The Best of 2011’s Best Practices in Q3
We’re well into the final few months of 2011. So, I’d like to share with you excerpts from the five most popular Best Practices postings from the third quarter of this year:
Succession Planning: A Cautionary Tale (posted August 1st)
“Charles Sarkis, the eponymous owner of Charley’s Eating and Drinking Saloon and the Back Bay Restaurant Group, has built a formidable restaurant empire here in the Boston area over the past 40 years, with 33 restaurants and 3400 employees. Sarkis is reportedly one smart, tough business owner, but it appears that his unwillingness to address succession planning issues may lead to the demise of a company that has been his life’s work.” Read more…
Steve Jobs on Leadership and Life (posted August 24th)
“We’re all trying to fit in a few days of rest and relaxation before the unofficial end of summer a little more than a week from now. But today, Steve Jobs, the co-founder and legendary visionary of Apple Computer, announced his decision to step down as the company’s CEO. So, despite the hour, I’m compelled to send this post.” Read more…
Howard Lutnick on the Economy (posted September 11th)
“Last Thursday evening, I watched the President speak before Congress about his plan to reinvigorate the U.S. economy and to put millions of unemployed Americans back to work. Then, on Friday evening, I heard a fascinating interview with Howard Lutnick, the head of the investment firm Cantor Fitzgerald, that touched on the very same subject.” Read more…
How Not to Drown Out the Opinions of Others (posted August 5th)
“As companies expand beyond their entrepreneurial roots, effective leaders must break out of the habit of making all of the decisions, and find ways to share leadership with the other talented people they’ve hired. But that’s tough to do, especially when you’ve called the shots from the beginning. And helping others to get comfortable with expressing their own views, particularly when those views are different from yours, can be tricky.” Read more…
Seven Questions to Ask About Your Business Model (posted September 23rd)
“Alex Osterwalder is a leading thinker and commentator about innovative business models, and the co-author of the best-selling book, Business Model Generation.Osterwalder dissects the key elements of a successful business model, which he’s captured in his Business Model Canvas, a one-page sheet that allows business owners to “describe, design, challenge, invent and pivot your business model.” Read more…
What are your favorite Best Practices postings from the past few months? Let us know by posting your comments here. Thanks!