There is a strong argument to be made that an organization’s culture is its only truly sustainable competitive advantage. Plans can be duplicated. People leave. Processes atrophy. Even patents expire. Cultures endure. The Los Angeles Urban League's Blair Taylor has taken a long-term approach to two cultural changes simultaneously. He has taken his time converging [...]
The Los Angeles Urban League’s Blair Taylor Follows the Only Possible Path to Success
September 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment
100-Day Action Plan: A Cheat for the Good
August 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Let me be clear from the start. Most cheating is bad. Fraud, dishonesty, unfaithfulness are hard to condone. But some cheating is good. No one gets too upset if a shortstop cheats towards second base or a center half-back cheats towards the left side. 100-day action plans are some of the highest, best forms [...]
Plans are Not Made to be Followed
August 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment
We spend the vast majority of our time helping new leaders create and implement 100-day action plans. Over the past decade or so, I can not think of a single instance in which a new leader actually followed the original plan he or she created. Think Darwin. Survival of the fittest is survival of [...]
New Leader’s Journal Introduction
May 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment
The new leader's journal tracks the experience of a fictional executive leading up to and through his first 100-days in a new job. As of this writing, May-28-2011, our fictional executive is in the final stages of interviewing. We expect him to get an offer the second week in June, leading up to a July [...]
The Secret to Jets Coach Rex Ryan Winning Record is His “Whole Team” Approach
May 18, 2011 By Leave a Comment
It’s hard to balance the leadership skills, strengths and needs of individual performers with those of the team as a whole. It’s also hard for some individuals to concentrate on what they need to do without getting distracted by what’s going on around them. New York Jets National Football League Coach Rex Ryan thinks [...]