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Using Intersection Points to Improve Remote Work

As more organizations adopt hybrid or fully-virtual work environments, it’s becoming increasingly important to find ways to maintain interpersonal interactions. In particular, younger employees who may be new to the […]

What I Learned About Legacy from the Man I Never Met

This time of year always stirs deep feelings of great pride and respect and also of loss and sadness. As we recognize Memorial Day, we honor those who gave the […]

Is Virtual Work Hurting Younger Employees?

While remote work has brought many benefits, including greater flexibility and increased productivity for some employees, there is growing concern about the impact of virtual work on the younger generation. […]

Leadership Strategies: How to Manage Top Performers

When star employees are assigned to top-priority projects, you empower them to drive meaningful and impactful results. Reflect on your team. Do you have your best people working on your […]

Change Leadership: Finding the Tipping Point

Most organizations encounter resistance to change. For successful change management, leaders need to be aware of the resistance chart and find the tipping point.   One of my favorite sayings […]

How Volunteering & Community Service Benefit Your Business

It’s National Volunteer Week, and while the recent years have brought unique challenges to community service and how we can help one another, Americans have shown there’s never been a […]

Leadership Lessons from the Backpacking Trail: Five Key Roles You Need at Work

Backpacking is one of my favorite hobbies. I’ve backpacked for nearly 40 years, and it has created some of the most remarkable and inspiring experiences in my life. For the […]

The Myth and Reality of Employee Productivity

Even as someone who studies disruption, I never could have anticipated the tremendous chaos that descended upon the world these last few years. What has been the effect on our […]

The Five Rocks: An Exercise to Reduce Burnout

With all that has been brought upon us the last few years, it’s not surprising that most people are feeling overwhelmed. Worker burnout is even worse than at the peak […]

Coach or Mentor: What’s the Difference?

The Leader’s Intent Podcast Featuring Guest Bill Fournet Zig Ziglar once said, “A lot of people have gone further than they thought they could because someone else thought they could. […]

Are Leaders Born or Made?

The Leaders Intent Podcast Featuring Guest Bill Fournet Is leadership learned… or are you born with it? This is one of the most often asked leadership questions that I hear […]

3 Things Leaders Should Do Now to Create a Chaos-Resistant Team

Change is constant. Chaos is a choice. I delved into that topic on the last blog post. As we continue to face disruption, the question is: How will you and […]

Chaos is a Choice

Welcome to 2023! If we’ve learned anything from the last few years, it’s that disruption and change will happen, whether we like it or not. But the question for leaders […]

Read Anything Good Lately? My Top 5 List of Favorite Books

Reading has always been a favorite pastime of mine, for both business and pleasure. Each year, I typically make a list of the books that impacted me the most. But […]

3 Techniques That Can Make a Big Impact on Your Performance

As we wrap up 2022, reflect on the changes you’ve made so far personally and professionally. You may have resolved to take on some big goals, as well as focused […]

Create an Outcome-Driven Plan to Achieve Better Team Performance

Now is the perfect time to take action that will make 2023 the best year ever. As you develop your strategy, try a shift in approach to focus on the […]

3 Compelling Qualities of Effective Leaders

The chaos brought upon us over the last few years has put a spotlight on leaders.  We judge them based on the timeliness of their decision-making, their vision and agility […]

How to Lead Your Team through Uncertainty

We’ve all been through a lot these last few years, and the stress is adding up. According to Gartner, 45% of HR executives say their employees are fatigued from all […]

They’re Baaaack! The Spooky Return of Inefficient Meetings

If there is one thing that has been frightening me lately, it is the return of the ghost of inefficient meetings: the meetings where, on average, only 5 to 10 […]

Sharpen Your Saw: 4 Leadership Strategies to Give Your Team Think Time

When will we get back to the normalcy of a crisis-free day? To the days when we had time to “think” and communicate with coworkers outside our immediate team? Many […]

Two Leadership Techniques to Help You Win the Year

Has 2022 gone the way you expected? Did you achieve everything you wanted for yourself, at home and at work? As we head into the final quarter of the year, […]

A Lesson in Discovery: Find Your Vibe

Contrary to popular belief, opposites do not always attract. Evidence suggests we’re actually drawn to people who are like-minded. The good news is that in the past 20 years, the […]

Then & Now: Important Lessons Learned from 2 European Journeys

In the summer of 1990, my brother and I headed out on a life-impacting journey. We backpacked Europe for six weeks, at a pivotal time in history. The Berlin Wall […]

How Purpose-Driven Leadership Helps You Navigate Disruption & Beat Burnout

The Corporate Purpose Podcast featuring guest Bill Fournet Purpose is good for business. Today, 94% of global consumers expect a brand to have a clear purpose, and 85% of CEOs […]

3 Questions to Help Create the Future You Want

In a time of constant change and disruption, it’s important to not only disconnect, but to self-reflect. When you do these two together, the results may surprise you. My most […]

How to Create Guiding Principles for Your Organization’s Success

Every organization and every team within each organization has a culture, although it may not necessarily be one that was created intentionally. As a leader, is yours the type of […]

Four Ways You Can Fight Burnout Today

Burnout doesn’t happen overnight—it is a slow creep that eats away at you. To combat it, we need sustainable defenses, not “quick fixes.” This week, I want to share four […]

What Is Corporate Culture and Why It Really Matters

No doubt you’ve heard this Peter Drucker quote, but have you asked yourself, what does it mean for you and your organization? How do you define culture and align it […]

For the Moms: We Celebrate You

This month, we celebrate Mothers: Our own, our wives, the ones we work with, and the ones who manage the family. Perhaps you are a Mother yourself. You may be […]

How to Manage Someone Who Thinks Everything Is Urgent

The sky is NOT falling. Yet chances are, you may have a Chicken Little on your team who thinks it is. This is the person who catastrophizes, for whom everything […]

How to Transform Your Organization to Increase Agility and Performance

The last two years have taught us that organizational survival relies upon our ability to respond quickly to new challenges and opportunities that emerge. So imagine… you’re in a meeting […]

HOW TO CELEBRATE SUCCESS AT WORK

It’s more important than ever to celebrate workplace victories. Recognition for individuals and teams helps to retain top talent, increase employee engagement, and encourage high performance. An employee who has […]

The Map Versus the Terrain

As an avid backpacker and Scout leader, I have led many groups through the backcountry. Those experiences are rich with lessons that I learn and apply in my work to […]

Mission-Based Teams: The Crucial New Approach You Need to Implement

As we embark upon what I believe will be one of the most pivotal years in our modern history, we are faced with new challenges to navigate. We realize that […]

The Great Realization

As we reflect on 2021 and look forward to 2022, I hope you and your family are safe and well. As part of my reflection, I focus on what I […]

Enable Your Team to Achieve Success with the Leader’s Intent Strategy

Leader’s Intent is one of the most popular strategies with my clients because it’s a powerful way to enable your team to understand their goals and objectives– and then empower […]

Thankful

The simple act of expressing gratitude can have a big impact on your well-being. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. As Louisiana natives, our family has a tradition to kick off […]

Problem Statement Identification: What’s Your Problem?

There’s a reason why so many of us love the fall. But it’s not just the turning of the leaves, the crisp air, and that nip in the morning. For […]

What the Europeans Have Taught Me About Learning and Development

Grüetzi! This week’s newsletter is coming to you from Europe. Currently, I’m in Switzerland with a client. Last week I co-facilitated with Persimmon’s President Sara Gallagher in Germany, on how to […]

Leadership Lessons from the Field: 3 Key Lessons from a Stunning NFL Defeat

Opening day of the NFL season is one of my favorite days of the year. As a lifelong New Orleans Saints fan, I have been through the years of tremendous […]

BLUF: A Military Technique for Concise and Effective Business Communication

Are you overwhelmed by your inbox? The average person receives more than 100 emails each day. But we’re not burdened just by the quantity of messages; the lack of clarity […]

Use This 5-Point Assessment for a Better 2022 Strategy

What is 2022 going to look like for your organization? Does that seem like an impossible question? After all, no one could have predicted the disruption that we’ve continued to […]

How to Align Expectations, Preparations & Outcomes for Increased Meeting Productivity

A recent study revealed that 51% of professionals say spending too much time in meetings and on calls is distracting them from making an impact at work. Are you among […]

3 Ways to Create a Positive Impact in the Great Resignation

The “Great Resignation” is upon us with millions leaving their jobs in search of more money, flexibility, and happiness. It’s likely your organization is experiencing a change in the workforce. […]

No Surprises Hiring: A 90-Day Tip for Onboarding New Employees

“That is not the person I thought I was hiring.” Sound familiar? Nobody likes “surprises” when it comes to hiring. The investment of time, money and energy that goes into […]

The #1 Interview Question You Should Ask to Find High-Performing Employees

If you’re one of the many leaders in the process of replacing staff in a highly competitive environment, you know it’s more important than ever to bring in employees who […]

Flatter & Faster: How to Transform Your Organization for Post-Covid Success

You’re in a meeting or on a Zoom. You raise an issue regarding another department. How many levels must that issue go up and then down before a solution is […]

Avoid Burnout So You Don’t Flameout

Sharper tempers, emotional and mental fatigue, dramatic lifestyle changes… Don’t let this be your post-pandemic normal at work! Avoid burnout, or you will flameout. The pandemic changed how we work. […]

Achieve Greater Stability and Better Performance Through Quality Planning

Sometimes the shortest path between two points isn’t a direct line. When we embark on projects, we often assume we will start at point A and proceed directly to Z. […]

Why You Should Celebrate Workplace Victories and Goal Achievement

Ask yourself: How well do you recognize and celebrate workplace victories? As a military buff, I am always looking for ways to incorporate successful processes and efficiencies from the Armed […]

Quickly Identify and Manage Assumptions

We all know what happens when we make assumptions. It’s not good in our personal lives, and it’s definitely not good for business. The “ossification of assumptions” — the hardening of […]

A Guide to Returning to the Office After Covid

After nearly 15 months of working virtually, our team at The Persimmon Group will soon begin the transition back to the office.  Like many of you, we had to adapt, […]

Beating Burnout So You Don’t Flameout

How do you manage the overwhelm of disruption? Whether it’s at work or in our personal lives, most have struggled to manage the added pressure brought on by the Pandemic. […]

What A Classic Baseball Movie Can Teach Us About Talent Development

One of the most prominent symbols of spring has arrived: Baseball. This year in particular, as fans are welcomed back to the park, I find myself looking forward to this […]

FROM TRANSACTION TO TRANSFORMATION: HOW TO SCALE YOUR BUSINESS

The Wealthy Speaker Podcast featuring guest Bill Fournet Are you’re looking for ways to create new revenue streams after the constant change and disruption we’ve experienced? Scaling your business can […]

Leadership Gap: How to Identify and Develop Your Future Business Leaders

Take a look at your leadership team. Do you notice a leadership gap in any of these areas:  deficiency of needed leadership skill sets, shortage of leadership candidates, lack of […]

Dear Me: How To Write A New Year Resolution Letter For Better Results

As the New Year rings in, it often brings with it high hopes: a promise of a fresh start. On January 1st, we are each given 365 days to accomplish […]

Developing a Culture of Innovation and Purpose

How do you develop a culture of innovation and purpose that leads to amazing breakthroughs at work? It starts with a solid foundation of trust and shared purpose. Consider the […]

How to Create Your Winning Playbook for Better Team Agility in 6 Steps

Football has returned, and regardless of whether you’re a sports fan, there seems to be a universal feeling of excitement at this time of year. Perhaps even more so now, […]

Leading for Tomorrow: Why You Need a Playbook, Not a Cookbook

“How do I lead my team with confidence when everything is constantly changing?” Leaders today face greater uncertainty and disruption than ever before. To adapt to this rapidly changing pace, […]

How To Lead In The Age Of Disruption

As we work through what has undoubtedly been one of the most disruptive times in recent history, it’s easy to feel a loss of control. We’ve seen all the memes […]

Excelling through the Chaos: A Guide for Leaders (Part 3)

In my first two articles of this three-part series, I introduced you to a practice called Thought Streams, which are designed to help you lead, especially in uncertain times. The […]

Excelling through the Chaos: A Guide for Leaders (Part 2)

In my first article of this three-part series, I introduced you to a practice called Thought Streams, which are designed to help you lead, especially in uncertain times. The first […]

Excelling through the Chaos: A Guide for Leaders (Part 1)

As a consultant and executive coach for leaders, my passion is helping individuals and organizations thrive through the chaos. From workforce trends to changing technology to generational shifts, the Age […]

Reimagining The Iron Triangle For Bold Projects

From providing clean drinking water around the world to curbing climate change, there are hundreds of bold projects in development that seek to address some of the most daunting challenges […]

Building The Vision For Bold Projects

Can bold projects cure what ails our world? At the beginning of this year, the editors of MIT Technology Review published a list of 10 Big Global Challenges Technology Could […]

5 Bold Challenges For The New Decade

The past decade has seen no shortage of global challenges. What will we face in the next decade, and how will we rise to the challenge of meeting them? From […]