The plan may be new. The pattern making the decisions may not be. Every strategy has to pass through a human before it gets going. That means the quality of a strategy is never determined by the plan alone. It is inseparable from the judgment, habits, fears, loyalties, and emotional patterns of the people responsible for carrying it out. I know we like to believe our important decisions are rational. We study the numbers, consider the options, debate the risks, and make what

Back when we were too busy parenting to fully understand how they were experiencing it. Last month, the day before my hip replacement, Belinda and I were sitting around talking about our five grown kids and what it feels like to have them scattered across the country. I was was more reflective than usual having just completed Daddy Daycare for the summer with our son Austen and my grandchildren, Greyson and Harper. That experience got me thinking about the father I am now com

The hidden costs leaders may be missing I learned long before ChatGPT that the promise of technology is usually more complicated than it first appears. For six years, I sold educational technology to colleges and other institutions across the Northeast. A computer based program could assess a student's learning gaps, create a customized learning path, extend learning beyond the classroom and/or augment a lesson plan to include visuals, audio and awesome graphics. It felt lik

Several years ago, while I was serving as Chief Marketing Officer for a multi state Behavioral Health Company, our executive team made a tough decision. We asked leaders from around the country to relocate to our headquarters in Phoenix. Eventually, relocation became an expectation for new executive hires. If someone wasn't willing to move, we usually continued the search. Being in One Location Lent Itself to Many Advantages At the time, the reasoning seemed straightforward.

We teach kids how to read. We assume they’ll figure out how to belong. Years ago, I was the vice principal of an elementary school with a little over 600 students. Most days, you'd find me in the lunchroom or out on the playground trying to master double dutch or four squares. But even in the middle of all that noise and chaos, my attention was usually pulled somewhere else. There were almost always a few kids standing by themselves against the fence. I learned that it wasn’t

Embracing the Human Experience In 1985, I was a graduate student at the University of Connecticut. At the time, psychology intrigued me, but I had yet to realize how it would shape my life. That summer, a few friends and I decided to ride our motorcycles from Connecticut to Acadia National Park in Maine for a camping and hiking trip. We wanted to hike Cadillac Mountain and take a break from our studies. We were young, broke, and looking for adventure. One afternoon, while wan

One of the biggest mistakes leadership teams make is assuming performance problems can be solved with better scripts or more pressure. In my experience, as an executive coach and behavioral strategist is that most struggling teams are operating inside unclear systems with inconsistent messaging and little alignment between leadership, sales, and marketing. The truth is, unlocking the full potential of your team requires more than traditional tactics. It demands a strategic ap

Why modern customers are forcing organizations to rethink trust, alignment, and the customer experience. One of the biggest misconceptions I continue to see in growing organizations is the belief that sales and marketing operate as separate functions with separate responsibilities. Marketing generates leads. Sales closes deals. Thats been the traditional model. But the people we serve no longer experience companies that way. Today, someone will read articles on our website, w

In the realm of business, a common misconception is that success hinges solely on processes and metrics. Many organizations obsess over key performance indicators (KPIs), optimize workflows, and invest heavily in technology. Yet, despite these efforts, they often find themselves grappling with stalled execution, disengaged clients, and deteriorating relationships. Why does this happen? The answer lies in a critical factor that is frequently overlooked: the quality of the work

I have to admit something. In preparation for our annual sales and marketing conference, which we hosted earlier this month, I worked with AI to prepare for a session on being more human. Prompting it. Revising it, waiting on it, and at one point, even arguing with it. And somewhere in the middle of all that, it hit me… How strange it was to be using artificial intelligence to prepare a talk about being more human. Then, I realized something else: Chat can help write the pres

The strategy of hiring an outsourced fractional sales manager to drive growth has been gaining popularity among business owners over the past several years. While it may seem like a cost-effective solution for enhancing sales without the commitment or expense of a full-time hire, there are some important risks to consider before jumping in. Fractional sales managers often split their time among multiple clients. This division of focus can prevent them from fully understanding

An ʹelevator pitchʹ is a term taken from the early days of the internet explosion when web development companies needed capital. Finance...

When advising entrepreneurs on boosting sales, their common struggle often revolves around generating more leads. The challenge...

When I was graduating from high school, I was voted class clown and biggest bluffer, and although there is no denying it, I've discovered...

If you're a Business to Business (B2B) seller like me, excelling in sales is crucial for the success of your business. Therefore,...

Written by: Belinda N. Ahern Does your business struggle with inconsistent revenue? Are you constantly juggling unfinished projects and...

Running a small business can be an incredibly rewarding venture, but it also comes with its fair share of challenges. Among these...

How to improve leadership in 2024

ental health struggles can be deeply challenging, not just for the individuals experiencing them but also for their friends, family, and loved ones. Being a support system for someone grappling with mental health issues requires understanding, empathy, and patience.

Leadership strategies in a changing world