Because of their unique characteristics, nonprofits can require some added leadership development focus before new strategic plans are developed. Often, these organizations are founded by passionate individuals who, over time, may not make the best strategic leaders of their organizations. Or, organizations may bring in “rock star” leaders who can command attention and raise money…
Strategic planning is especially important in the nonprofit world. These organizations have similar risks and opportunities as commercial businesses, but they often don’t have the competitive market to keep them “honest”. Or, put a little better, by the time they realize they are in trouble, it is often too late. A few years ago, we…
In our strategy work with regional accounting and advisory firms, one of the thorniest issues is how to migrate the firm’s partners to service line specialties. To partners who have been doing both audit and tax work for their entire careers, the thought of changing now as part of a strategic planning process can be…
Last week, we tested a new concept. We gave a half-day workshop to 12 CEOs and their senior staff members that focused on using increased awareness of self and others to develop understandable messaging for their business strategies. We developed the workshop in response to the CEOs’ consensus that their greatest challenge is not developing…
Increasingly, accounting and advisory firms are looking at their business strategies with a view to driving higher growth and profitability. Developing an effective strategy requires addressing several important, and often difficult, issues. It also requires crafting a strategic plan that the firm’s partners will buy into and effectuate. Over the next few months, we’ll publish…
For a change of pace, I’m going to ask you to engage in a short exercise that I learned on the first day of my coaching training at Columbia University. Look at the following list of words, then read them aloud slowly and clearly letting the impact of each word sink in as you proceed:…
Earlier this month, Carolyn Carlson participated in a panel discussion on trends in the consulting industry for TheConsultantLounge. Carolyn was joined by two executive consulting leaders to: share personal insights on the consulting market, lessons learned as seasoned consultants and leaders, and answer the audience’s burning questions. The event was sold out with over 75…
Cultural deficiencies are often the biggest impediments to business success. Peter Drucker put it well when he wrote: “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” Yet, despite these time-honored words, companies continue to design and launch ambitious strategies without seriously tackling the cultural obstacles to implementation, mostly because they don’t really know where to begin. There are…
Dr. Tom Frieden the Director of the CDC recently commented that the SARS epidemic cost the world’s economy over “40 billion dollars” as a result of the unnecessary restrictions on travel and trade during the crisis: a monumental impact for a disease that was concentrated in relatively few places and was largely resolved quickly. There…
Carolyn Carlson will be moderating a panel discussion at the 1st International Columbia Coaching Program Conference to be held in New York City on October 22nd -23rd. She will be joined by three panelist who will discuss the use of team coaching to drive teams to higher performance levels. Richard Stanger will be among the…