Leaders and Strategies in Real Life: 7/25/17

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Instead of studying leadership, why not spend some time studying leaders and strategies in the wild? You can learn a lot from leadership experts, but you always see the leader and what he or she does through the expert’s personal lens. Supplement that learning with studying real leaders in real life situations and draw your own conclusions. The posts in this series will help you.

Every week I’ll point you to articles by and about real leaders in real situations and to articles about how real companies are faring in the marketplace. Read them. Think about them. Draw your own lessons and conclusions from them. Then try to apply those lessons in your own real life.

This week I’m pointing you to articles about New Belgium Brewing, Brian Rehg, Joshua Feast, Chip Bergh, and Mary Barra.

From Susan Adams: Once A Craft Beer Darling, New Belgium Brewing Is Struggling To Go From Niche To National

“In January 2013, Kim Jordan, the cofounder and CEO of New Belgium Brewing, called an all-hands meeting and stunned employees by announcing that the company had been sold. Once the gasps subsided, she told staffers that the envelopes on their chairs contained the identity of the buyer. Inside they found a mirror, Jordan’s way of informing them that they were the new owners of New Belgium through an employee stock-ownership plan.”

From Steve Blue: Software company finds its niche

“Software engineer Brian Rehg started Blue Stingray Digital Agency at his kitchen table helping clients for free. Six years later, his agency has grown to 18 employees and continues to grow.”

From Joel Trammell: CEO Interview: Joshua Feast, Cogito

“Joshua Feast is CEO of Cogito, which makes software that analyzes phone conversations and provides real-time guidance to help service employees better engage and connect with customers. As Joshua says below, Cogito essentially helps people be ‘more charming in conversation.’ He is certainly a great representative of his company in that regard.”

From Adam Bryant: Chip Bergh on Setting a High Bar and Holding People Accountable

“The big lesson for me, and it stuck with me forever, is that you’ve got to be really transparent and straight with people, and if they’re not cutting it, you’ve got to tell them where they’re not cutting it. Hold the bar up high, and if it’s not a good fit, call it.”

From Bill Snyder: Mary Barra: Simplify Bureaucracy, and Don’t Be Afraid To Job Hop

“The CEO of GM discusses leadership lessons and the future of self-driving cars.”

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