Leadership

Why real change demands more than just good intentions—and why leadership must rise to the moment. The Illusion of Change Without New Systems Change isn’t just difficult—it’s nearly impossible without new systems, behaviors, and people. That’s the deeper takeaway from the current state of politics and, more specifically, the recent mid-term election. While pundits and […]

CEO turnover surges as companies brace for growth and navigate a changing post-recession landscape. A Surge in C-Suite Exits and Entrances Don’t look now, but brand-name CEO and executive turnover is flowing fast—like rapids through a narrow canyon. Need proof? Take your pick from any industry tracker or, for a quick snapshot, check out the

Reflections on media, attribution, and the need for deeper journalism. A friend recently joked, “You wrote the AJC story, didn’t you?” Well—no. I contributed to the story, but the reporter wrote it. Here’s the article in question, in case you missed it: AJC: Blake is Home Depot’s ‘calmer-in-chief’. Now, about that phrase—“calmer-in-chief.” Yes, I coined

Another CEO, another fall from grace. This time it’s Mark Hurd—by all accounts a high-performing, results-driven executive—brought down not by poor performance, but by character flaws. And now, true to form, the headlines buzz with speculation: Who will be H-P’s next long-term CEO? The company, following the standard crisis playbook, announced it would conduct a

BP: Board Gaggle or Giggle? If you’re looking for a textbook example of what still plagues 21st-century corporate boards stuck in 20th-century thinking, look no further than BP’s appointment of Robert Dudley as global CEO. Let’s break down why this move is more of the same—and not the reset BP desperately needs. 1. Same Legacy,

ATLANTA (July 20, 2010) — The Garlington Report has learned that premier executive search firm Spencer Stuart is spearheading the search for a new CEO at Nokia, the Espoo, Finland-based mobile technology company. Industry heavyweight Jim Citrin, a senior leader at the firm, is said to be leading the search. While Citrin declined to comment

As Day 52 passes in the aftermath of the nation’s worst-ever environmental crisis, it’s time to reflect on how leadership failures like this can spiral into full-blown disasters. This piece won’t attempt to summarize the event in detail, as countless others have already done that. Nor will it place blame on individuals, demand heads to

What’s the New Normal? Dear Clients and Colleagues, There’s a new default mode in the marketplace that everyone is talking about: The New Normal. You’ve likely encountered the term, particularly in financial sector reporting, but its true meaning remains elusive. The phrase “New Normal” has become a catch-all for describing a shift that many businesses

The Passion Myth: Debunking the “Follow Your Passion” Fallacy Why Loving What You Do Might Not Always Lead to Success Ben Casnocha, a blogger and expert in entrepreneurship, recently shared a thought-provoking post on the fallacies of working with passion. In his piece, he referenced a seemingly contradictory excerpt from Steve Jobs’ famous commencement speech

From Crisis to Boardroom Fast forward a few years. You’re still active in private equity, leveraging your network for new deals. Then, a prominent company from your home country approaches you to join their board. A few years later, you’re elevated to Chairman, tasked with restoring stability after a major proxy fight shakes the organization.