In the relentless pursuit of productivity and profitability, many leaders find themselves deeply entrenched in operational details. While these metrics are undeniably important, they often overshadow a far more critical aspect of leadership: the cultivation of strong, personal relationships with team members. It’s a paradox of modern business that the very people who drive success […]

The business world is a dynamic ecosystem. Trends, technologies, and customer needs can morph overnight, leaving unprepared leaders scrambling to catch up. As a leader, staying abreast of changes within and outside your organization is not just a box to tick; it’s the cornerstone of sustainable success. This blog post dives into the essential strategies […]

How We Stitch Together Our Management Style We all enter leadership roles with a mental toolbox. Inside, a jumble of experiences, observations, and influences – a patchwork quilt of ideas, behaviors, and values. Some threads come from mentors we admire, others from bosses we swore to never emulate. This post delves into how our leadership […]

Father’s Day offers a unique opportunity to reflect on the often-overlooked parallels between parenthood and leadership. As we honor fathers, it’s essential to recognize that the skills required to be an effective parent are remarkably similar to those needed to excel in leadership roles. Both arenas demand patience, guidance, and the ability to inspire and […]

If you’ve ever envisioned yourself as a successful business leader, shaping a company’s future and reaping the rewards of your hard work, then you’ve come to the right place. The journey to business ownership is full of exciting opportunities, and it all starts with finding the perfect business to buy. You’ll discover many possibilities in […]

Diverse employees team listening to coworker at corporate meeting in office, colleagues workers involved in briefing, brainstorming discussing project strategy, sharing ideas, partners negotiating ” data-medium-file=”https://dougthorpe.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/admanity-173657588_l-650×433.webp” data-large-file=”https://dougthorpe.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/admanity-173657588_l-1024×683.webp” /> Empathy – it’s a leadership buzzword thrown around a lot. But what does it truly mean to lead with empathy? Sure, it involves understanding emotions and perspectives. […]

As businesses across the globe begin to ponder their choices for reopening in a post-COVID-19 world, people will be faced with choices. While governmental restrictions dictate some of those choices, it appears all other choices will be left up to the owner/manager. Are you ready to take a chance? The choices will involve taking chances. […]

  In learning how to fly an airplane, one of the first lessons has to do with understanding winds. Winds come in basically three types; Head winds – those hit you right in the face Tail winds – those from behind Cross winds – those at angles from the side I believe the challenges we […]

What Exactly Is Presence? Presence is letting the most powerful version of yourself shine through. I like to cite the renowned leadership expert Sylvia Ann Hewlett, who defines “presence” as a combination of gravitas, communication, and appearance. Together, these elements form an impression of trustworthiness, competence, and authenticity. Gravitas is signaling that you have the […]

In today’s complex business world, change is hard. Companies venturing through major culture shifts, mergers or other forms of change often struggle to make it to the end. The idea that people hate change is a phenomenon that is taught, coached and wrestled with in many ways, shapes, and forms. Regardless of your mindset about […]