Eric Jacobson On Management And Leadership

Having conducted extensive field research,  Ranjay Gulati , author of the book,  Deep Purpose ,  The Heart and Soul of High-Performance Companies ,  reveals the fatal mistakes leaders unwittingly make when attempting to implement a reason for being.   “My interviews with well over 200 executives across 18 firms revealed the secrets of these companies—not the usual facile frameworks, but new ways of thinking about business that allow leaders and companies to operate with heightened passion, urgency, and clarity,” shares Gulati. “I call this,  deep purpose .”   Furthermore, Gultai explains that most leaders think of purpose functionally or instrumentally, regarding it as a tool they can wield. On the other hand, deep purpose leaders think of it as something more fundamental; an existential statement that expresses the firm’s very reason for being. These leaders project it faithfully out onto the world.   “Rethinking the nature of purpose should prom...

The book,  Power To The Middle , shows how  managers  are the crucial link between a company’s ground floor and top brass. “Too often company leaders view middle managers in a negative light as expendable employees who can slow down productivity and overall strategy,” explain the book’s authors and McKinsey partners  Bill Schaninger ,  Bryan Hancock , and  Emily Field .  “However, new KcKinsey research reveals that this outdated perspective needs to change and that well-developed managers  are  the strategy that companies must prioritize to succeed today,” they add.  Most importantly, by the end of their book, the authors sum up their insights and provide a  playbook  that will help senior leaders let go of the command-and-control mindset that has hobbled their managers for so long.  The authors define middle managers as the people who are at least once removed from the front line and at least a layer below the senior lead...

Each year, around Thanksgiving time, I think about what I am thankful for. This year, I decided to once again take the time to make a list. A list of  eight things I am thankful for . What's on your list this   year?   And, what's on your list this year that wasn't on your last year's list? Here is my list : Family and friends. Blogs, LinkedIn and other sources that help me to be a constant learner. Setting personal goals and working hard to reach or exceed them. Good books (including ones the book club recommended). Nonprofit organizations that provide vital services and ways for me to volunteer and donate to support their causes. Music. The ability to travel for vacations. Readers, followers and guests of my Blog and via X/Twitter  @ericjacobsonkc Wow, I have a lot to be thankful for this year!

Here are the  12 golden rules of effective communication  from  Paul Falcone , as highlighted in his book,  2600 Phrases for Setting Effective Performance Goals . Always remember to : Recognize achievements and accomplishments often. Celebrate success. Deliver bad news quickly, constructively, and in a spirit of professional development. Praise in public, censure in private. Assume responsibility for problems when things go wrong, and provide immediate praise and recognition to others when things go right. Create a work environment based on inclusiveness, welcoming others' suggestions and points of view. Listen actively, making sure that your people feel heard and understood and have a voice in terms of offering positive suggestions in the office or on the shop floor. Share information openly (to the extent possible) so that staff members understand the  Why  behind your reasoning and can ask appropriate questions as they continue along in their own path of...

  “Our book will be of considerable interest to corporate executives and directors, who will likely be involved in M&As during their careers,” share the authors of the new book, The M&A Failure Trap: Why Most Mergers and Acquisitions Fail And How The Few Succeed .   They add, the book is also essential reading for:   Investors and shareholders asked to vote on merger proposals. Investors who are considering investment in the acquiring company. Business professionals in general. Economists. Business school and university instructors. Students of business and economics interested in business restructuring and acquisition.   And I contend, it is revealing reading for anyone interested in one of the most important and consequential economic events – business acquisitions.   The M&A Failure Trap serves as the very blueprint to help top-level management and interested parties make better choices about their organization, avoidin...

Brad Jacobs ’ book provides you a treasure trove of leadership lessons from a man with more than four decades of CEO and serial entrepreneur experience. So, even if you don’t envision yourself wanting to earn a billion dollars, don’t pass up reading Jacob’s,  How To Make A Few Billion Dollars .   In the book,  Jacobs defines the mindset that drives his remarkable success in corporate America  –  and distills a lifetime of business brilliance into a tactical road map. And he shares his techniques for:   Turning a healthy fear of failure to your advantage. Building an outrageously talented team. Catalyzing electric meetings. Transforming a company into a superorganism that beats the competition.   “This book is about what I’ve learned from my blunders, and how you can replicate our successes,” says Jacobs. He shares his candid account of the highs and lows of entrepreneurship.  Jacobs has founded seven billion-dollar or multibillion-dollar businesse...

“There are two pieces of debilitating thinking that hold women back: The first is waiting to be noticed or appreciated. The other is not taking a risk to apply for a new job or opportunity, believing that they do not have enough experience or skills sets,” according to   Christie Hunter Arscott , author of the book,   Begin Boldly .   In  Begin Boldly , Hunter Arscott turns this thinking on its head. She encourages women to treat their career like an investment portfolio with early deposits of bold moves, courageous actions, and informed risk.   “One thing I know for certain that I wish to impart to you:  Brilliant careers are seldom built without bold moves ,” says Hunter Arscott. “Despite recognizing the benefits of making bold moves, most women—especially those early in their careers—struggle to harness the power of risk-taking.”   Speaking about the book, Hunter Arscott states that it will equip you with the tools to navigate the workplace strategi...

“It’s time for companies to rethink their growth logic and strategy,” according to Christoph Senn and Mehak Gandhi , authors of the new book, Triple Fit Strategy: How To Build Lasting Customer Relationships And Boost Growth .   The authors affirm that there would be much more value if companies no longer operated in a transactional buyer-seller relationship, but instead as a singular team. A team where buyer and seller can collaborate on decisions around planning, execution, and resources like they were one company.   “Today’s business customers don’t just buy products and services; they buy expectations,” explain Senn and Gandhi. “What the customers want is the commitment of and access to the supplier’s total operation. They want problem-solving and creative thinking to keep their business ahead of competition. They want partners.”   In the book, Senn and Gandhi forge an entirely new path for business that embraces a 360-degree customer-centric approach, and they ...

  Each year, after reading dozens of leadership books I select my pick for “best new leadership book” of the year.   For 2024, that book is, Be The Unicorn: Data-driven Habits That Separate The Best Leaders From The Rest , by William Vanderbloemen (founder and CEO of Vanderbloemen Search Group).   Even though this book came out in late 2023, it is better than any other leadership book I read during 2024, so that is why I choose it. It’s that good. It’s timely, incredibly practical, and immediately usable for any leader wherever they are on their leadership journey. Plus, last month Vanderbloemen released a workbook that is the perfect companion to his book.   Through extensive research of more than 30,000 top leaders and proprietary data, Vanderbloemen has identified the twelve habits that the best of the best leaders have in common. These superstar leaders are the unicorns – highly desirable but that are difficult to find or obtain .   The 12 habits, essential...