Solutions 21 Blog
Check out our latest insights in leadership
Next-generation leaders aren’t being prepared to lead: backed by research
It happens time and time again: a high-potential employee is promoted into a first-time leadership role and they struggle. Which begs the question: who’s at fault? Not isolated to a single company, industry, or region, research shows that rising stars transition...
read more
Daily habits: what is required is counterintuitive
I remember it like it was yesterday: I was in a classroom listening to my professor give a lecture on time management. He stated, “Master your time or it will master you.” Fast forward 25+ years later. Time management, and my professor’s words, continue to be a part...
read more
The dangers of keeping pandas
Are you doing excellent work and delivering results in your job but not getting the recognition or opportunities you deserve? Maybe it’s a result of the "silver ceiling" – the demographic challenge of retirement-aged Baby Boomers staying in their roles longer than...
read more
Toxic takeover: how not to fail as a boss
A friend of mine recently had a new boss take over his company. When I say take over, I mean “take over.” They came in on a rampage; cancelling major projects, berating employees, subverting leaders, criticizing employees behind their backs, etc. It was toxic and...
read more
Practice
Being a parent has exposed me to some of the most extreme moments of my life on both ends of the emotional spectrum. While I am still pretty new to the parenting “game” – our children are seven, four, four, and one – the past few years as a father of four has taught...
read more
What next-generation talent wants in a leader: backed by research
Employees want to work for a strong leader. As our Founder & President, Buddy Hobart, states, “Folks want to attach their wagon to a strong leadership horse.” It really is that simple. As we discussed in a previous blog, people quit people. The same is true on...
read more
Effective communication: the hardest thing we do
Throughout my adult life, I have given hundreds of presentations and sat through just as many. Some of the presentations I gave did not grab the audience’s attention, and some I’ve sat in bored from the second the presenter began reading the slides. I'm sure I'm not...
read more
Amazon is coming to town
Nashville recently received the exciting news that Amazon is bringing 5,000 new jobs to the Music City. This is great news, but in a city where unemployment is the lowest in the Southeastern United States, this may have some adverse effects. The famous Christmas...
read more
Top talent is scarce and should be invested in: backed by research
For companies large and small in industries across the board, top-tier talent is limited. A Conference Board study concludes that the biggest challenge C-level executives are facing – both currently and in the upcoming years – is “developing next-generation leaders”...
read more
How to lead a more senior team
My colleague recently provided excellent insight for experienced workers who are now reporting to someone younger than themselves. What to do when you’re that boss? In coaching our Next Leader Now candidates, I recommend four tools that can help build a productive...
read more