IntelliVen.com is a site for chief executive officers, managing directors, executive directors, and chief administrators; that is, it’s for the person in charge of any organization — no matter how large or small — and those who aspire to hold leadership roles. Continue reading
Leaving a long-held, cherished job is not easy. Even with a new dream job in-hand, cutting the cord that connects you to a place you have become part of can be one of the most difficult challenges you ever face in your career. While there is no sure fire method, the steps below reflect lessons from the experience of those who have been successful in so doing.
To quit, follow these steps in order and as precisely as you possibly can:
The responsibilities shouldered by the successful Chief Executive Officer (CEO) increase with an organization’s progress and growth in scale and complexity. The tension between the need to get things done, get others to do things, bridge the “white space” between organizational units, and to represent the organization externally (e.g. to investors, regulators, partners, suppliers, donors, the board, and the market) typically grows to the point where the CEO seeks to install a Chief Operating Officer (COO) in hopes of spreading the load across another strong executive. Continue reading
Success favors the prepared! When the stakes are high there is no substitute for getting so ready that your odds of success go way up even if what was planned never happens. Continue reading
Follow the three steps in this note to arrange a contract to provide professional services work for a client. Buyers of professional services work provided by outside contractors should also pay attention to these points. Continue reading
When top leaders are informed, thinking critically, and engaged enough to provide guidance and direction, things tend to go pretty well. That is, things get done better, sooner, and more smoothly when leaders pay close attention. This note describes an efficient way for top leaders to get and stay up-to-speed, see and understand what is going on, ask questions and think critically, develop a point-of-view, and provide advice and guidance on their organization’s most important functions, projects, and initiatives. Continue reading
Most of us seek in our professional affiliation what some call a state of flow or what others call happiness, exhilaration, satisfaction, or fulfillment. Along these lines see: Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and The Doom Loop System by my long time personal executive coach Dr. Dory Hollander who passed away last year and who also told me and others that the secret to a fulfilled life could be summarized in just four words (which are shared at the end of this post!). Continue reading
An organization that knows how to run and use meetings well can improve the odds of achieving maximum performance and efficiency. On the other hand, it is easy for an organization to lose itself to an endless series of bad meetings.This note addresses the three stages of a good meeting, meeting roles, and how to increase the odds of a successful meeting by putting together and driving to implement a good plan for the meeting. Continue reading
One of the toughest things for a senior executive to do is break in to an existing system of operation. At first there is an exhilarating air of difference. Everything is new and there is so much to figure out and to absorb. The opportunity to have a major impact induces what seems to be an endless rush of euphoric excitement. All too soon the feelings devolve into isolation and loneliness along with the realization that no matter what good things happen, everyone watching will wonder why there was not more. Continue reading