Running a business without strategy is like driving your car without a clear destination and map to get there. It is both confusing and inefficient. Business isn’t something you make up as you go along. The leader needs ensure he/she is well informed about external industry dynamics and the needed related internal capabilities. The best leaders anticipate, then create the future using a well-informed strategy to make it happen. They also ensure everyone in the organization is clear about this direction and why it’s important.
The winners over the next 3–5 years won’t be the ones with the fanciest tech or the biggest marketing budgets. They’ll be the ones who operationalize these four levers across their business—one strategic…
Growth by itself isn’t the goal. Sustainable, balanced growth that outperforms your market and strengthens your business foundation—that’s the win. “You’re not in business just to stay busy. You’re in business to build…
“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” — Albert Einstein Running a business is never a straight line. Some years, things hum along smoothly. Other times, the landscape changes—customers evolve, the competition stiffens,…
Contingency planning isn’t about living in fear. It’s about being smart. It’s about protecting what you’ve worked so hard to build—your people, your reputation, your financial stability—so that when the wind shifts, you…
As we approach the end of 2024, it’s an important time to step back and take a comprehensive look at the past year and plan for 2025. Intentional reflection and forward-thinking vision mark…
By adapting your leadership style to the needs of your business at each stage, you can navigate the challenges and guide your organization to sustained success. Keep learning, stay flexible, and always lead…
Not all risks are equal. Prioritize them based on their likelihood and potential impact on your business. Focus your resources on high-probability risks that would leave you significantly vulnerable, while having contingency plans…
In business, uncertainty is a given. But while we can't always predict or control external factors, we can control how prepared we are to face them. A strong balance sheet isn't just a…
Scaling and replication are two different approaches to organically grow your business. Scaling involves increasing the size and scope of your existing business operations. In contrast, replication involves creating a duplicate of your…
Growth is hard work. For the past 27 years, I’ve worked as an executive coach, Vistage Chair, trainer or management consultant with hundreds of organizations. They have varied in size from just under…
Armstrong walks you through the layered approach, showing how great leaders don't just build businesses; they build other leaders. The book breaks down how to intentionally create layers of leadership that align with…
The New Makers of Modern Strategy reminds leaders that strategy isn’t a binder—it’s a living set of choices you make under pressure. Read it to sharpen your judgment, tighten your plans, and align…
In a world full of slide decks and “big ideas,” the winners are the teams that ship. Bossidy and Charan cut through the noise and show you how to build a culture where…
Markets are noisy, talent is scarce, and attention is fleeting. The teams that win aren’t just fast—they’re deliberate. This book helps you slow the game down: define what you truly want, map the…
From tax shelters to AI recommendation engines, the advantage increasingly goes to whoever best manipulates the rules. If you lead a business, run operations, or set policy, you need hacker-level situational awareness: where…
This isn’t just about General Electric. It’s about any company—big or small—that grows faster than its systems, confuses activity with progress, or lets pride outrun the facts. If you lead people and manage…
Layered Leadership by Lawrence R. Armstrong Book Excerpts INTRODUCTION Leadership, whether of a startup; Small, mid-sized, or large firm; team; church; or any organization, must work as a whole across the continuum…
Five Stages of Decline: Hubris Born of Success Undisciplined Pursuit of More Denial of Risk and Peril Grasping for Salvation Capitulation to Irreverence or Death “The concept of hubris is defined as…
I have been a Charles Handy fan for many years and find that his work only becomes more prescient and meaningful with time. It’s amazing how he could envision the world we would be doing…
Central Thesis Leadership is layered, not linear. Enduring organizations align several layers—self‑leadership, team development, clear strategy, disciplined execution, market focus, innovation, culture, and succession—so each layer reinforces the others. The leader’s ongoing task…
By understanding and addressing the stages of hubris born of success, undisciplined pursuit of more, denial of risk and peril, grasping for salvation, and capitulation to irrelevance or death, companies can avoid decline…
The transition from good to great is not easy, but it is possible with the right mindset, leadership, and culture. By embracing Level 5 Leadership, focusing on the right people, confronting the brutal…
By understanding the nature of illusions, their causes, and strategies for addressing them, managers and leaders can foster a more truthful, effective, and dynamic work environment. Implementing these principles helps create a culture…
For small business owners, this book offers actionable insights that can transform how you position your brand in the marketplace. It's a reminder that in the race to be noticed, being different isn't…
"Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies" by Jim Collins and Jerry I. Porras offers invaluable insights into what makes some companies enduringly successful while others fall by the wayside. The principles…
We have a weekly newsletter packed full of weekly updates of latest content posted here.
‘Ask Ed’ AI Chatbot: Ed has developed this chatbot to allow you to easily access the content he has complied over the last 30 years as a business and leadership coach. Click ‘Ask Ed’ below to get your questions answered.
