Blog / ChangeThis

Brains Favor the Ridiculously In Charge Leader

By Porchlight

"I believe that among all of the things that a leader does, one of the most important ones is to set "boundaries." Basically, a "boundary" is a property line. It defines what will exist on a property and what will not. The property line around your home is like that....it defines where your property begins and ends, and you are in charge of exactly what will happen on that property. And, to our point here, within your business or organization. Leaders must establish some key boundaries in some very key areas if they want to get results. And, thanks to brain research, we now can scientifically get a peek into why the leaders who do establish these kinds of boundaries get the results that they get."

Blog / ChangeThis

An Action Plan for Making Good Customer Service a Reality

By Porchlight

"Any company can market and promote that they are experts at cuddling customers, but very few ever get the formula for execution right. A big reason is that most organizations never bother to put all of the essential building blocks in place to create a customer-centric culture. They like to talk the talk, but don't walk the walk. They also forget that before your employees will ever take good care of your customers, you have to first take great care of them."

Blog / ChangeThis

Mentorship 2.0: How to Find the Mentor You Need

By Dorie Clark

"Waiting for a mentor to appear like a deus ex machina is a loser's game. Some people luck out, but most don't. This manifesto is about how to make your own luck—how to proactively identify the people you want in your life as mentors, cultivate real relationships, and look beyond the obvious. (Some of the most powerful lessons come from the least likely people.)"

Blog / ChangeThis

The Art of Adherence

By Julie Davis-Colan

"In business and in life, the game is usually won by those who can consistently execute a well-thought-out strategy. In other words, winners stick with it—they practice adherence. Adherence is the ability to consistently execute. Not coincidentally, the word 'adherence' appears to have originated in the 1500s from the French word 'adherer,' which means 'to stick to.' Adherence is the critical link between strategy (knowing) and results (doing). Therefore, it is the solution to the knowing-doing gap. Winning requires adherence because successful execution of your plan is not a one-time event but rather steady progress over an extended period of time. [...] Achieving adherence is simple but not necessarily easy. It takes skill and creativity to continually nurture focus, competence, and passion with your team. This is why we call it the art of adherence."

Blog / News & Opinion

Simple

By Porchlight

When we talk about breakthrough simplicity, we mean an interaction that cuts through the clutter. This is a standard that should be applied to everything a company puts out into the world, from the product to the ads down to the smallest piece of correspondence: It should do its job quickly, clearly, simply. People just don't have the time or the interest to wade through corporate rhetoric and jargon to figure out what you're trying to tell them.

Blog / Jack Covert Selects

Jack Covert Selects - The Art of Thinking Clearly

By Porchlight

The Art of Thinking Clearly by Rolf Dobelli, Harper, 384 pages, $25. 99, Hardcover, May 2013, ISBN 9780062219688 Have you ever toiled over a project so much that even when it showed no signs of succeeding, you couldn’t let go? If so, you were a victim of effort justification.

Blog / Jack Covert Selects

Jack Covert Selects - Breaking Out

By Porchlight

Breaking Out: How to Build Influence in a World of Competing Ideas by John Butman, Harvard Business Review Press, 272 pages, $27. 00, Hardcover, May 2013, ISBN 9781422172803 The first thing John Butman, an idea developer, does in his new book Breaking Out is introduce us to the concept of the “idea entrepreneur. ” These innovators are not so different from the Edisons of the world; they just happen to tinker with ideas instead of inventions, and have a deep conviction that those ideas deserve and must gain attention.

Blog / Jack Covert Selects

Jack Covert Selects - The End of Big

By Porchlight

The End of Big: How The Internet Makes David the New Goliath by Nicco Mele, St. Martin’s Press, 310 pages, $25. 99, Hardcover, April 2013, ISBN 9781250021854 Nicco Mele opens his debut book with the following instruction: “Look around you.

Blog / News & Opinion

Crafting the Customer Experience for People Not Like You

By Porchlight

It’s easy to share something you love with someone else, particularly when you know that person likes the same things you do. It’s exciting to be the one to introduce them to something you know they’ll flip over. But what if you gushed enthusiastically about something to someone and their response was, “Why would anyone want that?

Blog / News & Opinion

LeaveSmarter: Marshall Goldsmith

By Porchlight

Last week, Marshall Goldsmith was in town for our private LeaveSmarter event, sponsored by BMO Harris and Whyte Hirschboek Dudek. Marshall delivered a moving hour-long talk on effecting positive change through proven methods. As Dr.