Our reader poll today asks: How do you feel about running your own entrepreneurial venture?

• I already do, and I love it – 27%
• I already do, and wish I were in a large company – 8%
• I’m in a large company, but I’d love to run my own venture – 22%
• I’m in a large company, and I’m happy right where I am – 43%

The grass is always greener.

Read the rest of this post at thoughtLEADERS, LLC: Leadership Training for the Real World.

Have you ever had a business problem that you’re not sure how to solve?  This five step problem-solving process is a great place to start.

At one point, I worked with a financial services firm, and we had this really cool program that, when we first launched it, was doing really well, both from a customer standpoint and from a financial standpoint. The problem came up when, all of the sudden, the financial numbers started tanking, and everybody started freakin’ out. 

Read the rest of this post at thoughtLEADERS, LLC: Leadership Training for the Real World.

Shared goals are anathema in business. The ultimate individual sport: raises, rankings, promotions, every person for themselves.

Today’s post is by Larry Coval, author of the forthcoming book Misled: Why (Almost) Everything You Learned About Leadership Is Wrong and How to Fix It (Girl Friday Productions, September 2026).

I remember thinking how wrong he was. My boss had just finished an emotionally charged speech about how the team (him, me, my peers) could achieve the bigger goal.

Read the rest of this post at thoughtLEADERS, LLC: Leadership Training for the Real World.

Our reader poll today asks: How robust is the mentoring culture in your organization?

• It’s great — we have tons of mentoring relationships and opportunities – 11%
• It’s good — you can enter a mentoring relationship with some effort – 28%
• It’s marginal — building mentoring relationships takes a lot of effort – 37%
  
• It’s poor — barely anyone is involved in a mentoring relationship – 24%

More mentoring is needed.

Read the rest of this post at thoughtLEADERS, LLC: Leadership Training for the Real World.

Know the different benefits and drawbacks of contractors and employees. Make sure you choose deliberately to drive the outcome you’re looking for.

When you want to grow your consulting firm, you’re probably going to have to bring on additional people. There’s only so much of you to go around. Make deliberate choices about whether the people you bring on will be contractors or employees. Ensure that individuals’ interests are aligned with yours.

Read the rest of this post at thoughtLEADERS, LLC: Leadership Training for the Real World.

Leaders often believe culture changes because of a new mission statement, a kickoff meeting, or a refreshed list of values. Those moments create awareness. Culture is shaped by what happens next.

Today’s post is by Natalie Johnson, co-author of Leading the Culture Journey: Elevating Everyday Actions to Create Extraordinary Workplaces.

Organizations don’t begin paying for a neglected culture when people leave. They’ve been paying all along.

Read the rest of this post at thoughtLEADERS, LLC: Leadership Training for the Real World.