the biggest hurdle to creating a plan is figuring out exactly what business you’re in. Below is my step-by-step formula for building a strategic plan that

Recent IT and technology advancements such as cloud computing and storage allow business owners access to unlimited IT capacity, which is impossible with hard storage methods. As IT systems become more complex, the continued optimization of cloud services will allow these companies to scale faster, be more flexible, and accelerate business operations. While implementing emerging

In every organizational relationship, there’s an accountability equation at play. Accountability matters because it functions as the invisible thread that enables effective interactions with others.   But in its traditional sense, accountability is thought of as having to answer to or justify your actions to someone who has power over you. This person assumes the role

For the first time in about two decades, workers have begun to feel less safe at work. According to Gallup figures from 2020, the number of employees who report being satisfied with their employers’ safety measures has plummeted by 9%. That’s not what you want if you’re trying to compete in today’s hyper-disrupted market. When

In April, I wrote a piece titled Go Team!, which covered Eliud Kipchoge’s quest to break the two-hour barrier for running a marathon and the team that helped him as part of the INEOS 1:59 Challenge. Finishing at a blistering 1:59:40, Kipchoge achieved the goal and challenged us all to shed our self-limiting beliefs no

How many of us have heard the advice that we need to “get out of our comfort zone” in order to be successful?    My survey of hundreds of entrepreneurs asked whether they felt it was important to get out of their comfort zone to be successful. The overwhelming majority agreed. This means that they’d bought

Think of companies that once offered a useful product or service, for example, Blockbuster. Now think of how you watch films at home. How do CEOs, professionals, and companies stay in the game and keep hitting home runs? Being nimble is a critical success factor for companies, CEOs, CMOs, CFOs, and every member of the C-suite.

Leadership is about getting results. The whole point of leadership is to produce outcomes that didn’t exist before. And those outcomes are much more likely to happen when the leader and those being led are fully committed to making those outcomes happen. That commitment has to start with the leader.    Few things motivate a group

“The greatest danger in times of turbulence is not the turbulence; it is to act with yesterday’s logic” – so said management guru Peter Drucker, in a truism that speaks volumes in a post-Covid age.  The US labor market stands at a crossroads right now, with new and volatile crosswinds – including surging job openings,

Editor’s Note: the Patriots in Business Award presented annually by Chief Executive and Thayer Leadership recognizes outstanding businesses that lead our nation in supporting active duty military members, veterans and their families and exemplify the values of Duty, Honor and Country through their business practices and throughout their community and industry. Through their initiatives on hiring, training, supporting, and

Automation tools can propel new opportunities in your business by freeing up employees’ time to spend on higher-value tasks. As a result, those employees feel more empowered and engaged. Learn about these advantages and other ways automation can help you take care of employees and better serve customers. Leaders spend time talking about the value

A comprehensive Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) strategy should be part of the blueprint for any leading organization, but successfully implementing it can be a challenge even for leaders with the best of intentions. An effective strategy will address the inherent disparity or unfairness in the typical hiring process and lead to better representation for traditionally

Many view CEOs as the brains of an enterprise – the passion-driven, logistics-obsessed leader who is always thinking ten steps ahead and dreaming up new ways to make the company more successful. But what happens when CEOs get bogged down by the day-to-day pressures of running a company? How can they maintain their creativity and

As the skills crunch continues to challenge many industries, employers are trying something new to get people into their vacant seats. Many are no longer requiring job-seekers to have college degrees. Rather, they are looking to skills-based hiring to meet their needs. And, while college degrees will likely always be the path to greater economic and career

Editor’s Note: MIT’s McAfee will keynote our Sept. 28 CEO Talent Summit (hosted virtually) along with former Medtronic CEO Bill George and Verizon CHRO Samantha Hammock. It’ll be a great session to help you develop the workforce strategy you need for the unpredictable year—and years—ahead. Join Us! More Information > The last time I talked