Picture this: You’re sitting in your office at 2 PM, staring at a critical strategic document that needs your full attention. Your calendar is perfectly organized, your to-do list is color-coded, and you’ve blocked out exactly two hours for this task. But your brain feels like it’s swimming through molasses. Every sentence takes twice as […]
Picture this: It’s Monday morning, and your inbox is already overflowing. Your phone buzzes with three “urgent” requests, two team members need immediate guidance, and that strategic planning session you’ve been putting off is staring at you from your calendar. Sound familiar? If you’re nodding your head, you’re not alone. Every leader faces the same […]
Picture this: You’re driving down a busy highway when suddenly traffic starts backing up ahead. What do you do? You observe the situation, orient yourself to understand what’s happening, decide on the best lane to switch to, and then act by making your move. Congratulations – you just used the OODA Loop without even knowing […]
I’ve been using the phrase “Leadership Powered by Common Sense” for years. It’s been my tagline, my podcast name, my brand identifier. But lately, I’ve realized something troubling: nobody really knows what it means. Including me, sometimes. When I say “common sense leadership,” people nod knowingly. But when I dig deeper—when I ask what they […]
The call came at 11:47 PM on a Tuesday. Sarah, a VP at a fast-growing tech company, was supposed to be celebrating—her team had just closed their biggest deal of the year. Instead, she was sitting in her home office, laptop open, responding to “urgent” emails that could have waited until morning. “Doug,” she said […]
Here’s the third article in the “Stop Leading On Empty” series: “They just don’t have work ethic,” complained the CEO about his Gen Z employees. Meanwhile, those same employees were working side hustles, building personal brands, and questioning why “face time” mattered more than results. The disconnect was so profound that within six months, he’d […]
You’ve said it a dozen times. Maybe two dozen. Your team nods, takes notes, asks clarifying questions. The meeting ends with what feels like alignment. Then a week later, you’re staring at results that look nothing like what you discussed. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. Most executives I work with are brilliant strategists and capable […]
“If you give me a lever and a place to stand, I can move the world.” – Archimedes Most of us share a common drive: we want to make a real difference. We want our work to matter, our efforts to count, and our impact to ripple outward in meaningful ways. But here’s the frustrating […]
Business startup concept.Young man working together with partner in modern office loft ” data-medium-file=”https://babyboomer.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/122593614_m-650×434-1.jpg” data-large-file=”https://dougthorpe.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/122593614_m-1024×683.jpg” /> In today’s business landscape, leadership theories and methodologies seem to multiply by the day. From transformational leadership to servant leadership, from agile frameworks to complex management matrices—the sheer volume of leadership advice can be overwhelming. Yet, what if the […]
Picture this: You walk into your office and notice something feels off. People are going through the motions, but that spark—that energy that makes a team truly hum—is missing. You’re not alone. Employee engagement has hit a 10-year low, with only 31% of U.S. employees truly engaged at work, down from its peak of 36% […]
