April 20, 2020

Why Catchers Make Great Managers

A baseball catcher is the closest position to a manager in sports. In this article, I look at how the greatest catchers coach their pitchers to the next level.

April 6, 2020

Leading A Team In A Crisis

I examine the team dynamics of a steel company in crisis in this article. The lessons in leadership apply in any high-pressure business situation.

March 30, 2020

No One Should Be Surprised By A Layoff

The only thing worse than reducing your workforce is notifying people who felt they were safe. I examine an ugly example of a layoff gone wrong and three lessons learned from the experience.

March 22, 2020

Lessons From The Credit Crisis That Apply Today

History is our best teacher for how to proceed in a crisis. In this article, I examine my personal experience with a home builder during the credit crisis to demonstrate how leaders can act today.

March 17, 2020

What If You’re Wrong? When Not To Go Against The Grain As A Leader

Conventional wisdom states that leaders should zig when others zag. But is this advice prudent when it involves the safety of your team? When your decisions impact the well-being of others, lean instead on the wisdom of crowds.

January 21, 2020

Great Managers Are Not Afraid To Piss You Off

We recall our mentors with an abundance of positive memories. We associate achievement with their guidance, direction and attention. Whether they were teachers, coaches or managers, they cared enough to invest

January 14, 2020

Why Giving Advice Doesn’t Work (And What To Do Instead)

"Rush out there with a ton of energy and tell a hilarious joke." A young, introverted manager asked my advice for his presentation in front of 200 people at an annual

January 6, 2020

Using Recency Bias To Improve Your Annual Pay Raise

“Clack, clack, clack.” In boxing, the sound of two pieces of wood smacking together signals ten seconds remaining in the round. To Muhammad Ali, the warning was his cue to make an

December 16, 2019

Your Conference Call Sucks (And What You Can Do About It)

“Was that a dog barking? Can you please put him outside for the rest of this conference call?” The barking did not come from a dog. It came from me. This is

by Ian Mathews