The following is a “Dear Charlie” letter written and from our Expert Guide, Don Hadley. Although this letter was originally intended for a client, Applied Vision Works believes there is a lesson to be learned by all business leaders and business owners. Dear Charlie, In the life of a business owner (and any other leader for that matter), there are many challenging times. From the outside, your life looks grand with a nice lifestyle, country club membership, fancy vacations, nice […]
If you look at the publicly reinforced version of a leader, leaders and owners are supposed to know everything. They are supposed to create a vision and tell people how to get to the destination. They are supposed to take care of everyone and fix problems…the list goes on and on. Our experience at Applied Vision Works over the last 26 years, and especially the last few years, is that a leader that does this is going to have a […]
The big question was asked: “Why do they need to be a team?” After a long silence, the leader responded “We don’t need to be a team!” What does your team look like? Do they have the need to be a team? How can you ensure that the “need” is there? What can you do as a leader to see the thought process your followers go through? Strategically, one of the secrets to success is to create the need for […]
In order for an organization to be effective, it must produce something that is of value to its customers. This allows ongoing relationships to be built. Ultimately, this produces a profit to be reinvested in the organization to improve its capabilities as well as to pay the financiers of the organization for the risk of the endeavor. What is needed to structure this “machine” or organization is an org chart. Most org charts have a President or CEO at […]
Many leaders, when asked how they best lead, they say “by example.” The problem with leading by example is that people cannot see what goes on in your head and heart. They may be able to duplicate the actions, but do not know all the thought, understanding and preparation that led up to that action. Employees or “followers” may not know how to follow-up on what they see leaders doing. In larger organizations, it is even harder for employees and […]
Every organization we work with has a strong desire to do well. However, as the year progresses, sometimes a dramatic improvement in capability early in the year evolves into a lot of activity without a corresponding improvement in results. Businesses can degenerate into lower level tactics from more powerful, higher level, strategic game changers. At the same time, teams can lose the focus, purpose and theme of what they are doing. In other words, the bloom is off the […]
We believe that so much more is possible with action. Leaders and teams that execute produce increased results and live better lives. There is a formula for execution and action. Two months ago I was talking to a man who had owned a dozen different companies. He is very successful and is a wonderful man. One of the companies he had founded and was chairman for was a consulting company. This company was very good at what they did and […]
We believe that so much more is possible with action. Leaders and teams that execute produce increased results and live better lives. There is a formula for execution and action. Last month I was talking to a man who had owned a dozen different companies. He is very successful and is a wonderful man. One of the companies he had founded and was chairman for was a consulting company. This company was very good at what they did […]
We believe that so much more is possible with action. Leaders and teams that execute produce increased results and live better lives. There is a formula for execution and action. Yesterday I was talking to a man who had owned a dozen different companies. He is very successful and is a wonderful man. One of the companies he had funded and was chairman for was a consulting company. This company was very good at what they did and gave great […]