Latest Updates From Our Blog

Signs That It’s Time To Fire A Senior Executive

Forbes

June 24, 2024

One of the most difficult actions a CEO must occasionally take is terminating a member of their senior leadership team. Often, these associates have a history together, and the problematic executive may have contributed significantly to the business over the years.

But business is dynamic, and circumstances change. In some cases, the same qualities that once made an executive valuable come to hinder their long-term performance. Still, it can be challenging to know if termination is the right call, especially if the leader’s performance has changed over time.

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Personality Check: How CEOs Influence Company Culture

Forbes

June 13, 2024

In my work as a CEO coach, I have often observed the extent to which organizational culture reflects the personality of the chief executive, with both strengths and weaknesses reverberating throughout the company.

Research clearly backs up my experience. For example, Stanford Graduate School of Business researchers examined 460 CEOs across more than 300 companies and found significant correlations between CEO personality traits and company culture. In another study, researchers found that certain personality traits were associated with both financial and operational performance.

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5 Things Every New CEO Should Know

Forbes

May 22, 2024

The role of CEO is the golden ticket for many corporate leaders: the ultimate prize that fuels years, if not decades, of relentless dedication and hard work. But despite their preparations, most of the new CEOs I work with are shocked by the visibility, complexity and responsibility that comes with the corner office.

As CEO coach and consultant, I’ve helped dozens of promising leaders through their vital early days. Here are five essential lessons every new and aspiring CEO should know.

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You are who you hire: 4 steps to avoid recruiting disasters

Fast Company

April 1, 2024

In a tight market for skilled labor, fewer decisions come with higher stakes than hiring a leadership team. With the costs for recruiting, selecting, and onboarding executives often reaching six figures, the Society for Human Resource Management estimates bad hires lead to churn costing about 40% of salary. Still, CEOs often struggle to hire the right people to fulfill immediate needs and to adapt as the company grows.

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Who are your #1 stakeholders as CEO? Hint: It’s probably not who you think

Fast Company

December 18, 2023

Traditionally, CEOs have expected to spend countless hours developing strategies for external parties like customers, investors, and board members. But in 2024, neglecting employees as important stakeholders will be a critical mistake.

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The Transformative Power of Employee Activism

American Alliance of Museums

November 9, 2023

Museums and cultural institutions are undergoing a seismic shift, being rightly called to reassess norms and practices to address historical inequities and better reflect and serve their communities. But in navigating this transformation, organizational leaders encounter a formidable force beyond traditional stakeholders: activist employees.

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Leading in a Changing World With Tracy Lawrence

August 29, 2023

Tracy Lawrence, Founder & CEO of The Lawrence Advisory talks about her fascinating journey from the entertainment industry to leadership consultancy, exploring how she navigates the ever-evolving landscape of executive coaching, organizational development, and more.

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Black in the C-Suite: Here Are a Few Tips On How To Get There

Forbes

April 20, 2023

In 2020, only 1.6% of C-suite executives were Black women. Despite the odds, The Lawrence Advisory CEO Tracy Lawrence has had a wildly successful career in corporate America.

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Five common mistakes of first-time CEOs

Fast Company

March 7, 2023

First-time CEOs have a unique challenge in transitioning into a role that only a small number of others have ever held.

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