It's Change O'Clock Somewhere

Category: Making Change Happen

  • 10 two-letter words than can change your life

    It’s 1993. I’ve just started my “career.” I’m in my very first “post-university” job, with a smallish consulting firm based on Canada’s east coast. The company ‘adage,’ on constant replay from our founder and chairman, comes in the form of these 10 very short words. If it is to be, it is up to me.…

  • Unreasonable Hospitality

    Have you heard of this book? I’m in the middle of it and have to say it’s great! I discovered it while watching “The Bear.” The author, Will Guidara, is describing his experience in the NYC restaurant scene, where among other things, he was a co-owner of Eleven Madison Park. The idea is to go…

  • Five simple rules

    Every year, when I get to this week, I know I’ll be spending my last couple of hours with my undergraduate students. Each winter, I teach a business planning and strategy class and tomorrow is our final day. It won’t be a lecture – it rarely is anyway – but instead is focused on the…

  • Do most managers want to be leaders?

    In my experience, most really don’t. I’ve worked in and consulted to large and small companies, publicly traded and privately held, government, private equity-owned, not for profit, universities, long-standing organizations, and startups. Most of the managers I have observed everywhere are really great at what they do. Their work lives (which often bleeds well into…

  • Common sense but not so common

    I was giving a presentation to a group of senior managers who were talented and experienced in their respective roles, driving operational execution. The topic was change. And they had something in common. They all felt that new initiatives they were responsible for, often fell short in delivering sustainable outcomes. In pretty much every instance,…

  • Practice over theory

    I’m annoyed. I saw a post today that was pointing out that communication does not equal change management. I’m tired of content like that. Leaders don’t need more theory. I want to help leaders because change is f*cking hard. I don’t care whether they do or do not understand the theory of change management. I…