CEO on the Go

“The harder you work, the luckier you get.” At least that’s what some people think. But there are other ways to create your own luck that don’t have to be arduous. Find the full show notes at: https://workmatters.com/How-to-Create-Your-Own-Luck

Employee retention is a huge challenge for many organizations across different industries. Every month 3 to 4.5 million employees quit their job according to the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. One third of new employees quit after about 6 months. Many organizations are losing top talent. It looks like the trend will continue. Organizations are trying different approaches to address the is...

There just never seems to be enough time to get everything done. And you may reach the end of a week without feeling like you’ve accomplished anything important. But the good news is you can get an hour back every day…when you think you can. Find the full show notes at: https://workmatters.com/Get-Back-an-Hour-Every-Day-with-Les-Watson

Next-level business growth is exciting and filled with new challenges. But to achieve success at new levels of growth, CEOs must step into their roles differently. This episode offers leadership insights about successful business growth through the lens of a CEO who is preparing for new growth while making a positive impact in his business, his industry and the community. Find the full show notes...

Strategic planning is changing. Gone are the days of complicated monolithic strategies that last for years. Organizations can no longer rely on models or approaches that originated decades ago in a different business environment. The idea that you should develop strategy every 3-5 years is outdated thinking. Yet many organizations are stuck in old ways for many reasons. Find the full show notes at...

The future of work is not really in the future. It’s now. And with the accelerated pace of change, leaders face tough new challenges. But the future of work is not a problem to solve. It’s an opportunity to reimagine. Now is the time for CEOs to reframe the questions they’re asking--to influence how people are even thinking about the questions. Find the full show notes at: https://workmatters.com/...

When you decide to challenge the status quo, you’re taking a stand for those you lead and serve. You’re making a commitment to do things differently--to be more disruptive and less disrupted. And you’re also issuing an invitation for other people who share the same mission to see new possibilities and to let go of what’s not working anymore. Your team must generate new ideas, processes or commitme...

Many people easily fall into a January slump. The holidays have faded, the weather is gloomy and there’s a general melancholy that seems to be in the air. However, a slump can happen at any time. Leaders have extra pressure to get out a slump quickly when it happens. It’s their job to keep everyone else going and to be a positive influence. Find the full show notes at: https://workmatters.com/Gett...

Now more than ever, organizations are at risk of losing talent unexpectedly, so building leadership bench strength is even more important. But while many organizations acknowledge the importance of developing leaders, many are falling short. Traditional leadership development approaches do not adequately prepare leaders for today’s unprecedented challenges (or those in the future). Find the full s...

Being in a leadership role can be stressful under “normal” circumstances, but leading during COVID times is especially challenging. COVID is wearing out leaders in more ways than one. Many leaders struggle to make best decisions under difficult circumstances while putting extra pressure on themselves to get outcomes that may not be realistic considering pandemic concerns. Find the full show notes...

Surveys show that over 20 million Americans plan to resign in the next two months. 23% of employed Americans plan to quit their job in the next 12 months. (New CareerArc/Harris Poll Study) Employee disengagement is high and employee burnout is in the news. But what’s really driving “The Great Resignation” isn’t necessarily employee dissatisfaction. Instead “The Great Resignation” reflects people’s...

“What’s next?” That’s a common question to think about at the end of the year. And many people fall into the trap of simply pursuing some variation of “more of the same.” But those who want to move forward in new ways must think differently. They realize that who they are and what they want now may be different compared to the past. The “pandemic experience” over the last couple of years has made...

It’s a busy time of year with a lot of expectations that you might put on yourself and that others may put on you. It can create a lot of stress. There is pressure to pursue perfection. But those who fare best during the holidays, as well as in business and life, accept imperfection. Find the full show notes at: https://workmatters.com/Tis-the-Season-for-Imperfection

A lot of businesses claim they value relationships and treat people well, but few actually put it into practice--in every aspect of their business. Gayle Lantz speaks with Troy Haas, President and CEO of Brownell --a leading upscale travel firm based in Birmingham, Alabama. Find the full show notes at: https://workmatters.com/Building-a-Business-and-Relationships-that-Matter-with-CEO-Troy-Haas

When you experience discomfort in situations that challenge you, you might be tempted to give up or back away. It feels like the easier path. But the uneasiness you feel can actually help you increase your potential for growth and learning…if you face it. The good news is you can move through the discomfort more easily when you rev up your determination instead--when you make your goal more import...

Traditional approaches to leadership are broken, and many leaders feel pushed to their limits. But exceptional leaders are going beyond their limits to achieve their fullest potential. Find the full show notes at: https://workmatters.com/Going-Beyond-Your-Limits-with-Wylie-McGraw

Many high achieving leaders need to take a break, but find it hard to do so. During the Thanksgiving season, Gayle Lantz talks about how to take the break you really need. It starts by paying attention to how you even think about the idea of taking a break. She challenges the common view that many leaders have of themselves as the one to carry the heavy load or spin all the plates. Leaders can and...

Creating positive cultural change can seem like a long, complicated and arduous process. But it doesn’t have to be, especially when you have an entrepreneurial leader in place who makes creating positive cultural change a top priority. (Sometimes vision and strategy have to wait.) The process can be energizing, productive, and even fun when you engage a wide range of stakeholders in the right way....

As a leader, there is pressure to project a confident image to the world and prove external success. But the real work of a leader begins within --developing the mindset and beliefs that serve as a foundation for impactful leadership. Find the full show notes at: https://workmatters.com/The-Inside-Job-of-Leadership-with-Brenda-Bence

“Goal alignment” is talked about in many organizations, and it’s imperative to achieve for high performing organizations. But there are forces that threaten goal alignment. Smart senior executives address these threats and work to maintain strategic goal alignment. They understand the positive impact of goal alignment on employee engagement, employee retention, customer satisfaction and leadership...

Some leaders admit they’re uncomfortable with the conceptual thinking involved in visioning. Creating a compelling vision can seem like an extremely difficult task. But it doesn’t have to be. The act of engaging your team in the process can make the process easier which leads to a better, more inspiring vision. Visioning is a strategically significant activity that leads to higher levels of creati...

Trauma is something that many people have experienced, yet it is rarely talked about in the context of leadership. This episode is especially relevant for any leader who has experienced some kind of trauma personally or for leaders who want to support other people in the organization who have experienced trauma. Find the full show notes at: https://workmatters.com/From-Trauma-to-Transformation-wit...

Much of what leaders have been taught may be working against them--and they don’t even realize it. For example, “CEO warriors” work hard and fight tough battles to pursue their goals. They believe you’ve got to work hard to win. But what if you didn’t really have to work so hard? Leaders who lead with authenticity lead with more ease and get better results. They go beyond the “thinking mind” to le...

Executive coaching is a wide open field. And more executives are turning to coaches to help them increase their effectiveness and achieve their goals. Executive coaching has evolved over the years. In the past executive coaching has been viewed as a means to help executives “fix weaknesses.” Now executive coaching is considered a smart way for even the most successful leaders to grow and get even...

Leaders are feeling exhausted, tired or fatigued. And there is a lot of advice on what to do to gain more energy…tips on what to eat or drink, ways to move your body or get more sleep. While there is much you can do physically to gain more energy, there are also ways to energize yourself through the power of your mind. Whenever you feel lack of energy, it is an opportunity to do some internal expl...