Entries by Barry Pruitt

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How to be a Good Facilitator: Top 10 Qualities of the Best Facilitators [Updated for 2023]

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Wed, Jan 11, 2023 @ 09:00 AM

Are your meetings the butt of work-related jokes? Why is it that we roll our eyes with disdain when our calendar is loaded with meetings,..

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Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Effective Meetings

COVID 19 SWOT Analysis: SWOT Analysis in a Pandemic

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Sun, Aug 28, 2022 @ 11:03 AM

Many planning tools are used on an annual basis—yet, they are often overlooked in the middle of a pandemic like COVID-19. There is an..

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Topics: KPIs & Dashboards, Effective Meetings

Top CEOs are Obsessed with Coaching

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Mon, Aug 22, 2022 @ 11:03 AM

I recently read Dr. Steve Sjuggerud’s investment newsletter where he stated:

“It made me feel a bit like Tom Brady in the playoffs..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

KPI vs Target: How Use KPI Targets Effectively

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Mon, Feb 28, 2022 @ 11:22 AM

I really enjoy learning during client interactions. When I’m working onsite in planning sessions, coaching executives 1-to-1, or working..

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Topics: KPIs & Dashboards

Drive Your Remote Team's Morale, Maintain Productivity and Win

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Thu, Jan 20, 2022 @ 11:03 AM

History is the ultimate reality TV show; it's getting a first-hand view of people's bad decisions, conflicts, trials, and successes. We can..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

2 Reasons You May be Failing to Grow Your Company and Have a Life

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Mon, Nov 15, 2021 @ 12:00 PM

There are two main reasons that entrepreneurs fail to grow their business and maintain a healthy personal life. Dr. Ollie Malone, author of

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

9 Steps to Make Coaching Your Sales Team Predictable

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Sun, Aug 29, 2021 @ 09:00 AM

I recently blogged that being a great coach requires that you know which hat you’re wearing the very moment you engage with a team member...

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Topics: Strategies for Growth, Accountable Leaders & Teams

Stop Measuring Everything: The CEO KPIs That Should be Prioritized

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Mon, May 3, 2021 @ 11:04 AM

Business dreams and future strategic direction are exciting, motivating and even invigorating; however, they are of no value if you run out..

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Topics: KPIs & Dashboards

Not to Be Ignored: Artificial Intelligence

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Mon, Mar 22, 2021 @ 11:03 AM

We’ve just ended a particularly challenging year with no relief in sight. Business battles have multiple new fronts – including national..

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Topics: Strategies for Growth

How CEOs Sustain Team Alignment in a Constantly Changing Environment

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Mon, Feb 1, 2021 @ 11:03 AM

In 1998 I was traveling on I-95, just south of Cocoa Beach, Florida, where brush fires burned along the highway. When I arrived in Fort..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

Moat Building: 3 Ways to Build Your Moat Around Your Business

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Mon, Oct 26, 2020 @ 09:00 AM

As you approach planning for another quarter, take a moment to check in on your 3-5 Year Strategy or what he calls Winning Moves. These are..

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Topics: Strategies for Growth

Create a Virtual Plan for Grief during COVID-19

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Fri, Aug 14, 2020 @ 11:03 AM

This Saturday, my aunt will be buried. She's the last of my dad's generation for my family. She passed due to complications of cancer, and..

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Topics: Effective Meetings, Accountable Leaders & Teams

Scaling Up Your Business with Rockefeller Habits 2.0 With These 16 Questions

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Tue, Jul 28, 2020 @ 11:00 AM

It’s summer. Bright blue skies, puffy cotton candy-like clouds, and colorful flowers abound in gardens everywhere. This description is also..

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Topics: Strategies for Growth, Strategy Execution

Adaptive Leadership Theory: Adaptive Leadership Framework

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Mon, Jul 27, 2020 @ 12:00 PM

As leadership guru Jim Collins tells us, organizations go from good to great when personalities step aside and let purpose become the..

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Topics: Strategies for Growth, Accountable Leaders & Teams

Virtual Planning Lessons: Keep Your Company Out of COVID-19 Trouble

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Fri, Jul 24, 2020 @ 11:03 AM

According to FEMA, only 60% of small businesses reopen after a disaster. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) continues this..

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Topics: Strategies for Growth, Annual & Quarterly Planning

Priority ZERO: Make COVID-19 Part of Your Survive, Recover and Thrive Mentality

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Fri, Jun 26, 2020 @ 12:58 PM

We all know we need to be prepared for the worst—while striving for the best—when it comes to the effects of COVID-19, and the market has..

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Topics: Strategies for Growth, Annual & Quarterly Planning, KPIs & Dashboards, Strategy Execution

How the Balanced Scorecard Keeps You Balanced

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Tue, Jun 16, 2020 @ 11:03 AM

The Balanced Scorecard, originally developed by Dr. Robert Kaplan of Harvard University and Dr. David Norton, can keep your company..

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Topics: KPIs & Dashboards

Cash is King – Do You Know Where Your Cash Is?

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Thu, May 14, 2020 @ 11:03 AM

It was the 2007-2009 recession, and markets were uncertain. Things were generally OK with my business, yet with years of experience through..

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Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning

Turn 880 Pages of Complexity into How You Care for Coronavirus Relief

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Thu, May 7, 2020 @ 11:44 AM

The 880-page CARES Act requires ongoing, focused effort to reduce the complexity to useful information. Just like filing taxes, some are..

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Topics: Strategies for Growth, Annual & Quarterly Planning, Strategy Execution

Practice the Rockefeller Habits to Drive Accountability and Response-Ability

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Sat, Feb 1, 2020 @ 06:41 AM

Are you fostering an accountability-based team, department, or organization? Accountability takes a step beyond responsibility...

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Topics: Strategies for Growth, Accountable Leaders & Teams

Emotional Intelligence in Action: List of Emotional Intelligence in Action Steps

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Fri, Jan 10, 2020 @ 12:00 PM

I must admit, I’m an enthusiast for developing emotional intelligence. It’s one of the reasons I became a certified facilitator for EQ-i...

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

Nuts and Bolts Leadership: Sometimes You Feel Like a Nut

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Thu, Jan 2, 2020 @ 09:00 AM

As a leader, I’ve sometimes felt like a nut – nutty ideas, feedback that indicates I’m crazy, looks from others that could … well, you get..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

Disproportional Influence: Problem Identification and Lag Time

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Wed, Dec 4, 2019 @ 12:00 PM

Imagine the circular conversation in your workplace. The movie you’ve seen before, where you know the outcome, and can predict that there..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

Tom Sawyer Management Approach - 5 Steps to Increase Your Leadership

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Sun, Nov 10, 2019 @ 09:00 AM

It was 6:30 pm on a summer evening. Since I had agreed that my youngest son could go out with friends only after the grass had been cut, I..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

Two Truths and a Lie: The Sears Saga and Your 3-5 Year Strategic Plan

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Fri, Sep 6, 2019 @ 02:34 PM

I’ve observed a common theme in client companies. I should say, a specific type of client companies. The type that successfully grow year..

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Topics: Strategies for Growth, Annual & Quarterly Planning

You’re Fired: 5 Steps and a Glass of Wine

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Wed, Sep 4, 2019 @ 02:24 PM

Like many great business learnings, it began with glass of wine. I had a business manager named Jim who was experiencing employee problems,..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

Stop Putting Lipstick on a Pig: Start Driving Predictable Results

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Sat, Aug 10, 2019 @ 09:00 AM

You may have heard the old saying; “Putting lipstick on a pig doesn't make it more attractive!” You may chuckle at the meaning, yet I see..

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Topics: Strategy Execution

Stand Up, Speak Up, Shut Up, and Sit Down

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Thu, Jun 20, 2019 @ 09:00 AM

I debated calling this blog Stage Secrets of Great Communicators only to then argue with myself that the stage for you could be the floor..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

Focus Like a Magnifying Glass to Expand Your Power

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Wed, May 1, 2019 @ 12:00 PM

My Dad was a chemist working on, among other things, the Proctor and Gamble team that brought Cascade to the market. It was a fun childhood..

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Topics: Strategy Execution

Focus to Win: Nobody Buys Your Drinks When You’re Last Place

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Wed, May 1, 2019 @ 09:00 AM

Change is accelerating, competition is stiff, and employee engagement is measurably low. How can you possibly make headway in a growing..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

Using the One Page Plan and Rockefeller Habits to Create a Corporate Strategy That Works!

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Mon, Apr 22, 2019 @ 02:54 PM

One of the critical issues business leaders face is not failing to create a strategy, but actually executing it throughout the ranks of..

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Topics: Strategies for Growth

How Myers Briggs Can Help You Run a Profitable Business

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Fri, Apr 12, 2019 @ 09:00 AM

Over twenty years ago I worked with one of the top pizza chains in the world. They had several processes in place to manage growth,..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

Blindsided: Your Sales Pipeline, Business Performance, and Dual-Role Players

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Tue, Mar 5, 2019 @ 12:03 PM

If you’ve ever worked at an entrepreneurial company, been a business owner, or worn the hat of sales person, then you understand a revenue..

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Topics: Increasing Sales

4 Steps to Get Your Team Past Issues and Problems

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Sun, Mar 3, 2019 @ 09:00 AM

Everyone hits a ceiling of complexity. Teens hit a level of complexity in sports, class, and social situations. Entrepreneurs hit levels of..

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Topics: Strategies for Growth, Strategy Execution

5 (More) Secrets to Make Happy Money in Your Business

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Thu, Jan 17, 2019 @ 09:04 AM

I recently blogged about why some companies increased sales and were happily forging ahead while others never moved out of the starting..

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Topics: Increasing Sales, Strategies for Growth

5 Secrets to Make Happy Money in Your Business

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Tue, Jan 8, 2019 @ 10:46 AM

As I think over last year, I wonder why some companies increased sales and were happily forging ahead while others never moved out of the..

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Topics: Strategies for Growth, Annual & Quarterly Planning

Lessons Business Leaders Could Learn from Eight-Year-Olds

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Thu, Dec 27, 2018 @ 11:04 AM

My youngest son was eight years old and played for the church basketball team. You may know the routine, practice once a week and play once..

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Topics: Strategies for Growth, Accountable Leaders & Teams

5 Steps to Build a World-Class Organization or Sales Team

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Fri, Nov 23, 2018 @ 11:10 AM

Leaders often self-impose what used to be good habits at a bad time. What I mean is that they continue doing the things they did with 5..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

Accountability: Trust, But Verify (I'm Gonna Miss Krispy Kreme)

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Thu, Sep 27, 2018 @ 11:00 AM

If you’re from southeastern USA, you know full well how delicious a hot Krispy Kreme doughnut can be. The anticipation of that sweet savory..

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Topics: Strategy Execution, Accountable Leaders & Teams

The Ten Rules to Becoming a Sales Professional [Video]

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Tue, Aug 21, 2018 @ 11:00 AM

Is your team struggling with sales? If so, you’ve probably talked about sales systems and training, read books and may have engaged an..

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Topics: Increasing Sales

How SMACCC Will Save Your Company

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Wed, Jul 11, 2018 @ 11:00 AM

“A good plan executed right now is far better than a perfect plan next week.” - George S. Patton

Patton had it right. An executive pattern..

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Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Accountable Leaders & Teams

Customers Don't Suck - The Boss Does!

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Tue, May 22, 2018 @ 11:00 AM

Fast growth companies deal with more and more customers – it’s implied in growth. Having more and more customers increases the risk that ..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

Your Leadership ETHIC Drives Predictable Results

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Tue, Apr 24, 2018 @ 11:00 AM

I was pleasantly surprised and wonderfully rewarded by the success of launching our new book, Predictable Results. I find it curious that..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

3 Action Steps to Leverage Stress for Success

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Tue, Apr 10, 2018 @ 11:00 AM

No matter who they are or what they're doing, every person and organization experiences problems, difficulties, unexpected reversals and..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

3 Action Steps From Jack Daly to Increase Sales

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Tue, Mar 27, 2018 @ 11:00 AM

Spring is here and I’ve been making new landscaping plans. Well, actually, plans to continue on a landscaping path chosen two years ago –..

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Topics: Increasing Sales

8 Habits for CEOs to Grow Your Business Without Breaking a Sweat

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Thu, Feb 22, 2018 @ 11:00 AM

At each business stage, leaders face new challenges and complexity. The Herculean effort to launch and grow a business to $1m revenue is..

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Topics: Strategies for Growth, Accountable Leaders & Teams

Business Lessons from the Story of David and Goliath

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Fri, Dec 22, 2017 @ 11:00 AM

“Goliath had as much chance against David as any Bronze Age warrior with a sword would have had against an opponent armed with a .45..

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Topics: Strategies for Growth, Accountable Leaders & Teams

Your Blueprint to Get Your Message Moving

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Tue, Sep 19, 2017 @ 09:00 AM

We’ve been busy preparing for our Breakthrough Conference in Charlotte, working on keynotes, topics, and materials that would help leaders..

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Topics: Strategy Execution, Accountable Leaders & Teams

True Grit, Premium Value, and Success - How Bad Do You Want It?

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Wed, Sep 13, 2017 @ 09:00 AM

Whenever I am onboarding a new client, I expect questions. I often hear, "what’s the most important thing that we need to succeed?" So I..

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Topics: Strategies for Growth

From Your Heart To Feet To Changing the World

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Sun, Sep 3, 2017 @ 09:00 AM

Michael was a beautiful boy. I guessed that he was about 9 years old and although his shirt was worn out, his jeans torn, and his shoes and..

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Topics: Strategy Execution

Coach Your Sales Team to Get Predictable Results

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Wed, Aug 16, 2017 @ 09:00 AM

Being a great coach is founded on knowing which hat you’re wearing. Everyone wears multiple hats. It could be a team member, project..

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Topics: Strategies for Growth, Strategy Execution

3 Sales Contest Examples to Predictably Increase Revenue & Profit

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Sun, Jul 23, 2017 @ 09:00 AM

I recently shared an interesting trend regarding sales and predictable results. The premise was that leaders just like you are desperate..

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Topics: Strategies for Growth, Strategy Execution

Sales Contests Offer the Predictable Result of Increased Revenue & Profit

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Sun, Jul 16, 2017 @ 12:00 PM

Onsite consulting reveals interesting trends, and this year I’m hearing more and more about predictable results. Leaders just like you are..

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Topics: Strategies for Growth

Business Productivity: The Weak Link Between Intention & Implementation

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Wed, Jul 5, 2017 @ 09:00 AM

Despite best intentions, many of our dreams and goals go unfulfilled. One might think it’s because people are lazy, but I struggle with..

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Topics: Strategy Execution

Getting Predictable Results From Leadership

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Thu, Jun 29, 2017 @ 09:00 AM

What do professional painters, singers, leaders, negotiators, and, in fact, most professionals have in common? They practice with multiple..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

Not Enough Time is More Common than the Common Cold

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Thu, Jun 8, 2017 @ 09:00 AM

When working with clients, I commonly hear things like, “I’d really like to get out of my office and talk to my team, but there just isn’t..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

6 Keys to Save Communication Time: Gain a Following Like a Great Preacher

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Sun, Apr 23, 2017 @ 12:00 PM

No matter your spiritual beliefs, there is no denying that great preachers have a large number of followers. I’ve found that the same is..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

Want a Better Relationship with Your Boss? Use a Job Scorecard

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Sun, Apr 9, 2017 @ 12:00 PM

As an employee (or boss), you can be proactive in clarifying roles and expectations – making you happier in your job and improving..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

7 Ways Employee Engagement Can Help You Become a Best Place to Work

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Tue, Feb 7, 2017 @ 09:00 AM

As a consultant, I get the chance to walk into many offices just like yours. I meet team members just like your team members. And..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

The Road to Hell (is Paved with Good Intentions)

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Thu, Jan 26, 2017 @ 09:00 AM

I bet you recall with great clarity the time that you had good intent yet got negative results. Forget that you meant to be helpful,..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

Stop Being a Monkey: Low-Hanging Fruit Leads to Failure

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Sun, Jan 15, 2017 @ 12:00 PM

It’s exhilarating to start a company. You have a dream, you wear many hats, you have the constant challenge of managing time from one duty..

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Topics: Strategies for Growth

7 Steps to Tighten Your Steering and Drive Out Leadership Waste

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Sun, Dec 18, 2016 @ 09:00 AM

It was my first car. You’ll remember yours, the great memories, the funny quirks, how perfect it seemed … and perhaps you remember a few of..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

Engage Your Team and End the Year Strong

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Sun, Nov 20, 2016 @ 12:00 PM

You write the script, set the stage, and make up the characters. If you don’t like the story, it’s time for a rewrite. When it comes to ..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

What the Twit - Is Social Media a Waste of an Entrepreneur's Time?

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Tue, Nov 1, 2016 @ 09:00 AM

In an effort to build connections with other professionals, I opened my Twitter account in June 2009. I waited. I waited a bit longer. Gee,..

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11 Ways to Kill Your Business Value

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Thu, Oct 20, 2016 @ 09:00 AM

Most entrepreneurs and leaders know when their team isn’t aligned or working in the most efficient way. It shows up in petty arguments,..

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Topics: Strategy Execution

How To Double Your Return From Any Conference - Part 2

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Thu, Oct 6, 2016 @ 09:00 PM

If the event does not help you think differently, do something more effectively or, succeed at something that you would not have otherwise..

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Topics: Strategy Execution

How To Double Your Return From Any Conference - Part 1

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Thu, Sep 29, 2016 @ 09:00 AM

At Rhythm Systems, we believe in getting smarter on a regular basis. I say "believe in" getting smarter because it’s one of our core..

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Topics: Strategy Execution

Jack Daly's Secrets to Sales Success (Part 3)

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Sun, Sep 18, 2016 @ 12:00 PM

Jack Daly has proven in the market, in nearly every industry, that he can move sales people through the critical sales path to the end..

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Topics: Strategies for Growth

Jack Daly's Path to Sales Success (Part 2)

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Tue, Sep 13, 2016 @ 09:00 AM

In my last blog I asked, “Who really understands the art of effective sales?” There are a handful of sales experts and one is my guest, ..

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Topics: Strategies for Growth

Sales Success with Jack Daly (Part 1)

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Wed, Sep 7, 2016 @ 09:00 AM

Who really understands the art of effective sales? The difference between effective sales people versus the typical plaid jacket, wide tie..

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Topics: Strategies for Growth

3 Steps to Be Situationally Multilingual

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Wed, Aug 24, 2016 @ 08:00 AM

It was an incredible moment. She had traveled thousands of miles, spent hundreds of hours, and suffered the pain of learning a new language..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

3 Secrets to Motivation

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Thu, Aug 18, 2016 @ 09:00 AM

Your word of encouragement during any team member failure is worth more than an hour of praise after company success.

OK, you’re a..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

How To Write Your Legacy - Lessons From a Cowboy

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Sun, Jul 17, 2016 @ 12:00 PM

I’m going to miss my uncle Frank. He was born August 20, 1921, near El Paso, Texas. He was the last man standing (except for my generation)..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

Break Down Your Process Before You Break Down Your Business

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Thu, Jul 7, 2016 @ 09:00 AM

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” - Thomas A. Edison

Thomas Edison knew what he..

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Topics: KPIs & Dashboards

3-Step Process: The Build Up To a Great Stand Up (SlideShare)

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Sun, Jun 26, 2016 @ 12:00 PM

Most great leaders are great communicators. In my previous blog, I shared how to Stand Up, Speak Up, Shut Up, and Sit Down. This is the..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

3 Ways to Break Free of Competence

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Sun, Jun 5, 2016 @ 12:00 PM

Get a job, learn to be competent, and you can find work anywhere. Learn a skill and you’ll never want for work. You build your legacy as..

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Test Your Potential Before the Market Tests You

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Sun, May 29, 2016 @ 12:00 PM

I’ve known many leaders with good potential who were never tested. I’ve also known many leaders with good potential who were tested - and..

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Topics: Strategies for Growth

Have Your Say in a Positive Way

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Thu, May 5, 2016 @ 09:00 AM

You can have brilliant ideas, but if you can't get them across, your ideas won't get you anywhere.  -Lee Iacocca

I've worked with brilliant..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

Performance Reviews: HR Can’t Handle The Truth

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Tue, Mar 29, 2016 @ 09:00 AM

If you’re a leader, you probably dislike the annual review process. In fact, if you’re like most leaders, you probably hate it. There’s..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

Jack Daly Thinks You Better Pay Me!

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Tue, Mar 8, 2016 @ 09:00 AM

You either pay your people, or they don’t come back. I don’t mean you should give them the paychecks they earned. That’s a legal and..

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Topics: Strategies for Growth

3 Simple Steps to Facilitate Like a Pro

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Fri, Jan 29, 2016 @ 12:30 PM

 With a great message and poor delivery you have the equivalent of … a poor message! I’ve worked the stage in twelve countries with..

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Topics: Strategies for Growth, Strategy Execution, Effective Meetings

MacGyver is Your Sales Guy!

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Thu, Nov 5, 2015 @ 09:00 AM

Making sales is revenue generation, and therefore the lifeblood of business growth. I’ve discovered that some people are good at selling a..

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Topics: Strategies for Growth

Test the M Factor – How Boomers, GenX and GenY Can Get Along Better

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Mon, Oct 5, 2015 @ 09:00 AM

Whether you are handling a baby boomer who is frustrated with the work ethic of a Gen Xer or you are mentoring an impatient Gen Y employee..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

Anchors A Weight

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Wed, Sep 30, 2015 @ 09:00 AM

Nope. The title is not a misprint. Any ship at anchor while attempting to move forward, is moving slower and using more energy than..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

Nostradamus Predicts Steve Jobs Was a Bad Model for Startups

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Fri, Sep 11, 2015 @ 08:43 PM

Since the publication of Les Propheties, Nostradamus has attracted loyal followers that, along with much of the press, give him credit for..

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Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Accountable Leaders & Teams

Only Being Book Smart Isn't Really Smart

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Mon, Aug 31, 2015 @ 09:00 AM

I've known a lot of people who were book smart, did well in school, but were a bust as an employee or a leader. I also went to school with..

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Entrepreneurs are Different from Executives

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Fri, Aug 7, 2015 @ 09:00 AM

I’ve started two handfuls of small companies, and I’ve won some, lost some, and sold some. This pattern was an odd one for my wife, an..

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Topics: Strategy Execution

5 Steps to Define It Before You Design It

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Tue, Jul 28, 2015 @ 09:00 AM

It’s time to call it out. Why do we, as business leaders, put up with mediocrity? I’m talking about leaders in your company who get the..

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Topics: Strategies for Growth, Accountable Leaders & Teams

It Takes a Big Pair of Questions to Collaborate

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Sun, Jul 19, 2015 @ 12:00 PM

Surveys indicate that 47% of people rate themselves as good collaborators during conflict, yet only rate 25-33% of counterparts as..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

Stuck in The Box – The Paradox of Great Coaches

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Sun, Jul 12, 2015 @ 12:00 PM

Are you stuck in a box when it comes to coaching your team? The ability to give constructive feedback is core for you to be a great..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

Company Culture: If You Ain't First, You're Last!

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Tue, Jun 23, 2015 @ 09:00 AM

In the movie, Talladega Nights, actor Will Ferrell incessantly cries, “I wanna go fast!” If you aren’t familiar with the movie, just..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

Woohoo - Belgian Craft Beer!

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Sun, Jun 21, 2015 @ 12:00 PM

Caretaker for a race horse ranch, a school bus driver, bird surveyor, a small mammal trapper for fish and wildlife service, a firefighter,..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

World Class Sales Organization: 5 Steps to Build It

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Tue, Jun 16, 2015 @ 09:00 AM

The best sales people are not those that have the gift of gab, and the best sales managers aren’t the best sales people. Selling and..

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Topics: Strategies for Growth, Accountable Leaders & Teams

How To Start A Subscription Business

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Thu, Jun 4, 2015 @ 09:00 AM

The Captain and Tennille (as one colleague and I are called) recently attended the Fortune Leadership Summit in Orlando. There was one tune..

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Topics: Increasing Sales, Strategy Execution

Don't Speculate When You Can Innovate

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Sun, May 24, 2015 @ 12:00 PM

"Learning and innovation go hand in hand. The arrogance of success is to think that what you did yesterday will be sufficient for..

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Topics: Strategies for Growth, Accountable Leaders & Teams

It’s Time You Knew Jack! Q & A for Successful Sales with Jack Daly

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Fri, May 15, 2015 @ 09:00 AM

You’ve heard it – you don’t know Jack. You can’t really measure what I do. This is different from manufacturing numbers, usual metrics,..

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Topics: Strategies for Growth, Strategy Execution

BHAG Your Customer Service Goals Before You Upset Your Customers

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Fri, May 8, 2015 @ 09:00 AM

During our last holiday I had a chance to see emotions at every range of their spectrum. Love, joy, excitement, anger, frustration, even..

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Topics: Increasing Sales, Accountable Leaders & Teams

Teach Your Team to Navigate The Crisis

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Wed, Apr 22, 2015 @ 09:00 AM

"A crisis is like car trouble – keep the car long enough and it isn't a question of if it will happen, it’s a question of when.” – Barry..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

Are Critical Numbers Part of Your Company Workout?

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Fri, Apr 17, 2015 @ 09:00 AM

Welcome to the idea of critical numbers. Every executive team has them (measured or not) and when you begin a new quarter, they should be..

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Topics: KPIs & Dashboards

Trusting Luck is the Worst BHAG Advice You’ll Ever Get

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Tue, Apr 7, 2015 @ 09:00 AM

I owned a company while in my late twenties that wasn’t glamorous but it was profitable - a commercial cleaning business. This was the one..

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Topics: Strategies for Growth

Carrot or Stick? The Power of Positive Reinforcement

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Mon, Mar 30, 2015 @ 09:00 AM

As a Rhythm Business Growth Coach, I love studying the patterns and operations of winning teams. I find that it’s an interesting form of..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

4 Simple Steps to Encourage the Entrepreneurial Spirit in Your Team

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Mon, Mar 2, 2015 @ 09:00 AM

I was twelve years old when I graduated from my custom potholder making business to something even more lucrative -- a paper route. Later,..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

Why Status Criteria Matter

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Tue, Feb 3, 2015 @ 09:00 AM

Imagine – you’re at the Super Bowl and suddenly the score changed. It was in favor of your favorite team so you are, of course, pleased...

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Topics: KPIs & Dashboards, Strategy Execution

Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Fri, Dec 5, 2014 @ 09:00 AM

"Emotional Intelligence or EQ is not a simple repackaging of the 'soft skills' we so often hear about in business.  It is based on..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

Service is Not a Secret: 8 Steps to a Customer Service Revolution

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Thu, Nov 20, 2014 @ 09:00 AM

It’s time for a service revolution. As you prepare for the next year, there are plenty of unknowns related to the business, political, and..

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Topics: Increasing Sales, Accountable Leaders & Teams

Stop the Boring All-Encompassing Meetings

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Sun, Aug 31, 2014 @ 12:00 PM

As a child I loved exploring something new. I (generally) enjoyed the journey and the process. I remember when I was a boy I pretended to..

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Topics: Effective Meetings

Fight the Under-Management Epidemic

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Wed, Aug 27, 2014 @ 09:00 AM

“Check the source before you believe the message” – Barry Pruitt

I learned early in my business career to follow the above advice. It may..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

Think Before You Communicate Difficult News

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Wed, Aug 13, 2014 @ 09:00 AM

As leaders we are often faced with having to convey difficult news (or seemingly drastic new plans) to employees and team members. Are you..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

Even Google Gets It Wrong Sometimes

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Mon, Aug 4, 2014 @ 09:00 AM

“I work with some of the top executives in the world and none of them read. And then they pay me to talk about what I read – which really..

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Topics: Strategies for Growth, Accountable Leaders & Teams

Bond Creativity and Business with Social Glue

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Wed, Jul 23, 2014 @ 09:00 AM

Recent polling indicates that 78.2% (+/-3% correct) of business mistakes are the result of meetings. I’m not serious, but my serious..

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Topics: Effective Meetings

Your Actions are LOUDER Than Words

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Sun, Jul 13, 2014 @ 12:30 PM

It was 5:00 am when I stepped in line for the counter. As we joked and talked, our group of 12 slowly crept up to the front of the line. At..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

Does Saying Yes Mean Saying No?

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Tue, Jul 8, 2014 @ 09:00 AM

Ever wonder why some ideas take off, and some don’t? We all know that it’s not arbitrary, but in Kevin Maney’s book, Trade-Off (Broadway..

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Topics: Strategy Execution

Tony Robbins Got It Wrong!

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Mon, Jun 30, 2014 @ 09:00 AM

On February 2, 2013 I frantically tweeted, “Tony Robbins got it wrong this week about ‘understanding your employees’ work strategies.”..

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Topics: Strategies for Growth, Accountable Leaders & Teams

5 Steps to Make Your Message Stick

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Fri, Jun 6, 2014 @ 01:00 PM

Making your message or ideas "sticky" is critical, whether it is communicating more effectively with your team, other leaders and CEOs, or..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

Are You Headed for a Crash Landing?

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Tue, Jun 3, 2014 @ 09:00 AM

I’ve seen great strategies suffer crash landings when team execution failed. Determining how and understanding why this happens is key to..

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Topics: Strategies for Growth

Don't Flip Off Your Team (Part Two)

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Mon, May 12, 2014 @ 11:30 AM

Don't Flip OFF Your Team, Instead Flip ON Your Team’s Power

In my previous blog I shared why it’s important to not Flip OFF Your Team...

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

Don't Flip Off Your Team (Part 1)

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Sun, May 11, 2014 @ 12:00 PM

 

"The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint enough to keep from..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

Credibility: A Critical Foundation of Leadership

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Mon, Apr 14, 2014 @ 09:00 AM

“If you don’t believe in the messenger, you won’t believe the message.”  —Jim Kouzes, co-author of Credibility: How Leaders Gain and Lose..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

Becoming a Trusted Leader

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Fri, Apr 11, 2014 @ 11:00 AM

Polling data indicates that the public (in general) doesn’t trust those in elected leadership positions – and this mistrust sometimes..

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Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Accountable Leaders & Teams

Motivate Your Team to Learn

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Mon, Mar 24, 2014 @ 11:00 AM

During times of organizational flux, it can become increasingly difficult to engage your employees in learning.  Across the country and in..

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Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Accountable Leaders & Teams

Lead With Insight

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Wed, Mar 5, 2014 @ 09:30 AM

As a Rhythm coach and onsite facilitator, I am always interested in the different egos and personalities in entrepreneurial companies. My..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

Hit the Nitro to Win the Business Race!

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Mon, Mar 3, 2014 @ 10:45 AM

As you attempt to control your business and your team's effort, you will likely be attracted to dashboards. And the first question you..

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Topics: KPIs & Dashboards

Leadership Can Be Counterintuitive

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Wed, Feb 19, 2014 @ 09:26 AM

I often find that what actually works for CEOs and leadership teams is counterintuitive. What was thought to be smart isn’t. And what was..

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Topics: KPIs & Dashboards, Strategy Execution

One-Page Strategy Implementation - Do You REALLY Got It?

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Mon, Jan 20, 2014 @ 09:30 AM

One of the critical, even primary, tasks of a leader is directing the energy and attention of your team. I don’t mean to discount your..

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Topics: Strategies for Growth

Echo Mountain – The Entrepreneur’s Core Value Check

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Fri, Jan 17, 2014 @ 09:30 AM

If you've ever visited a cliff known for its echo effect, you'll remember easing to the edge, taking a huge breath, andwith all the..

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Topics: Strategies for Growth, Accountable Leaders & Teams

The Untraining Challenge

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Mon, Jan 13, 2014 @ 10:30 AM

“The employees who come in with the most call center experience, we have the hardest time trying to get them to unlearn what they have..

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Topics: Strategies for Growth, Accountable Leaders & Teams

Is Your Business a Murder Mystery?

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Mon, Dec 16, 2013 @ 09:30 AM

I had dinner tonight, a murder mystery dinner, and in the middle of the excitement found myself reminiscing on the successful, and failed,..

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Topics: Strategies for Growth, Accountable Leaders & Teams

Are You Missing a Key Component of Alignment?

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Tue, Dec 10, 2013 @ 11:50 AM

End of year begins a heavy planning period for many of our clients – quarterly planning, annual planning, strategic 3-5 year planning, and..

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Topics: Strategies for Growth, Annual & Quarterly Planning

Gazelle-Like Companies are Learning Organizations

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Tue, Nov 19, 2013 @ 09:30 AM

In the words of Peter Senge, learning organizations are ”organizations where people continually expand their capacity to create the..

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Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Strategy Execution, Accountable Leaders & Teams

Use KPI Bifocals to View Your Critical Numbers

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Tue, Nov 12, 2013 @ 10:40 AM

I’ve had a few major incidents regarding eyes - two that I cannot forget. One was getting my first pair of glasses, and the second, a few..

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Topics: KPIs & Dashboards

How You Can Avoid a $125M Mistake

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Mon, Oct 21, 2013 @ 09:30 AM
You’ll find reports in every technology, sales, and business magazine - reports of businesses spending millions of dollars to purchase,..
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Topics: Strategy Execution

Win With Change Leadership

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Mon, Sep 30, 2013 @ 07:59 AM

Are successful leaders going to excel, regardless of the times in which they lead?  Some may say yes. After all, Jack Welch led General..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

Transforming Company Vision

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Tue, Sep 24, 2013 @ 11:29 AM

Certain kinds of changes are easier to make than others; increasing and decreasing budgets, maintaining strategic alliances, completing a..

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Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Accountable Leaders & Teams

KPI Webcast: Questions & Answers - Part 2

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Mon, Sep 9, 2013 @ 03:45 PM

Here are the second set of answers from, "How to Use KPIs to Focus Your Team and Keep Your Plan on Track."

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Topics: KPIs & Dashboards

Is Your Team Choking on KPIs? Special KPIs Give Your Team Kick-Butt Focus!

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Thu, Sep 5, 2013 @ 02:26 PM

The companies I coach are in the game of business, not to survive – but to win! You can’t win by being thoughtful, yet complacent. In..

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Topics: Strategies for Growth, KPIs & Dashboards

Be Culture Conscious

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Wed, Sep 4, 2013 @ 12:00 PM

I once heard that your culture will eat your strategy for lunch. The culture of your organization determines communication styles, how..

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Topics: Strategies for Growth, Accountable Leaders & Teams

People: Will the Real Conflict Please Stand Up?

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Fri, Aug 23, 2013 @ 07:00 AM

I often ask business owners what was their best experience as an entrepreneur—and what was the worst. Although said in many ways, the..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

Lessons from Chopped: Your Brand Promise Can Be a Winning Move

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Wed, Jul 24, 2013 @ 03:07 PM

No matter the market or the economy, you should always be asking your team to re-assess your Brand Promise and its sales tactics, and..

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Topics: Strategies for Growth, Strategy Execution

Three Questions to Change Tracks Rather than Changing Trains

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Fri, Jul 19, 2013 @ 10:24 AM

Implementing change on a company level can feel insurmountable.  As a matter of fact, the more successful companies become, the more..

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Topics: Strategies for Growth

3 Ways to Adapt Your Leadership While Practicing the Rockefeller Habits (Video)

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Tue, Jun 11, 2013 @ 07:44 AM

CEOs and leadership teams worldwide have been practicing white-knuckle management for almost four years.  Your company may have seen rapid..

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Topics: Strategies for Growth

Activation of the One-Page Strategic Plan

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Sun, May 5, 2013 @ 06:47 AM

How does your organization typically roll out major change? Often, it is by enlisting the power of persuasion – perhaps the persuasion..

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Topics: Strategies for Growth

Warning: Don't Be Blindsided

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Fri, Apr 19, 2013 @ 01:41 PM

Warning: Blind Spot Ahead!  Everyone has aspirations, goals, and wishes -- and they typically come complete with barriers and challenges..

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Topics: Strategy Execution

Does Your Talent Development Program Measure Up?

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Tue, Mar 12, 2013 @ 07:07 AM

According to a Harvard Business Review study, fully one quarter of the highest-potential people in your company intend to jump ship within..

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Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Accountable Leaders & Teams

S-C-O-R-E the Attention of Your Executive Team or Board

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Wed, Jan 30, 2013 @ 02:56 PM

You’ll be tempted to share the background story and details that lead to this moment with your executive team, board, or bank. You’ll have..

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Topics: Strategy Execution, Accountable Leaders & Teams

Sharpen Your Professional Saw!

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Fri, Jan 18, 2013 @ 10:08 AM

What gives successful leaders the edge over everyone else? Top performing leaders act like entrepreneurs, and entrepreneurs all share one..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

Run Like a Gazelle! Be A Better Boss

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Mon, Jan 14, 2013 @ 06:16 PM

"Think before you communicate." Simple words with great impact shared with me from the CEO of a Warren Buffet owned company. What new ways..

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Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Accountable Leaders & Teams

5 Patterns of Executive Team Success

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Thu, Jan 10, 2013 @ 02:42 PM

Have you ever seen a coach become so frustrated with a player’s performance that he rushed onto the field, pulled the player aside, and..

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Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams

Three Indicators That You Should Topgrade Your Data

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Tue, Jan 8, 2013 @ 09:48 PM

I’ve been reading the latest publication from Verne Harnish, The Greatest Business Decisions of All Time, and was reminded of several..

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Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, KPIs & Dashboards, Accountable Leaders & Teams

Is Your Growth Strategy Proactive or Reactive?

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Mon, Dec 10, 2012 @ 02:21 PM

Everything looks like a failure in the middle. Sometimes the path to success can feel like a failure - and sometimes failure is a part of..

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Topics: Strategies for Growth, Annual & Quarterly Planning, Strategy Execution

Doing What Matters: Linking Strategy to Execution in a Way That Works

Posted by Barry Pruitt on Thu, Dec 6, 2012 @ 08:33 AM

Doing What Matters, by James Kilts (Three Rivers Press, 2010), is an update of the frank-talking and insightful original released in 2007...

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Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Strategy Execution

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