Blog

Unleashing Leadership Excellence: A Guide to Helping Leaders Reach Their Full Potential

By Tom Cramer
  In the dynamic landscape of today's professional world, effective leadership is the linchpin of success for any organization. Leaders are not born; they are made through continuous learning, self-reflection, and a commitment to personal and professional development. This article explores the key strategies and principles that can assist leaders in reaching their full potential and making a lasting impact in their respective domains. Self-Awareness: The Foundation of Leadership Growth Before leaders can guide others, they must first understand themselves. Self-awareness is the cornerstone of leadership development. Leaders who are attuned to their strengths, …

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Readers are Leaders, Are You Reading?

By Tom Cramer
  Harry S. Truman is well known for his “The Buck Stops Here” plaque that adorned his desk. He also gave us, though not as often attributed to him, the perhaps better-known quote, “Readers are Leaders.” This pithy encouragement for reading is a favorite of English teachers and contains some worthy wisdom. According to many experts who have studied the differences between successful leaders and so-so executives, the habit of reading is a core differentiator. Numerous articles and studies point out the importance and value of reading, Moreover, the value of reading has …

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Fostering Creativity, Collaboration, and Innovation in Your Company

By: Tom Cramer
    Getting ideas from your management team can be an essential aspect of fostering creativity, collaboration, and innovation within your organization. Here are some strategies to encourage idea generation from your management team: 1) Create an Open and Supportive Environment: Ensure that the workplace culture is one where everyone feels comfortable sharing their ideas without fear of criticism or judgment. Encourage open discussions and value different perspectives. 2) Hold Regular Brainstorming Sessions: Schedule regular brainstorming sessions specifically designed for generating new ideas. These sessions can be held as part of team meetings or separately. 3) …

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As a CEO, What Am I not Doing That I Should Be Doing?

By: Tom Cramer
  As a CEO, there are several areas you might want to consider focusing on to enhance your effectiveness and ensure the success of your organization. Here are some aspects you should consider: 1. Strategic Planning: Take the time to develop a clear vision and long-term strategy for your company. Set specific goals and objectives, and regularly review and adjust them as needed. Make sure your strategy aligns with the evolving market conditions and incorporates innovative approaches. 2. Leadership Development: Invest in developing your leadership skills and those of your management team. Foster a …

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The Difference Between Strategic Thinking and Strategic Planning

By: Tom Cramer
    Strategic Thinking and Strategic Planning are related concepts, but they have distinct differences. Let's explore each of them: 1. Strategic Thinking: Strategic thinking refers to the cognitive process of developing insights and envisioning the future direction of an organization. It involves the ability to analyze complex situations, understand the broader context, and identify patterns and trends. Strategic thinking requires a big-picture perspective and the capacity to think critically and creatively about the organization's goals, challenges, and opportunities. Key characteristics of strategic thinking include: a. Visionary outlook: Strategic thinking involves imagining and articulating a compelling …

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Heading Into the Wind

By Tom Cramer
 
When the commander of an aircraft carrier gets the order to launch his planes, he immediately checks with his navigator to determine his heading. He then turns his ship so that he is fully heading into the wind so that his pilots will have the best chance for a successful launch. The View from the Cockpit In one of our earlier posts, we spoke of looking at your position as sitting in the cockpit. It is worth returning to that aviation metaphor to review the mindset of flying off into the wind. It …

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Always Be Selling

By Tom Cramer
  In my conversations with the members of our group, I find a series of topics that are raised consistently and across all industries and markets. One of the more prevalent concerns is that of “being out of your comfort zone.” What I have found is most of us get into business to follow an idea or concept based on a specific strength or experience or idea or all of these. That is the natural course, but then we all find that business involves many areas in which we feel lost, incompetent, and …

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Who’s in the Cockpit? (Part 3)

By: Tom Cramer
  In our earlier discussions concerning the modern C-Suite, we discussed in Part One the evolution of the leadership roles of senior corporate executives. We looked at several of the key functional areas of leadership in Part Two. Adapting Your C-Suite to Reality We fully understand that many of you read those articles shaking your heads a bit, thinking how wonderful it would be to have a full team of professionals helping you fly your plane. It is a simple fact that for smaller and middle-sized businesses, the senior leadership is often …

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Who’s in the Cockpit? (Part Two)

By Tom Cramer
  As we discussed in Part One of this series, the role of and the makeup of the C-Suite is constantly evolving. The basic needs of leadership and technical specialties and skills are increasingly essential to survival and success. However, the ability to respond to a changing business and work environment is more vital than ever. One empirical proof of this aspect of the change in the C-Suite is the job descriptions provided to executive search firms for various C-level executives. The experience and skills are still listed. Increasingly, those will be almost …

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Who’s in the Cockpit?

Part One In just over a century the field of aviation has evolved from near-reckless adventurers flying rickety single-seat planes by “the seat of their pants” to incredibly sophisticated behemoths flown by professional crews following rigorous procedures. This evolution has made flying one of the safest modes of transportation in history. Likewise, in just over a century the world of business has morphed from small businesses run by entrepreneurial individuals seeking to eke out a profit in their own little niches. Today we see the mega-corporations managed by professionally trained executives following disciplines that utilize …

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