Stir sleeping dogs

In business, underperforming products or segments are referred to as the dogs in the portfolio. Too often, companies merely let them lie. Yet the issue is that in time this creates a culture that will inevitably impact all other segments. If one dog is sleeping, why...

Stay close

“Hands-off leadership” sounds enlightened but often masks abandonment. The paradox: being present isn’t micromanaging. Your team needs your attention, not your absence. They need your questions, your curiosity, your challenge. Real leaders...

Transfer the weight

Delegation isn’t task distribution. It’s trust distribution. When leaders delegate but retain the mental load — tracking progress, anticipating problems, carrying the weight of success — they aren’t freeing themselves or empowering their teams. They’re simply shifting...

Mirror test

We can blame external forces when they blindside us. That’s life. But what about when we clearly see what needs attention and still avoid it? When we have the roadmap but refuse to follow it? There’s no consolation prize for this kind of failure. Only a...

Goals with teeth

Clear direction beats wishful thinking. When goals lack teeth, teams drift. John Doerr knew this when he introduced OKRs at Google, saying “Ideas are easy. Execution is everything.” Goals without precision become pleasant suggestions—easily ignored when...