Everyone loves the strategy deck. But the operating model? That’s where the hard choices live—who stays, who goes, what gets cut, and who’s really ready to lead. This is a post about the gritty side of strategy execution—the side no one likes to talk about but every leader has to face.
Read MoreI used to think great leadership meant doing it faster, better, smarter. But it turns out, one of the most powerful things a leader can do is… nothing. Not because they’re checked out—but because they’ve built an organization that doesn’t need them in every decision. This is a story about a snow shovel, a shutdown, and the real meaning of delegation.
Read MoreWhen executives over-attend meetings, teams underperform. This post breaks down how leadership presence—when overdone—creates bottlenecks, erodes ownership, and signals a lack of trust. The best way to empower your team? Step out of the room.
Read MoreReturn-to-office mandates are everywhere. But if you lead a multi-location company, you’re focused on the wrong test. Try this instead: mandate a remote week for your HQ team and see what breaks. What fails without hallway access or proximity? That’s where your structure is weakest—and where scale will fail.
Read MoreFlat orgs feel empowering—until they fall apart under their own weight. As companies grow, the nostalgia of early connection often gets in the way of the structure required to scale. This post uses a childhood toolset as a metaphor for why clinging to “flatness” is less about culture and more about control—and how SHIELD Illinois grew fast by adding structure, not red tape.
Read MoreMost workplace emergencies aren’t emergencies. They’re just symptoms of poor prioritization and unclear expectations. This post breaks down how to define true emergencies and structure escalation before everything feels urgent.
Read MoreMeetings are like goldfish—they grow to the size of their tank. If you give them an hour, they’ll take an hour. This post challenges default meeting durations and lays out a case for shorter, sharper, more effective conversations. Stop scheduling 60 minutes. Keep the goldfish in the tank.
Read MoreEmployees shouldn’t need a map to get help. If your internal support system wouldn’t survive five minutes with customers, it’s time to redesign it—because your employees are your most important customers.
Read MoreWhat 50,000 runners taught me about calm, trust, and leading high-stakes ops in real time.What 50,000 runners taught me about calm, trust, and leading high-stakes ops in real time.
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