8-month old Devi has begun her training for the backpacking journeys ahead with an empty pack, just getting used to it. Her next lessons will be: leading on the trail, and learning that campsite is home. There’s something deeply satisfying about the beginning, when every experience is new and every small success feels like discovery. […]
Where does transformational change really begin? Most leaders would answer. “Strategy.” After spending more than three decades working alongside CEOs leading major transformations, I’ve come to a different conclusion. Strategy matters, but transformation begins where the leader creates the environment that an entire organization needs to move together. So, I would answer, “Alignment.” When strategy
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Thirty-two years ago, Laura and I stood facing each other at Strong Mansion on Sugarloaf Mountain, and promised to build a life together. We’ve raised two remarkable children, traveled the world, weathered losses, celebrated victories, and continued discovering new dimensions in each other. Laura has never stopped inspiring me with her courage, musical creativity, inner
Most CEOs don’t have a strategy problem, they have an operating system problem. When a transformation stalls, the first instinct is often to question the strategy. Maybe it wasn’t communicated well enough. Maybe people resisted the change. Maybe the organization wasn’t ready. After working with CEOs and executive teams across industries for more than there
Your Organization is Producing Exactly the Results it is Designed to Produce Read More »
Sarah White is one of only two people I’ve stayed close to since college. She’s also an extraordinary editor, writing coach, and expert at helping people discover and craft the stories that define their lives. She helped me shape my first book, which became a business bestseller, and has guided me through several others. Today
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Want large-scale change to succeed? Stop broadcasting. Start identifying your MVPs. Every change initiative has a small group of hidden change agents. I call them the Most Valuable Players, MVPs, and they’re not always who you expect. They don’t have to be the most senior, or even hold a title. They just have to be
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A few weeks ago, we said goodbye to Kaya. Her loss left a deep emptiness in our home, and coming to peace with her passing is its own journey, one that will take time and unfold in its own way. A little while later, we welcomed Devi into our lives. She is not a replacement
One of the most difficult transitions in leadership is moving from representing your function to serving the enterprise. Most managers are rewarded for protecting resources, advancing priorities, and advocating for the needs of their teams. Those behaviors are valuable. In fact, they are often essential. The challenge arises when every leader is doing a good
One of the most common mistakes in leadership and change is treating the plan as the work. Plans, timelines, and project management matter, but they are support processes. Engagement is the skeleton key that opens the door to change. I have watched teams spend weeks refining milestones, dependencies, status reports, and implementation schedules while giving
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I had a great conversation in Paris with Bertrand Moal about the future of AI-enabled cardiac imaging and the enormous potential to expand access to care worldwide. This is of great interest to me in my work with Inteleos, helping their leaders with strategic large-scale change. Thank you to Inteleos CEO, Dale Cyr, for providing
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