N2Growth Blog

FEBRUARY 18, 2013

By Mike Myatt , Chief Strategy Officer, N2growth . The point I want you to take away from the video above and the text that follows is an avalanche need not always end in disaster. Pushing the envelope is something all leaders must get comfortable with. It’s when leaders push themselves and those they lead past comfort zones that great things happen.

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N2Growth Blog

DECEMBER 5, 2013

'By Patricia Lenkov , Chair, Executive Search, N2growth. The time honored Hans Christian Anderson tale about the emperor and his new clothes, or lack thereof, bears significance for corporate boardrooms today. To remind you of this story, an Emperor cares very little about his responsibilities and only about wearing fine clothes. Two dishonest weavers promise the Emperor new clothes made of such high quality fabric that they are invisible to anyone who is stupid or incompetent.

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N2Growth Blog

DECEMBER 18, 2013

'By Brian Layer , Chair, Organizational Development, N2growth. Marissa Mayer is in trouble. Information recently spilled through the Yahoo firewall that she is habitually late. Evidently she has the tardy gene, a degenerative marker that becomes symptomatic with a little authority and can become chronic with a lot. She is not alone; many bosses do things they shouldn’t when they can.

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Mission Statement Uncertainty Objective Follow-up 391

N2Growth Blog

NOVEMBER 17, 2013

'By Mike Myatt , Chief Executive Officer, N2growth . I do quite a bit of work on matters of board composition, selection and succession, and what I can tell you is this; board diversity is simply smart business. You’ll never hear me recommend diversity solely for the sake of checking a box, but when diversity in the boardroom offers so many benefits to the CEO (and to the entire organization) it’s nothing short of irresponsible for chief executives not to place their board composition under th

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N2Growth Blog

OCTOBER 10, 2013

'By Mike Myatt , Chief Executive Officer, N2growth . While today’s column could focus solely on the government shutdown or various components thereof, a lack of leadership isn’t just a problem in the United States; it’s a global problem. It’s also much more than an indictment on global politics; it’s a systemic problem that pervades every level of society.

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Crisis Chief Executive Officer Leadership Globalization 382

N2Growth Blog

JUNE 11, 2013

'By John Baldoni , Chair, Leadership Development, N2growth. Does a leader need an enemy to succeed? While fear of an enemy is always a great unifier, it does pose risks. Essentially you are calling people to come together for a negative rather than a positive. Case in point might be Abraham Lincoln in the Civil War. While the Confederacy always considered Lincoln the enemy, Lincoln as president viewed it differently.

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N2Growth Blog

MAY 30, 2013

'By John Baldoni , Chair, Leadership Development, N2growth. Management is your day job; leadership is your career. That is a variation on a comment I heard recently from an executive who was speaking about the responsibilities that senior managers have to lead their organizations through change. Managers are expected to handle the workload; leaders are expected to determine what comes next.

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Advice Management Delegation Executive Coaching 378

N2Growth Blog

DECEMBER 13, 2013

'By Mike Myatt , Chief Executive Officer, N2growth . I’ve always believed leadership exists to disrupt mediocrity, but I’m afraid in recent times many leaders are losing that battle. Somewhere along the way, they threw in the towel and settled for a weak-kneed, watered-down version of leadership – they have rationalized and justified themselves into an acceptance of mediocrity.

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Chief Executive Officer Leadership Risk Management Education 370

N2Growth Blog

JUNE 17, 2013

'By Mike Myatt , Chief Executive Officer, N2growth . The secret to leadership is there aren’t any real secrets. The best leaders have simply gone to school on improving their tradecraft. While the capabilities possessed by the best leaders might seem otherworldly to many, they are merely the outcome of hard work, experience, perspective, and yes, a bit of luck.

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Chief Executive Officer Crisis Management Crisis Operations 370

N2Growth Blog

MARCH 21, 2013

By Mike Myatt , Chief Strategy Officer, N2growth. Have you ever wondered why organizations tolerate dysfunctional leaders? The answer is dysfunction is so prevalent it’s often not even recognized as problematic. Many corporations just desire leaders to go along and get along more than they desire them to lead. It saddens me to articulate this next thought – corporate leadership is rapidly becoming an oxymoron.

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N2Growth Blog

JUNE 19, 2013

'By Brian Layer , Chair, Organizational Development, N2growth. Lately I’ve seen several leaders trip over the unexpected outcome of a grand plan. They failed to anticipate the mistakes and mishaps that happen in all organizations. When I see an outcome surprise a leader, I’m reminded of a lesson I learned years ago from my Dad. He had been a great football coach and when I expressed interest in playing quarterback, he agreed to teach me how.

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Contingency Plans Crisis Crisis Management Learning-by-Doing 365

N2Growth Blog

JUNE 15, 2013

'By Patricia Lenkov , Chair, Executive Search, N2growth. Dell Computer and the story of its potentially going private have occupied many a news column of late. In the most recent turn of events, Blackstone Group withdrew its bid for the company after making the determination that Dell’s future and the PC industry looks bleak. Throughout all this I cannot help but ask what seems to be a fundamental underlying question about this company, and that is, who should lead Dell going forward?

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N2Growth Blog

APRIL 9, 2013

'By Mike Myatt , Chief Strategy Officer, N2growth. It’s not hard to lead talented people with an aligned vision who fall under the umbrella of an iconic brand that has a cult-like consumer following. This describes Ron Johnson’s role as head of Apple’s retail operation prior to assuming the CEO role at J.C. Penney. Johnson was fired today by JCP as his efforts to rebrand and turnaround the struggling retailer failed to get traction.

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CEO Retail Brand Business Model 355

N2Growth Blog

APRIL 3, 2013

By Mike Myatt , Chief Strategy Officer, N2growth. How a leader deals with pressure will tell you much about who they are as a person. Their reaction to pressure will reveal the strength of their character and conviction, what and whom they value, and whether or not they can be trusted. The reality is most people buckle under pressure. Only a few handle pressure well, and even fewer possess the qualities to be able to thrive on pressure.

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Leadership Quality Strategy Succession 355

N2Growth Blog

OCTOBER 30, 2013

'By Brian Layer , Chair, Organizational Development, N2growth. When you want to know how your leadership is working–ask. Years ago, I learned this lesson when I received some unsolicited advice that challenged my professionalism, served as a wakeup call, and changed the arc of my career. The counsel came from a subordinate as I was leaving an important leadership position but it would have come earlier if I had only asked.

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Leadership Styles Follow-up Learning-by-Doing Advice 349

N2Growth Blog

NOVEMBER 10, 2013

'By Brian Layer , Chair, Organizational Development, N2growth. Beware how you take away hope from another human being— Oliver Wendell Holmes. This week, the Miami Dolphins stole headlines from their NFL competitors. Unfortunately for the league, the Dolphins, and the rest of us, the way their players talk and not the way they play invited the scrutiny.

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Insurance Definition Follow-up Leadership 343

N2Growth Blog

OCTOBER 24, 2013

'By Mike Myatt , Chief Executive Officer, N2growth . If you ever wonder why we’re in a crisis of leadership all you have to do is to watch and listen to those in positions of leadership. While there are clearly many aspects of leadership that must work together in harmony in order for leaders to be effective, everything breaks down when leaders don’t understand how to engage effectively.

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Chief Executive Officer Leadership Crisis Operations 343

N2Growth Blog

SEPTEMBER 9, 2013

'By John Baldoni , Chair, Leadership Development, N2growth. One question I hear from executives is this: How can I tell if people want to follow me? The answer to that question lies in your example. The way you communicate, challenge, plan and evaluate. Here are five questions to ask yourself to check if you are on track. Thoughts? Follow me on Twitter @JohnBaldoni.

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N2Growth Blog

OCTOBER 16, 2013

'By Mike Myatt , Chief Executive Officer, N2growth . Corporate America’s dependency on consulting firms is nothing short of substance abuse in the purest form. The fact is most CEOs suffer from this very dangerous addiction and they don’t even know it – they are clearly in need of an intervention. Addicts don’t often admit they have a problem. They tend to rationalize and justify their behavior as normal.

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CEO Chief Executive Officer Productivity Products 336

N2Growth Blog

SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

'By Mike Myatt , Chief Executive Officer, N2growth . In this leadership interview, Mike Myatt of N2growth interviews Brad Lomenick of Catalyst. They discuss Brad’s latest book, “The Catalyst Leader,” Catalyst Conferences, Leader Cast, and other leadership topics.

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Chief Executive Officer Leadership Conference Execution 336

N2Growth Blog

MARCH 14, 2013

Clarity Matters. While clarity and brevity may have become a lost art, understanding the importance of clear, lucid, and straight-forward communication is nonetheless critical to your success as a leader. In today’s column I’ll reveal (clearly and briefly) the tricks of those who practice what I call “the black art of confusion” propagated by the ruse of ambiguity.

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Succession Leadership 336

N2Growth Blog

SEPTEMBER 6, 2013

'By Brian Layer , Chair, Organizational Development, N2growth. The U.S. response to Syrian chemical weapons dominates this week’s news. Thankfully, most of our problems are simpler than the President’s, but the Syria puzzle exposes the risk of one leadership tactic–leaders who draw red lines are likely to get stained in the process. We draw these lines for a variety of reasons but mostly because it’s easy.

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Policies Crisis Management Chemicals Crisis 329

N2Growth Blog

SEPTEMBER 3, 2013

'By John Baldoni , Chair, Leadership Development, N2growth. Try to leave out the parts that readers tend to skip. That is Rule No. 10 that Elmore Leonard , a gifted storyteller and author of some 46 novels, posited in an essay on writing for the New York Times in 2001. Leonard died this month and since his passing has brought forth boatloads of praise for this gifted storyteller.

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N2Growth Blog

AUGUST 27, 2013

'By John Baldoni , Chair, Leadership Development, N2growth. Usually if the title of a business book contains the word “idiot” in the title I assume the book is a screed on the perils of working for bosses who are not as smart as the author and therefore deserve belittlement. Such books I avoid like the plague because like subjects of these fevered rants, the authors – often disgruntled employees or self-important consultants – offer little of merit other than an ability to rail against the syst

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Leadership CEO Consultative Leadership Development 329

N2Growth Blog

AUGUST 20, 2013

'By Brian Layer , Chair, Organizational Development, N2growth. Years ago, I picked up a pearl of wisdom from coaching great, John Wooden. Make each day your masterpiece! Living at that level is a powerful and challenging concept. Most of us fall short and it‘s easy to blame our circumstances and those around us for their distraction. Yet, a leader has a duty to perform at the highest possible level and an honest assessment may reveal days laden with missed leadership opportunities.

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N2Growth Blog

AUGUST 1, 2013

'By Brian Layer , Chair, Organizational Development, N2growth. Recently, I approached the entrance of familiar children’s store and saw a dead bird on their doorstep. Decay indicated the time for a proper burial had passed and while disturbed, I was not surprised the employees left it lying in state. The dead bird on the doorstep is a common symptom of a big organization problem and if you run one, you might have a few dead birds of your own.

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Competitive Advantage Talent Management Brand Operations 329

N2Growth Blog

JULY 22, 2013

'By John Baldoni , Chair, Leadership Development, N2growth. Change is part of organizational life — inevitable, unsettling and necessary. Too often when managers are pushed to improve, they make changes without taking stock of the situation and their talent. So, before you embark upon a change process, learn to ask yourself and your team five critical questions.

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N2Growth Blog

OCTOBER 4, 2013

'By Brian Layer , Chair, Organizational Development, N2growth. When I’d consider following someone down a dangerous path in my formative years, my Mother would ask: “Would you jump off a cliff just because he did?” More than once, I earned a lecture about thinking for myself and leading others up the high road. As a young leader, I translated that lesson into a phrase I picked up in the Army: “If it’s stupid, it’s not our policy!”.

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Policies Cooper Maturity Crisis 321

N2Growth Blog

SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

'By Mike Myatt , Chief Executive Officer, N2growth . Leadership not deeply rooted in a foundation of truth is leadership destined to fail. The reality is the best leaders are also absolutists when it comes to truth – they view truth as a non-negotiable. However in the wake of some of the recent, and highly publicized business, financial, and political scandals, it’s not too difficult to understand how some may actually question the existence of truth in business or government.

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N2Growth Blog

SEPTEMBER 19, 2013

'By Mike Myatt , Chief Executive Officer, N2growth . As rapidly as times change and business evolves, one topic clearly hasn’t kept pace – board diversity. With all the news about the economy, the impact of the affordable health care act, and other media favorites, few things are as telling with regard to the state of Corporate America than the lack of diversity in the boardroom.

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Chief Executive Officer Diversity Health Care CEO 321

N2Growth Blog

AUGUST 28, 2013

'By Mike Myatt , Chief Executive Officer, N2growth . I’m a big fan of author and historian David McCullough. His writing has a way of transporting me back in time like few other authors can. Recently I have been immersing myself in his account of America’s second president John Adams. McCullough’s portrayal of John Adams has made no small impact on me.

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N2Growth Blog

AUGUST 19, 2013

'By John Baldoni , Chair, Leadership Development, N2growth. Are you ready to hang it up? That may not be a question that most people ask themselves often enough, but maybe it is one more of us need to ask ourselves. This thought is prompted by a 2012 column by best-selling author Bob Greene column on St. Louis Cardinal manager Tony LaRussa’s decision to retire after winning the World Series, the first time that any manager has ever done so.

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N2Growth Blog

AUGUST 9, 2013

'By John Baldoni , Chair, Leadership Development, N2growth. There is one advantage that quiet people have over those of us who like to hear the sounds of our own voices. They are good observers. This is a point that actor Liev Schreiber made about the title character he plays on Showtime’s Ray Donovan. During an interview on NPR’s Fresh Air , Schreiber says Donovan’s character, who “doesn’t say much,” instead spends time taking things in.

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Leadership Leadership Development Development 321

N2Growth Blog

AUGUST 5, 2013

'By John Baldoni , Chair, Leadership Development, N2growth. People often ask me, “What are the essential attributes of leadership?”. It’s a big question — but let me borrow from something I heard from Chris Matthews, host of MSNBC’s “Hardball.” He said a political pollster told him once that every great leader need to demonstrate three things: Motive.

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N2Growth Blog

JUNE 26, 2013

'By John Baldoni , Chair, Leadership Development, N2growth. Judgment, writes Schumpeter, the business columnist for The Economist, “is too often missing from leadership studies.” The reason is that it is a topic too hard to quantify with metrics but as the Schumpeter column notes, “[J]udgment is what matters most.” Judgment serves as a kind of equilibrium device that prevents us from getting too carried away with our ideas or ourselves.

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N2Growth Blog

MAY 16, 2013

'Google and Apple are both highly esteemed brands. Both companies share many common traits which have contributed to their success, but there is one very big difference between the two – Google plays offense while Apple has recently settled for playing defense. Apple is struggling to maintain its position in the market, while Google is expanding its position.

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N2Growth Blog

DECEMBER 31, 2013

'By Mike Myatt , Chief Executive Officer, N2growth . I have watched quietly, curiously, and with great interest the intense emotions surrounding the controversy with regard to recent comments made by Duck Dynasty’s Phil Robertson in the January issue of GQ. In today’s column, I question whether or not there should have been a controversy at all.

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