Posts Tagged With ‘ Business Consulting ’

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... Continue Reading

If you are thinking about making a change at work, at home or for yourself, don’t take the scenic route. We’ve all done it. You went on a trip. Somewhere along the way you see signs for the scenic route. So you take a detour. You begin traveling down smaller, winding roads. You see fewer cars, trucks and congestion. While the views are truly magnificent, you run into road blocks. Maybe the blockage is road repair where the lane is closed and you have to wait for oncoming traffic to drive by while you wait your turn to go. <img data-attachment-id="9799" data-permalink="https://dougthorpe.com/want-real-change-dont-take-the-scenic-route/roadside-warning-of-flagman-ahead-at-yellowstone-national-park/"... Continue Reading

  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 face in life and in business model these three types of wind as well. If we consider all the forms of challenge we face, we can boil it down into these three categories. However, it might be interesting to compare the pilot’s concern with each of these winds as we think about our daily responses to life’s... Continue Reading

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 CHANGE, there is one vital aspect you should explore. PROGRESS is what you should be focused on. Change for the sake of change is meaningless. However, progress toward a new goal or achievement is more vital and more valuable to your organization. Dean Lindsay, America’s... Continue Reading

Company culture. It’s a buzzword thrown around in boardrooms and plastered across job postings. But what exactly is it, and how do you achieve it? There seems to be a common misconception: culture is something you build, a foundation laid from scratch. But a thriving company culture is more akin to a garden – something nurtured and encouraged to grow organically. This post dives into the difference between building and growing a company culture, exploring the benefits of the latter and offering tips for cultivating a positive and thriving work environment. Building vs. Growing: A Tale of Two... Continue Reading

Many years ago, a business coach and mentor I knew named Gerry Fusco introduced me to a phrase he invented. Return on invested time (ROIT). As business owners and leaders, we know about ROI, ROE, EBITDA, SDE, etc. But have you ever spent any waking hours measuring ROIT? We make plans, build budgets, measure KPIs, and do many other quantitative things to assess business performance yet we seldom ask about the time we spend and the return on THAT! However, time is the one thing that can be the most valuable commodity you manage. Or does time manage you? There are so many related questions to ask... Continue Reading

We often imagine leadership as a grand production. Spotlight moments, heroic decisions, and sweeping pronouncements come to mind. But what if the key to building a truly impactful reputation isn’t found in these blockbuster scenes? What if it lies in the quiet, seemingly insignificant interactions that fill our daily lives? The truth is, leadership isn’t a one-time performance; it’s an ongoing narrative woven from countless threads. Each conversation, each decision, each gesture contributes to the tapestry of how you’re perceived by those around you. These small moments, not the big events,... Continue Reading

In a world obsessed with hustle culture and #winning, the pressure to achieve perfection is omnipresent. We push ourselves to the limit, fueled by the belief that anything less than perfect is failure. But what if this relentless pursuit of flawlessness is actually holding us back? What if, in our quest for the unattainable 100%, we’re sacrificing the perfectly good 80% that could be more than enough? Consider the Cost The truth is, striving for perfection comes at a steep price. It leads to: Burnout and exhaustion: The constant pressure to be perfect takes a toll on our mental and physical... Continue Reading

In the grand theatre of leadership, there’s a delicate dance playing out on the main stage: the display of expertise. On one hand, we have the confident captains, radiating knowledge like beacons, guiding their teams through uncharted waters. On the other, lurk the know-it-alls, tripping over their own pronouncements, leaving trails of deflated egos and resentful whispers in their wake. The key, then, lies not in shunning expertise, but in mastering a crucial art form: leading with humility. Humility in leadership isn’t about shrinking your brilliance or dimming your light. It’s about harnessing... Continue Reading

In today’s competitive landscape, effective leadership isn’t just about driving results; it’s about building trust, inspiring vision, and establishing yourself as a recognized authority. This is where the concept of personal branding for leaders comes into play. It’s about crafting a unique and authentic image that resonates with your audience, both within and outside your organization. But for business owners and managers, the challenge lies in blending this personal brand with the leadership persona your role demands. So, how do you navigate this dual identity and leverage it for optimum... Continue Reading