Management Archives

John Maxwell: The Five Levels of Leadership—Review

Is The 5 Levels of Leadership worth reading? What are the five stages/levels of leadership, according to its author John C. Maxwell? In The 5 Levels of Leadership, author John C. Maxwell gives a shape and form to something seemingly indefinable. He culls his knowledge and experience to come up with the Five Levels of Leadership, a roadmap to help you reach your full leadership potential: 1) positional leadership, 2) permissional leadership, 3) production leadership, 4) empowerement-based leadership, and 5) pinnacle leadership. This The 5 Levels of Leadership review takes a look at the book’s context, background, and discusses its

Richard Rumelt: Good Strategy, Bad Strategy Overview

What is Richard Rumelt’s Good Strategy, Bad Strategy about? What makes a good organizational strategy according to the author? In Good Strategy Bad Strategy, Richard Rumelt lays out the essential components of good organizational strategy and the faulty thinking behind a bad strategy. He also describes specific and measurable techniques for designing a focused strategy that gives your organization the best chance of success. Below is a brief overview of Good Strategy, Bad Strategy by Richard Rumelt.

How to Support Your Team: Leadership Skills

How good are you at supporting your team? Do they ever feel let down by your leadership? Submarine captain David Marquet’s experience can help you learn how to support your team and understand what difference it can make. Marquet found that, when officers and chiefs supported their teams, they developed trust. Ultimately, this advanced the ship’s objectives. Read more to learn how to support your team—and how that care fits in with your organizational goals.

Are You Undermining Your Sales Success?

Are you struggling to get sales? What do you think the issue is? Do you think the problem is systemic (to do with the system) or individual (to do with the people)? According to sales expert Mike Weinberg, if your company’s sales department is struggling to hit its goals, the reasons can be both systemic (to do with the company’s processes) and individual (to do with the sales reps). In his book New Sales Simplified, he outlines possible systemic and individual factors that could be undermining your ability to acquire new business. Here’s a quick look at the issues that

Overcoming the 3 Types of Organizational Inertia

What is organizational inertia? How does inertia manifest within an enterprise and how can you overcome it as a business? In simple terms, organizational inertia is when an enterprise becomes “set in its own ways.” According to Richard P. Rumelt, the author of Good Strategy, Bad Strategy, inertia generally falls into one of three categories: 1) inertia of habits, 2) cultural inertia, and 3) indirect inertia. Keep reading to learn about organizational inertia, its types, and ways to overcome it.

How to Create a Sense of Ownership in Your Team

Do your team members enjoy a sense of ownership in the work they do? How can leaders create this? What difference does it make? Submarine captain L. David Marquet explains how organizations undermine ownership. He also provides insights into how leaders can create a sense of ownership by eliminating top-down monitoring of work. Read more to learn how to create a sense of ownership and understand the difference it can make in your organization.

4 Ways to Have a Competitive Advantage in Business

What is a business competitive advantage? What are some examples of competitive advantage in real-world business? In business, a competitive advantage is any attribute that allows you to perform better than your competitors. This usually occurs because they cannot replicate the resources underpinning it. So for example, a solid patent, a long-standing reputation for quality, or an outsized economy of scale will all give a company an advantage that is hard for a rival to overcome. Keep reading to learn about the different ways a company can exercise its competitive advantage in business.

The Effective Executive: Book Review (Peter Drucker)

Is Peter Drucker’s The Effective Executive worth reading? How does the author define effectiveness? The Effective Executive, a 1966 classic by management expert Peter F. Drucker, explains how to manage yourself to be effective. He defines effectiveness as choosing and doing the right things—that is, the things that significantly improve personal and organizational performance. This The Effective Executive book review takes a look at the book’s context, background, and critical reception by the readers.

Leadership Legacy: A Lesson from the Navy

What difference did Captain David Marquet make during his time with the USS Santa Fe? What can we learn from his leadership legacy? David Marquet revolutionized naval leadership when he commanded Santa Fe. He departed from the traditional model in several ways, most notably by assuming that everyone can be a leader. He built a powerful leadership legacy that can instruct and inspire all of us. Read more to learn about the leadership legacy of Captain Marquet.

How to Improve Morale: Tips From a Navy Captain

Do you need to improve morale at your workplace? What leadership model could make this happen? When Captain L. David Marquet took command of USS Santa Fe in 1999, the need to improve morale was palpable. He accomplished this feat within a year by deploying the leader-leader model to empower the demoralized crew. Read more to learn how to improve morale with the leader-leader model.