Failed projects can cost a lot of money and, often worse, time. There are other costs as well: demoralized stakeholders and investors, disappointed managers and employees who worked on the project, and upset customers. A failed project can do damage to your company that can take years to fix. Many projects either fail to meet … Read more
Most meetings are dominated by a few big talkers who have a lot to say about everything. While they can be valuable contributors to your meetings, they can also silence some of your less confident team members. However, the quiet participants might have ideas that could contribute a lot to the meeting as well. To … Read more
Sometimes there’s no way around it. Sometimes the economic conditions make it urgent. Sometimes senior management is simply demanding efficiencies. Whatever the cause, when cuts and layoffs are inevitable, businesses, and the leaders within them, are much better off when they embrace cuts as a moment for creativity and innovation. In Japan, where monolithic corporations … Read more
Thinker and politician Niccolo Machiavelli ignited a 16th-century moral controversy when he condoned political murder in The Prince, his guide for the Italian noblemen that surrounded him. Of course, the murderous conduct of Renaissance noblemen is well behind us, but Machiavelli’s insights on human behavior remain relevant. His realistic, tough, but fair approach to leadership … Read more