CEO Think: Blog
Branding Your Vision
Branding your marketing vision is a great way to get your team behind a common goal. Here are some guidelines for turning work into passion. READ MORE >
Are You a Student of Business?
Many CEOs come away from business presentations only to dismiss them as off point or not relevant to their own situation. They discard the points they heard that don’t fit them at first glance and choose not to reflect on the matter deeply enough to get real value. It only takes one “A-ha!” to turn that 45 minute talk into a goldmine.
Defusing the Myths about China
Doing business in Asia is unique, and those newer to this environment should heed some key principles. On a recent trip to China, I had a chance to put these key ideas into practice.
It is Never Forever
What would happen to your company if you disappeared tomorrow? Tom Friel, CEO of Heidrich and Struggles, sparked a great discussion about succession at a meeting of the Alliance of Chief Executives.
Weak, Shortsighted or Out of Control: Why CEOs Don’t Insist on Great Teams
Why don’t CEOs insist on great top teams in their own organizations? Are they too tolerant of failure and/or poor performance? A talk to the Alliance of Chief Executives by CEO Jim Pouliot of CSAA inspired this exploration of why CEOs continually struggle with the issue, and what they can do about it.
Re-framing Price Increase Leads to Stepped up Profits
No sales department likes the idea of selling a price increase. But there are ways to re-frame price increases so they’re more palatable to customers, while serving the main purpose: increasing your bottom line.
The CEO’s Best Teachers
Your best teachers are people in the same position as you: other CEOs. Peer groups are an excellent, cost-effective path to learning lessons the easy way. Here are the benefits of peer groups, the reasons CEOs don’t join them and what you should look for when you do.
Don’t Take Money from Strangers
Not all private equity investors are created equal. They all have their own agendas, ranging from long-term conservative company-building to flip it fast and get out quick. Make sure you know which kind you’re dealing with by getting to know your potential investors first.
Keeping your Leading Edge: Mind the Gap
A leading source of CEO insomnia: the performance gap. Best practices should include nourishing and widening this gap, a key component often ignored by top teams.
Meeting Bill of Rights
Leaders at all levels in growing companies need to make every minute count. Meetings can be a great way to make decisions and draw upon the collective wisdom of a team. They can also be colossal time wasters if run poorly. If you are concerned that your company’s meetings are not as productive as they should be, try to adopt this bill of rights for meetings. Feel free to adapt it to the needs of your organization.
Robert Sher is founding principal of CEO to CEO, a consulting firm of former chief executives that improves the leadership infrastructure of midsized companies seeking to accelerate their performance. He was chief executive of Bentley Publishing Group from 1984 to 2006 and steered the firm to become a leading player in its industry (decorative art publishing).