You knew it from the beginning: Being an entrepreneur is no walk in the park. Hard work, hustle, and the occasional all-nighter come with the territory. But if “up to your eyeballs” has become your everyday reality, small business fixer Julie Bee says you’re headed for trouble. That way lies lower performance, poor decision-making, health issues (or health emergencies!), … [More]
How the Small Business Boot Camp Bolsters Arizona’s Small Business Community
Over 17,400 entrepreneurs statewide have attended the Small Business Boot Camp since 2020
The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) celebrated the fourth anniversary of the Small Business Boot Camp, an award-winning program that connects entrepreneurs and small business leaders with local experts who provide support, guidance and resources through free weekly, educational webinars. Launched on April 27, 2020 as a planned six-week pandemic-related resource, the Small … [More]
The Burnout Battle: Why Leaders Must Lead the Charge
Close the burnout gap to improve well-being and productivity
Burnout is impacting every industry, company and role. There are no exceptions. Leaders often find themselves in the trenches, navigating through the chaos and driving their teams toward success. However, amidst the pursuit of goals and objectives, there's a lurking enemy that can undermine all efforts: burnout. In the burnout battle, we often find the great … [More]
Steve Purves: Expanding Access to Healthcare throughout the Valley
And leading by empowering others
When Steve Purves joined Valleywise Health in 2013 as president and CEO, the organization was in dire financial straits. It was the region’s only public teaching hospital and primary safety net system of care, so it was imperative that Purves got Valleywise Health back in the black. And fast. Over the ensuing years, Purves orchestrated a $170-million financial turnaround at … [More]
A Leader’s Destiny: Why Psychology, Personality, and Character Make All the Difference
Elias Aboujaoude’s distinctive exploration of leadership provides unusual insight into understanding who should and should not be striving for leadership positions. Dr Aboujaoude takes on the culture at large, explaining how our cult-like obsession with leadership gives narcissists an edge and results in leadership failure everywhere we look — and how resisting the imperative … [More]
Graciously Assertive: How Becoming a Better Human Makes You a Better Leader
Dr. Yasmin Davidds has spent most of her professional life empowering women leaders. In this new book, the award-winning entrepreneur, psychologist, speaker and author continues her lifelong mission, offering helpful tools and strategies to people of all backgrounds who are looking to transform the way they communicate in the workplace. Breaking down what she refers to as a … [More]
To the Point: One Effortless Practice That Will Make You a Better Leader
It is shirt but sweet. Listening is a vital skill for every leader. If you want to effectively guide an organization, you need to know the dreams, fears, and frustrations of your stakeholders. You must also be willing to hear the pitfalls to your proposed approach. Unfortunately, listening does not come naturally to most of us. We would much rather hear ourselves talk than … [More]
5 Action Steps to Get Peak Performance from Employees
People perform at their best when, and only when, they know their leaders care, their work has meaning, and they have the chance to learn, grow, and develop. You’ve got to inspire them, empower them and guide them. Let's focus on the first discipline in this process and particularly on five action steps to inspire people to do their best. A discipline is defined as “the … [More]
Let’s Make Layoffs Rare Again
The Long-Term Costs of Mass Job Cuts … and How to Avoid Them
The layoff news just keeps on coming. Many of the job cuts being reported are in the tech sector, but the hatchet is also hitting industries from air travel to healthcare to music. Nobody loves mass layoffs, but their increasing frequency seems to imply an alarming level of acceptability. This is a symptom of a bigger problem — the tendency of today’s corporate leaders to make … [More]
Nurturing Leadership: Strategies for Building Leaders within Your Organization
"Great leaders don't create followers, they create more leaders." —Tom Peters Within the bustling corridors of modern organizations, the cultivation of effective leadership isn't just desirable — it's imperative. Great leaders aren't born; they are crafted through deliberate efforts and strategies. As the heartbeat of an organization, leaders guide teams, inspire innovation … [More]
Strong Culture of Philanthropy = Financial Success
Nonprofits with strong giving cultures are more likely to succeed
You know you have a strong culture of philanthropy when the athletic director says his top priority is funding the science building. Or when local CEOs who have never given to your nonprofit step up to contribute multiple transformational gifts in succession. It’s what happened to Lori Redfearn, California State’s former assistant vice chancellor for systemwide advancement, … [More]
A Pause Is Not a Failure: Seven Ways for Business Owners to Dial Back the Franticness
Most entrepreneurs live for new opportunities. Problem is, when you’re focused on growth, it’s easy to say yes to more than your business can handle. Sure, you can juggle it all for a while, but eventually the stress catches up to you. Your attention is spread over too many clients, and no one gets the service they deserve. Plus, employee coaching and development get the … [More]
Harnessing the Leadership Power of Introverts
Business leaders may too quickly chock up shy, reticent people as introverted and not cut out for leadership positions. Since this is a group of people who are quieter by nature, it’s important for business leaders to reflect on whether they are supporting and recognizing these employees. They could be missing out on promoting a very capable group with a different leadership … [More]
Female Entrepreneurs Do Better with Guidance from Female Mentors, Says Study
In business and in life, the power of mentorship has long been understood, but how important is it that your mentor look like you? This question was at the center of a new study which specifically found that mentor gender has a powerful impact on female entrepreneurs. More to the point, in a randomized controlled experiment, researchers found that when a female entrepreneur … [More]
It’s Lonely at the Top: Empowering CEOs to Be Their Best
It’s not only lonely at the top, it’s precarious — as good leaders live up to President Harry Truman’s famous statement acknowledging the responsibility that comes with authority: “The buck stops here.” Even experienced CEOs running major corporations may not be managing themselves well; focused on managing the company, they’re neglecting some basic aspects of self-care, best … [More]
Tim O’Neal, Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona
Leadership That Matters
“Continuous improvement” is the mantra for business success. While the phrase usually refers to business operations, it’s also applicable to those organizations’ leadership as well. As CEO for one of the fastest-growing nonprofit organizations in the country, we have been impacted by the same market trends, supply chain challenges, labor shortages and lack of affordable … [More]
Is Your Company Headed for the Commodity Death Spiral?
Turn it around with a strategy of market-facing innovation
Once upon a time in a company’s evolution, its founder would be laser-focused on delivering superior, differentiated value to customers. Those customers would have specific needs, and the company sets out to fulfill them better than anyone else. But as the years pass and the business grows, that intense focus, well … drifts. Leaders get caught up in other priorities — say, … [More]
Feedback: March 2024
Q: In terms of succession planning for leadership positions (top-level and/or mid-level) in your company, how are you developing a leadership pipeline within your company? Elizabeth Hale Chief Executive Officer eeCPA Sector: Financial It’s no secret that the accounting market is highly competitive when it comes to attracting and retaining quality senior talent. As the … [More]
