Tag Archives: leadership

Marketing dashboards are poor maps of where you’ve been. You need first-hand experience with the terrain you’re now encountering, not more lousy maps. To improve your marketing, don’t hire a cartographer. Hire the hiker who’s seen the terrain up close. … Continue reading →

Posted on Thursday, 3 November 2016 11:45 am by markpilip | Comments Off on Dashboards are Lousy Maps

Stop Looking to Trade Up Your Employees

Posted on Tuesday, 2 December 2014 6:01 am by markpilip

I often hear that companies are  “bowing to investor pressure” when shutting down lines of business or divesting business units, shedding thousands of jobs in the process. Or that investors “demand” outsourcing or offshoring strategies. Nonsense. Nothing could be further … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership, Organization, Philosophy | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Stop Looking to Trade Up Your Employees

Do We Have Each Other’s Backs?

Posted on Wednesday, 24 September 2014 10:01 am by markpilip

“At this level, you can’t expect somebody else to stand up for you.” A sad quote overheard in the breakfast room in my hotel just a few minutes ago. Two business colleagues were preparing for the day, and one said … Continue reading →

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You Can’t Take Vacation, You Say?

Posted on Tuesday, 1 July 2014 10:32 am by markpilip

The decision to work yourself to death can’t be unmade. The ones you make the decision for won’t be at your funeral.  They will be busy replacing you with somebody else. So tell me again why you’re so indispensible that … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership, Philosophy, Update | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on You Can’t Take Vacation, You Say?

Extending the Circle of Safety Today

Posted on Thursday, 26 June 2014 9:26 am by markpilip

As we look forward to the weekend, let’s look back. As a leader did you: Clarify your organization’s “why?“ Bring others who shared your values into your organization, and not just those who had the skills you wanted? Extend the … Continue reading →

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Would You Fire Your Children?

Posted on Monday, 19 May 2014 1:40 pm by markpilip

I certainly hope not. Yet how many executives who speak of their company as having a “family” atmosphere think nothing of sacrificing that same family when the numbers are a little short. Oh, it’s explained using all the right terms, … Continue reading →

Posted in Career, Leadership, Philosophy, Strategy | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Leaders Eat Last

Posted on Friday, 13 December 2013 6:41 am by markpilip

“The cost of leadership is self interest.” Says Simon Sinek in his remarkable talk “Why Leaders Eat Last” at a recent Behance conference. The talk is based on his upcoming book Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership, Organization, Philosophy | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Producers Don’t Work For Public Companies?

Posted on Wednesday, 2 January 2013 8:29 am by markpilip

Irving Azoff is a “producer” in the true sense of the word–an individual that can create a vision, rally talented people behind it, and execute. And now he’s left Live Nation to go back out again on his own. Why leave … Continue reading →

Posted in Career, Leadership, Media | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Clerks as CEOs

Posted on Monday, 2 April 2012 7:31 am by markpilip

Zynga buys OMGPOP for $180 million–a terrific win for all involved. So CEO Dan Porter took the opportunity to throw one of his team under the bus when he declined a job offer from Zynga. Why not just ignore it and … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Should Society Let Us Exist?

Posted on Tuesday, 13 March 2012 5:00 am by markpilip

When new CEOs are installed at companies, they’ll often set their agenda not by what they say, but by the questions they ask. On becoming IBM’s CEO, Sam Palmisano only asked four questions in his first meeting. I think they’re … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership, Organization, Strategy | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments