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Does Iron Sharpen Iron?
While attending a cocktail reception hosted by a local business incubator I overheard the founder of a startup repeat the saying “Iron Sharpens Iron”. This was the third time that week I was presented with the that old trope. Following the theory that once is an accident, twice is a coincidence, but three times is…
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From SLOMO to FOGHO: Unleashing the Power of Enthusiasm
In the dynamic realm of business, the attitudes and approaches of individuals play a crucial role in determining success. Introducing FOGHO, an acronym derived from “Full On, Gung – HO,” which symbolizes an infectious level of enthusiasm and unwavering dedication to the mission. On the flip side, we have SLOMOs, the employees who seem to…
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Inflation or WINflation?!
Economic inflation is running at the highest level in over a generation, but should this concern you as a manager? YES, most definitely. Ignore inflation and you might be ignoring the greatest motivational tool of a lifetime. A typical definition of inflation is when too much money is chasing too few goods causing prices to…
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How to Master Public Speaking
For most of us, the art and skill of public speaking are difficult to master. Comedian Jerry Seinfeld famously said “According to most studies, people’s number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. This means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you’re better off in the casket than doing…
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The Squirrel and the Drainpipe (an allegory)
Recently our grounds staff was performing routine maintenance at the ICBM Institute Mountain Campus Buildings (ICBMIMCB )in preparation for our yearly International Leading Conference. One of the tasks included repairing a downspout (drainpipe) that had become detached from a rain gutter. It was a simple enough repair for our experienced crews; get a ladder, find…
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The Straw that Broke the Camel’s Back
Deconstructing American sayings is admittedly one of my favorite past times. Our Americanized English offers some very colorful sayings which give our dialect a lot of historically referenced character. Often, the more interesting American sayings can also have deep roots in prehistoric Americana. Today’s saying is one that goes back more than 5,000 years. Here…
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Shhh! I am trying to Quiet-Quit Over here
Contrary to what you might expect, here at ICBM, we are actually fans of Quiet-Quitting. This relatively new phenomenon is causing quite a stir in the corporate world. Once the dust settles, it will become evident that Quiet-Quitting is the inevitable response to several passive-aggressive practices which have been in use by managers for years.…
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Quiet-Quitters? It’s Time to Make Some Noise!
Unless you’re a manager that’s been living under a rock for the last year you must have read the headlines about Quiet-Quitting. In a nutshell, Quiet-Quitting is a passive-aggressive attempt by employees to reduce their workload in response to a perceived slight by management. If you pay attention to business media you would think QQ…
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Time for a Pep Talk
Hey Humpty, if you want to make an omelet you have to crack some eggs. I know many of you are down. Maybe even out. And, times are tough. I am not here to deny that the path here has been hard – instead I’m going to lay a yellow brick road right at your…
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Meeting-nomics 305: The Phrase That Pays
Increasing TMT and expanding your influence are intimately tied, and like a Gordian knot, or the meaning of a mission statement, can’t be untied. So rather than fight it, embrace it. As you progress in your journey toward ever greater managerial excellence you might be faced with a situation where you start to lose control…