AMA Edgewise

Jane Jordan on Managing Media Through a Crisis

Webevents — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 13:00:33 +0000

Jane Jordan, author of the book The Four Stages of Highly Effective Crisis Management says that every company should have a crisis communication plan. With the development of social media and new forms of immediate communication, it is even more important than ever. What was once the province of professional reporters is now free and available to everyone. Regardless of a company’s preferred talking points, anyone can hit “post” instantly, as there are fewer and fewer communication boundaries. However, if you have a plan, Jane says it’s possible to be prepared and successfully manage a communication crisis as in the cases involving the Red Cross or BP.

A former journalist with Australian Consolidated Press in Sydney, Jane Jordan has been at the forefront of media training and crisis management for over two decades. She developed a unique four-stage methodology for crisis management whilst at the helm of Australia’s leading media training consultancy, Media Skills. The methodology has been used around the world by hundreds of organizations and thousands of executives.

For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars:
*How to Create an ITIL Service Desk and Incident Management Process
*AMA’s Insurance and Risk Management Workshop
*Making Sense of Web 2.0: Leveraging Social Media in Your Organization

To learn more, read these AMACOM Books:
*Why Some Companies Emerge Stronger and Better from a Crisis, by Ian I. Mitroff
*Managing Crisis Before They Happen, by Ian I. Mitroff, Gus Anagnos
*Chaotics, by Philip Kotler, John A. Caslione

Alexandra Levit on Finding the Job and Employment Success

Webevents — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 13:30:24 +0000

Alexandra Levit, author of the book Blind Spots: Ten Business Myths You Can’t Afford To Believe On Your New Path To Success discusses her book which points out the biggest myths of business success; the things people believe that don’t work for most of the truly successful. In this edition of Edgewise, Alexandra touches on how the recession has transformed our ideas about how business works and why these myths are more dangerous than ever in a compromised economy. She also stresses the importance of self-promotion in the workplace and the pitfalls to climbing the ladder too quickly, as well as the greatest obstacles facing employees and entrepreneurs in the coming years. You will learn her take on personal censorship and online transparency, and why it’s important to be aware of what you disclose publically.

Alexandra Levitis a nationally recognized business and workplace author and speaker. A syndicated columnist for the Wall Street Journal and a blogger for HuffingtonPost.com, Alexandra has authored several books, including the popular They Don’t Teach Corporate in College, How’d You Score That Gig? and Success for Hire. Alexandra is also a member of the Business Roundtable’s Springboard Project, which is advising the Obama administration on current workplace issues.

For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars:
*Decoding the Unwritten Rules of Executive Career Advancement
*Coaching and Counseling for Outstanding Job Performance
*What Got You Here Won’t Get You There

To learn more, read these AMACOM Books:
*How to Land a Top-Paying Federal Job, by Lily Whiteman
*The Career Clinic, by Maureen Anderson
*Reinvention, by Brian Tracy

Anders Dahlvig on IKEA’s Global Social Ambition

Webevents — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 13:30:07 +0000

In this edition of Edgewise Anders Dahlvig chronicles his rise from store manager to president CEO of IKEA. Anders discusses his book, The IKEA Edge: Building Global Work, the affect globalization has had a on the retail business and how important it is for companies to adapt this new market culture. Anders also reveals his thoughts on corporate culture versus national culture and the difficulties in keeping out bureaucracy, complacency in a steadily growing corporation. Listen as Anders shares the unique vision he relied on to lead IKEA through its best and worst times.
Anders Dahlvig is the Former Group President and CEO of IKEA, a leading international retailer of home furnishing products. Anders is also a member of European Retail Round Table. He is a director of Oriflame Cosmetics AB, H&M Hennes & Mauritz AB and Axel Johnson AB; Kingfisher Plc and is Chairman of The New Wave Group and a member of the Advisory Board of Lund University Business School. He received received the Swedish award for Good Environmental Leadership in 2002 for his independent and persistent work with environmental sustainability issues. In 2006, he also received the U.S. Foreign Policy Association’s Global Social Responsibility award.
For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars:
*Strategic Agility and Resilience: Embracing Change to Drive Growth
*Management Skills for New Supervisors
*Corporate Cash Management

To learn more, read these AMACOM Books:
*Now, Build a Great Business!, by Mark Thompson, Brian Tracy
*Investing in a Sustainable World, by Matthew J. Kiernan
*Secrets of the Marketing Masters, by Dick Martin

Robert Kaplan’s Roadmap to Effective Leadership

Webevents — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 13:30:43 +0000

In this edition of Edgewise Robert Kaplan, author of What to Ask the Person in the Mirror: Critical Questions for Becoming a More Effective Leader and Reaching Your Potential, describes the importance of self-management in creating a superb work culture. Robert explains the role of giving and taking honest feedback and which questions you need to ask yourself and which to ask colleagues across all levels of management. Tune in and also learn tips from Robert’s leadership roadmap, including determining when it is ok to say “no” and how to take ownership of your leadership pipeline.
Robert Kaplan is a professor of management practice at Harvard Business School, as well as a co-chairman of Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation, a global venture philanthropy firm. He advises numerous companies around the world. Prior to joining Harvard in 2005, Robert was vice chairman of the Goldman Sachs Group.
For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars:
*Stepping Up to Leadership: A Course for Administrative Professionals
*Leadership and Team Development for Managerial Success
*Preparing for Leadership: What it Takes to Take the Lead

To learn more, read these AMACOM Books:
*The Little Book of Leadership Development, by Scott J. Allen, Mitchell Kusy
*The AMA Handbook of Leadership, by Marshall Goldsmith, John Baldoni, Sarah McArthur
*The Bible on Leadership, by Lorin Woolfe

Scott Keller on Sustaining Organizational Health

Webevents — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 13:30:26 +0000

Scott Keller coauthor of Beyond Performance, discusses the extensive research he conducted in the field of organizational effectiveness. With performance and health managed with equal emphasis being the main takeaway, Scott elaborates on what he means by organizational health and how that directly links to an organization’s performance. Listen as Scott explains how to assess and revive your campanies health.
Scott Keller is a director in the Southern California office of McKinsey & Company, and leads its transformational change practice in the Americas. He has published several articles on change management and organizational behavior, as well as a book for colleagues and clients. He holds an MBA and a BS in mechanical engineering from the University of Notre Dame and has worked as a manufacturing manager with Procter & Gamble and a photovoltaic engineer for the U.S. Department of Energy. Outside McKinsey, Scott is a cofounder of Digital Divide Data, an award-winning social enterprise that utilizes a sustainable IT service model to benefit some of the world’s most disadvantaged people.

For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars:
*The Project Performance Management Workshop: Time, Cost and Budget
*Strategy Execution: Getting It Done
*Create a Respectful Workplace: Improve Morale, Increase Productivity and Achieve Business Goals

To learn more, read these AMACOM Books:
*2600 Phrases for Setting Effective Performance Goals, by Paul Falcone
*Transforming Performance Measurement, by Dean R. Spitzer, Ph.D.
*The Program Management Office Advantage, by Lia Tjahjana, Paul Dwyer, PMP

Betty Shotton on the Principles of Liftoff Leadership

Webevents — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:30:45 +0000

In the episode of Edgewise, Betty Shotton shares her experience as a serial entrepreneur, having founded and lead 6 companies. Betty recently authored Liftoff Leadership, in which she pinpoints the key qualities and attributes necessary to kick-start your leadership trajectory. Betty stresses her “pre-flight checklist,” and a series of assessments and questions, which she says allows leaders to identify their guiding principles. Listen as she shares a few of the ten principles noted in her book, including: altruism, balance, and possibility.

Betty Shotton has over 35 years experience as a CEO, Entrepreneur, and Leadership Consultant. Today she is the CEO & Founder of Liftoff Leadership LLC and a partner with Berkana Consulting Group. She has founded and led six companies in vacation rentals and aviation. One of these companies known today as ResortQuest International, a part of Wyndham Worldwide went public in 1998 (NYSE). She developed and led two regional airlines, SouthEast Air and SeaAir in her commitment to commercial air service for the OuterBanks of North Carolina and served on the Board Directors of Cape Air.

George Anders on Finding Exceptional Talent

Webevents — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:30:23 +0000

What changes should your organization consider in order to get the most out of the recruitment process? New York Times bestselling author, George Anders, discusses this in his new book entitled, The Rare Find: Spotting Exceptional Talent Before Everyone Else. George emphasizes the importance of new technologies and social networking and how they play a critical role in finding all stars for your organization. In addition, George explains why testing and assessments are key elements of the recruiting process to build a strong team and corporate culture. Listen and learn as George shares how highly successful organizations such as GE, Facebook, and the U.S. Army identifying, recruit, and cultivate top performers.

George Anders is a New York Times-bestselling author and a journalist with three decades of experience writing for national publications. He started his career at The Wall Street Journal, where he became a top feature writer specializing in in-depth profiles. He was part of a team that won a Pulitzer Prize in 1997 for national reporting. He also has served as West Coast bureau chief for Fast Company magazine and as a founding member of the Bloomberg View board of editors. His work has appeared in leading publications worldwide, including The New York Times, Business Week, The Guardian and the Harvard Business Review.
For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars:

*Recruiting, Interviewing and Selecting Employees
*Fundamentals of Human Resources Management
*Fundamentals of Sales Management for the Newly Appointed Sales Manager

To learn more, read these AMACOM Books:

*Recruiting, Interviewing, Selecting & Orienting New Employees, by Diane Arthur
*101 Strategies for Recruiting Success, by Christopher W. Pritchard

Mark Royal and Tom Agnew on Maximizing Employee Engagement

Webevents — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:00:21 +0000

Organizations are always looking to get the best out of employees but the traditional means of doing so may be all wrong. Mark Royal and Tom Agnew, authors of the book, Enemy of Engagement, think that strong and forward-looking managers enable their employees to channel their extra or discretionary efforts productively. They talk about how to feed your team’s desire to feel accomplished, create better support levels, and combat the common causes that lead to lack of employee engagement.

Mark Royal and Tom Agnew are leaders at the Hayes Groups, Employee Research Division. Mark holds a Ph. D. and MA degrees in sociology from Stanford University, and Tom received his Ph. D. in management from Vanderbilt University and MBA from the University of Saskatchewan.

For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars:
*Win! How to Engage and Energize Your Employees
*Successfully Managing People
*Building Better Work Relationships: New Techniques for Results-oriented Communication

To learn more, read these AMACOM Books:
*Finding & Keeping Great Employees, by Jim Harris, Ph.D. and Joan Brannick, Ph.D.
*Full Engagement!, by Brian Tracy
*The 7 Hidden Reasons Employees Leave, by Leigh Branham

Tim Phillips on Talking Normally at Work

Webevents — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 14:00:40 +0000

For our last podcast of 2011 we talked to Tim Philips, author of Talk Normal, about the best way to speak professionally. While an evolving and agile language is generally a good thing, it can lead to misunderstandings, highly detrimental in the workplace, especially in a global world where English is mostly spoken as a second language. Tim stresses that perfect grammar and sounding smart is less important than clarity and understanding.

Tim Phillips is a freelance journalist who’s written for the Wall Street Journal Europe, the International Herald Tribune, The Guardian, The Observer, the Daily Telegraph, The Independent, and the Daily Express, among others. He is a frequent guest on BBC television and radio and Sky News, as well as a regular conference speaker. He’s also author of Fit To Bust: How Great Companies Fail, Knockoff: The Deadly Trade In Counterfeit Goods, and he’s co-author with Terry Hunt and Clive Humby of the bestselling Scoring Points. He’s most recently the author of Talk Normal: Stop the Business Speak, Jargon, and Waffle..

For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars:

*Communicating Up, Down and Across the Organization
*How to Sharpen Your Business Writing Skills
*Effective Executive Speaking

To learn more, read these AMACOM Books:

*The Art of Connecting, by Claire Raines & Lara Ewing
*Corporate Conversations, by Shel Holtz
*11 Laws of Likability, by Michelle Tillis Lederman

John C. Maxwell on Identifying Your Level of Leadership

Webevents — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 14:46:23 +0000

Good leaders aren’t developed overnight, as soon as they get the promotion. Leadership is an ongoing process; even the greats like Jack Welch are constantly honing their skills and abilities. Today’s guest, John C. Maxwell, has developed a system that delineates the steps on the road to influential leadership in his new book, The Five Levels of Leadership. Whether you’re a Level One that seeks to improve or a Level Five who wants to expand your influence, identifying which level you currently are will show you the steps needed to get to the next opportunity in your career.

John C. Maxwell is an internationally recognized leadership expert, speaker, coach, and author who has sold over 19 million books. Dr. Maxwell is the founder of EQUIP and The John Maxwell Company, organizations that have trained more than 5 million leaders worldwide. Every year he speaks to Fortune 500 companies, international government leaders, and organizations as diverse as the United States Military Academy at West Point, the National Football League, and the United Nations. He’s the author of The Five Levels of Leadership: Proven Steps to Maximize Your Potential.

For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars:

*Developing Executive Leadership
*Expanding Your Influence: Understanding the Psychology of Persuasion
*The Voice of Leadership: How Leaders Inspire, Influence and Achieve Results

To learn more, read these AMACOM Books:

*Lead by Example, by John Baldoni
*Preparing for Leadership, by Donna J. Dennis & Ph.D., Debbie Meola
*The 108 Skills of Natural Born Leaders, by Warren Blank

Michael Beer on Higher Ambition Leadership

Webevents — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 13:30:39 +0000

Dr. Michael Beer, co-author of Higher Ambition: How Great Leaders Create Economic and Social Value, challenges the convention of business leaders to be driven primarily by profit. In this episode of Edgewise, Michael explains how today’s most prosperous leaders are investing in their employees as social capital, encouraging them to think of customers outside of a transactional context and build valuable relationships. He discusses the importance of defining the direction of an organization in alignment with specific core beliefs , inspiring managers, employees, and customers to work towards a greater good.
Dr. Michael Beer is Cahners-Rabb Professor of Business Administration, Emeritus at Harvard Business School. He is also Chairman of TruePoint Partners, a research based consultancy, and the TruePoint Center For High Performance and High Commitment. In addition to writing for numerous academic and business journals, Dr. Beer is the author of nine books such as Breaking the Code of Change and The Critical Path to Corporate Renewal.
For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars:

*The Voice of Leadership: How Leaders Inspire, Influence and Achieve Results
*Achieving Leadership Success Through People
*Stepping Up to Leadership: A Course for Administrative Professionals

To learn more, read these AMACOM Books:

*You’ve Gotta Have Heart, by Cass Wheeler
*The Leadership Advantage, by Jared L. Bleak and Robert M. Fulmer
*True Greatness, by Bill Beausay and Kevin Elko

Marcus Buckingham on Harnessing Your Key Strengths

Webevents — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 14:00:11 +0000

Marcus Buckingham, author of the new book, Stand Out: The Groundbreaking New Strengths Assessment from the Leader of the Strengths Revolution, believes managers need a cheat sheet to help them identify their key strengths. Using this innovative self-assessment, find out whether your most defining traits characterize you as a pioneer, a teacher, a connector, or any of the other 9 strength roles Marcus identifies. Not only will he point out the consequences of mishandling your strengths, he will help you realize what career is best for you.

Marcus Buckingham is a best-selling author, public speaker, researcher and business consultant. He is also the founder of The Marcus Buckingham Company, which creates training programs and management tools based around his principles of “Strength”. His previous books include, First, Break All the Rules, The Truth About You, and Find Your Strongest Life.

For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars:

*Play to Your Strengths: Harnessing the Power of Your Personality
*Improving Your Managerial Effectiveness
*The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People® 3-Day Signature Program

To learn more, read these AMACOM Books:

*The Elements of Power, by Terry R. Bacon
*Preparing for Leadership, by Donna J. Dennis, Ph.D. and Debbie Meola
*Managing Brand You, by Jerry S. Wilson and Ira Blumenthal

Brendon Burchard on Developing a Million Dollar Message

Webevents — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 13:30:20 +0000

You may not realize that you can channel your life experience into valuable advice people will pay to receive. In this episode of Edgewise, Brendon Burchard, author of The Millionaire Messenger: Make a Difference and a Fortune Sharing Your Advice, explains the ten steps necessary to break into the lucrative Experts Industry. Listen as Brendon conveys how to leverage inexpensive tools to increase awareness and develop compelling products around your personal expertise.

Brendon Burchard is the founder of the Experts Industry Association, which brings together the top names in the advice industry to share how they built their brands and business. He is also the bestselling author of The Millionaire Messenger and Life’s Golden Ticket. Brendon is one of the top business and motivational trainers in the world working with clients such as Accenture, JC Penney, eBay, Levi’s, and Walgreens, in addition to the thousands of entrepreneurs and executives from around the world who attend his seminars.

For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars:

*Whoever Tells the Best Story Wins
*The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People® 3-Day Signature Program
*Leveraging Social Media to Engage Customers and Build Your Brand

To learn more, read these AMACOM Books:

*Reinvention, by Brian Tracy
*The Power of a Positive Attitude, by Roger Fritz
*Speak to Win, by Brian Tracy

Davia Temin on the 10 Don’ts of Corporate Social Media

Webevents — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 13:30:34 +0000

According to Davia Temin, companies cannot be hesitant about expanding their online presence, but it is important they avoid the social media pitfalls that have spelled disaster for numerous firms. In this episode of Edgewise, Davia shares her “10 Don’ts of Corporate Social Media,” which explain the dangers of over marketing, automated messages, and abandoning unsuccessful initiatives in cyberspace. Listen and learn how to develop authentic and responsible communication that engages customers and keeps them coming back for more.

Davia Temin is Founder and CEO of Temin and Company which advises global companies’ boards, CEOs, and leadership teams on reputation of crisis management, marketing and media strategy, leadership communications and thought leadership. She is also a first Vice Chair of the Board of Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., Chair of the Board of Video Volunteers, and serves on the advisory boards of the Knight-Bagehot Fellowship at Columbia Journalism School, and ProPublica in Harvard Kennedy School’s Women’s Leadership Board.

For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars:

*Social Media for Managers: New Tools for Communication, Innovation and Collaboration
*Making Sense of Web 2.0: Leveraging Social Media in Your Organization
*Leveraging Social Media to Engage Customers and Build Your Brand

To learn more, read these AMACOM Books:

*The On-Demand Brand, by Rick Mathieson
*Digital Engagement, by Leland Harden and Bob Heyman
*Web Copy That Sells, by Maria Veloso

Mark Stevens on Declaring War on Yourself

Webevents — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 11:00:23 +0000

When profits fall, dysfunction rises and morale flounders. According to Mark Stevens, author of Your Company Sucks: It’s Time to Declare War on Yourself, the first step of recovery is introspection. Mark asserts that great leaders pinpoint and take responsibility for their personal shortcomings and those of the company. Listen as he lays out the primary issues at the core of business failures, how to rectify them, combat complacency, and revive an organization.

Mark Stevens is the CEO of MSCO, a global marketing and management consultancy firm, which has serviced clients such as Nike, Starwood, GE, Guardian Life, Estee Lauder, AIG, and the MONY Group. He has written over a dozen books about business including Your Marketing Sucks, God is a Salesman: Learn From the Master, and Extreme Management. He also writes the highly successful blog “Unconventional Thinking”.

For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars:
*High-Impact Decision Making: Reducing Risk, Maximizing Results
*Customer Service Excellence: How to Win and Keep Customers
*The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People® 3-Day Signature Program

To learn more, read these AMACOM Books:
*Now, Build a Great Business!, by Mark Thompson and Brian Tracy
*Reinvention, by Brian Tracy
*Exceptional Service, Exceptional Profit, by Leonardo Inghilleri and Micah Solomon

Kristi Hedges on Establishing Executive Presence

Webevents — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 13:30:16 +0000

Strong leaders have a notable presence, which Kristi Hedges, author of The Power of Presence defines as the quality to connect and inspire others. According to Kristi, anyone can refine their presence and become a leader in their domain through commitment and authenticity. Kristi explains how to perform a “presence audit” to assess how others perceive you and how to apply that feedback towards developing a unique professional reputation. Listen and discover how to take initiative, be a visionary, and lead.

Kristi Hedges is a communications expert, entrepreneur and certified leadership coach whose clients include Fannie Mae, VeriSign, the National Institutes of Health, and privately held business and global professional services firms. She’s a leadership columnist for Entrepreneur.com, and a speaker for Vistage International and The Founder Institute.

For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars:

* Projecting a Positive Professional Image
*The Voice of Leadership: How Leaders Inspire, Influence and Achieve Results
*Are You Being Heard?

To learn more, read these AMACOM Books:
*12 Steps to Power Presence, by John Baldoni
*The Laws of Charisma, by Kurt W. Mortensen
* Increase Your Influence at Work, by Richard A. Luecke and Perry McIntosh

Emily King on Recruiting and Keeping Veterans

Webevents — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 14:35:00 +0000

It can seem like there are a number of risks involved in hiring veterans into a more conventional workforce: the culture is completely different and their highly specialized skill-set doesn’t seem to apply. Emily King, author of Field Tested: Recruiting, Managing, and Retaining Veterans, wants recruiters and HR professionals to not take military resumes so literally. Driving a tank may seem irrelevant to an office culture, but the skills, knowledge, and training that went in to learning how to use a very complicated and expensive piece of machinery can be extremely beneficial in any job.

Emily King is a nationally recognized expert on the transition from military service to civilian employment. She has worked extensively with veterans and civilian hiring organizations, and is a frequent speaker at industry events including SHRM and ASTD. She is the founder of Military Transitions, an online resource for hiring veterans in the civilian workforce. Prior to founding Military Transitions , Emily spent 10 high-impact years as an internal consultant and coach at the firm of Booz Allen Hamilton, leading People Strategy. It was here that Emily conceived and designed the very first military transition training program for civilian business professionals, nearly 12 years ago.

For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars:

*Recruiting, Interviewing and Selecting Employees
*The Voice of Leadership: How Leaders Inspire, Influence and Achieve Results
*Create a Respectful Workplace: Improve Morale, Increase Productivity and Achieve Business Goals

To learn more, read these AMACOM Books:

*Field Tested, by Emily King
*101 Strategies for Recruiting Success, by Christopher W. Pritchard
*The 7 Hidden Reasons Employees Leave, by Leigh Branham

Christine Eberle on Social Media and Corporate Culture

Webevents — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 11:00:22 +0000

Although corporations recognize social media as a powerful tool for talent recruitment, customer engagement and sharing information, many organizations find their social media initiatives fail. According to Christine Eberle, contributor to The Social Media Management Handbook, this is often due to executive resistance or lack of collaboration across a multi-generational workforce. In this episode of Edgewise, Christine explains how companies can overcome these hurdles and leverage social media to facilitate conversations across silos, creating an inspired, engaged and aligned corporate culture.

Christine Eberle is Executive Director in the Accenture Talent and Organization Performance Practice. Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing firm with clients in more than 120 countries.

For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars:

*Leveraging Social Media to Engage Customers and Build Your Brand
*Making Sense of Web 2.0: Leveraging Social Media in Your Organization
*Social Media for Managers: New Tools for Communication, Innovation and Collaboration

To learn more, read these AMACOM Books:

*The e-Policy Handbook, by Nancy Flynn
*Digital Engagement, by Leland Harden and Bob Heyman
*The On-Demand Brand, by Rick Mathieson

Christopher Frank and Paul Magnone on Overcoming Information Overload

Webevents — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 13:30:46 +0000

In this age of excess information, research paralysis often impedes business leaders in decision making. Christopher Frank and Paul Magnone, authors of the new book, Drinking from the Fire Hose: Making Smarter Decisions Without Drowning in Information, explain the power of asking key questions to sift through the overwhelming amount of data available. In this episode of Edgewise, Frank and Paul share their Seven Fire Hose Questions to help everyone from CEOs to marketers siphon through this wealth of knowledge to make wiser business decisions.

Christopher Frank is Vice President of Business to Business and communications Research at American Express, where he is responsible for advertising brand and business to business research. Prior to joining Amex, Chris spent ten years at Microsoft as Senior Director of Corporate Research. Paul Magnone is Vice President of Business Development and Alliances at Openet, a global telecommunications software and consulting firm where he is responsible for executive leaders of Openet’s global partner initiatives. Prior to this position, he was a Senior Leader at IBM for 21 years driving growth programs including the launch of four new global consulting businesses.

For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars:

*Improve Your Analytical Skills: Making Information Work for You
*Market Research - How to Get the Right Data to Make the Right Decisions
*Get Sharp: Smarter Decision Making and Critical Thinking for Administrative Professionals
To learn more, read these AMACOM Books:

*Questions That Work, by Andrew Finlayson
*78 Important Questions Every Leader Should Ask and Answer, by Chris Clarke-Epstein
*Questions That Sell, by Paul Cherry

Rajeev Peshawaria on the Three Pillars of Sustainable Success

Webevents — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 13:30:03 +0000

According to Rajeev Peshawaria, author of “Too Many Bosses, Too Few Leaders”, good leaders realize that their employees feed off of the energy they project. In this episode of Edgewise, Rajeev outlines how leaders can realize goals by harnessing their energy and the energy of those around them. Then they can concentrate this valuable resource towards a clear vision. He also shares what he calls “The Three Pillars of Sustainable Success,” a guide to help leaders configure the strategy, structure, and culture of their enterprise.

Rajeev Peshawaria has over 20 years of business experience and is currently the CEO of ICLIF Leadership and Governance Center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He was a founding member of the distinguished Goldman Sachs’ Leadership Development program, The Pine Street Group. He also served as Chief Learning Officer for Morgan Stanley and the Coca-Cola Company as well as Global Director of leadership development programs at American Express.

For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars:

*The Voice of Leadership: How Leaders Inspire, Influence and Achieve Results
*Preparing for Leadership: What it Takes to Take the Lead
*Achieving Leadership Success Through People

To learn more, read these AMACOM Books:

*The Leadership Advantage, by Jared L. Bleak and Robert M. Fulmer
*The AMA Handbook of Leadership, by John Baldoni, Marshall Goldsmith, and Sarah McArthur
*Lead by Example, by John Baldoni

Lindsay Hutter on Employing and Empowering Millenials

Webevents — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 13:30:27 +0000

In this episode of Edgewise, Lindsay Hutter discusses the dynamics of working with Millenials, the generation born between 1980 and 2001. Although they possess an invaluable affinity for technology, Lindsay explains why it is also important for Gen Y to disconnect from social media and engage in mutually beneficial communication with their older co-workers. Listen and learn how to tap into the nuances of Gen Y and facilitate cross-generational collaboration.

Lindsay Hutter is Senior Vice President and U.S. Practice Leader on Change and Internal Communications for Hill & Knowlton. She works with clients such as Hewlett-Packard, The Home Depot and the Louis Berger Group, providing assistance with mergers, union and labor communications, corporate reputation management and more. Before joining Hill & Knowlton, Lindsay held the position of chief communications officer and senior VP for the National Association of Convenience Stores. Lindsay holds a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism from the University of Kansas and a Master of Arts degree in political science from Northwestern University.

For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars:
*Communicating with a Multigenerational Workforce
*Strategic Agility and Resilience: Embracing Change to Drive Growth
*Projecting a Positive Professional Image

To learn more, read these AMACOM Books:
*The Age Curve, by Kenneth W. Gronbach
*Generations, Inc., by Meagan Johnson, Larry Johnson
*Generations at Work, by Ron Zemke, Claire Raines, Bob Filipczak

Ray Schwemmer and Rick Havrilla on Fostering a Collaborative Environment

Webevents — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 13:30:24 +0000

In an age of hacking an leaking, managers have lot’s to consider when it come to collaboration technology. Ray Schwemmer and Rick Havrilla are co-authors of Dynamic Collaboration: How To Share Information, Solve Problems, and Increase Productivity Without Compromising Security, a new book which details how corporations can seamlessly and securely integrate tools that encourage employees to work together. Listen and discover how to enhance communication, and create an efficient flow of information.

Ray Schwemmer is the president, co-founder, and CEO of CollabraSpace a software company that develops solutions to integrate people, data, and processes within a single seamless collaborative environment. Rick Havrilla is the CTO at CollabraSpace with over 20 years of experience developing and implementing enterprise software solutions. Together Ray Schwemmer and Rick Havrill are co-authors of a new book Dynamic Collaboration: How To Share Information, Solve Problems, and Increase Productivity Without Compromising Security.

For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars:

* Collaborative Leadership Skills for Managers
*Social Media for Managers: New Tools for Communication, Innovation and Collaboration
*Leading Virtual and Remote Teams

To learn more, read these AMACOM Books:

*Collaborative Planning, Forecasting, and Replenishment, by Dirk Seifert
*Corporate Portals, by Heidi Collins
*The Communication Problem Solver, by Nannette Rundle Carroll

Susan Reed on the Power of Corporate Diversity

Webevents — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 13:00:58 +0000

In the age of increasing globalization, corporate diversity in America remains relevant. Studies have shown that companies with greater diversity at the executive level outperform their competitors. In this episode of Edgewise, Susan Reed, author of The Diversity Index, explains ways employers are leveraging diversity by empowering their employees to create new products and explore untapped markets as well as how to broaden their spectrum of emerging leaders.

Susan E. Reed is an award winning journalist who has covered almost every aspect of the workplace for 25 years for CBS News, the New York Times, the American Prospect, and other publications. She writes a business column for the international news web site, GlobalPost.com. Her latest book is The Diversity Index published by AMACOM, a division of the American Management Association.

For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars:

*The 21st Century Global Leader
*Create a Respectful Workplace: Improve Morale, Increase Productivity and Achieve Business Goals
*The Voice of Leadership: How Leaders Inspire, Influence and Achieve Results

To learn more, read these AMACOM Books:

*The Diversity Code, by Michelle T. Johnson
*The Diversity Training Activity Book, by Jonamay Lambert and Selma Myers
*Building on the Promise of Diversity, by R. Roosevelt Thomas

Stefan Swanepoel on Leveraging Your Animal Instincts

Webevents — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 13:32:51 +0000

Here’s a serious question: Are you an elephant or a crocodile? According to author and businessman Stefan Swanepoel, the answer could determine your career path and level of success. Stefan’s latest book Surviving Your Serengeti: 7 Skills to Master Business & Life is a New York Times best-seller that uses animals and their characteristics as metaphors for professionals and their skills and competencies. Listen to identify and unleash your inner beast.

Stefan Swanepoel is a successful businessman, a best-selling author and widely travelled public speaker. Stefan’s life has been a “Serengeti journey”—from his birth in Kenya to schooling in Hong Kong and South Africa, eventually running a New York-based global franchise network with 25,000 sales associates in 30 countries. Stefan has served as president of seven companies and two non-profit organizations.

For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars:
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To learn more, read these AMACOM Books:
*Managing Brand You: 7 Steps to Creating Your Most Successful Self, by Jerry S. Wilson and Ira Blumenthal
*The EQ Interview, by Adele B. Lynn
* People Styles at Work and Beyond, by Robert Bolton and Dorothy Grover

Al Pittampalli on the Modern Meeting

Webevents — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 10:30:14 +0000

Meetings are a staple of our work lives that can be an inefficient drain of time, resources and creativity. Al Pittampalli is the author of Read This Before Our Next Meeting, which outlines a fresh methodology to the meeting structure. The “modern meeting” encourages preparedness, speed, and results. Listen and discover how to make meetings fueled by action instead of delaying what needs to get done.

Al Pittampalli is Founder of the Modern Meeting Company, a group that helps organizations transform meetings, make decisions, and coordinate complex teams. As an IT advisor at Ernst & Young LLP, Al witnessed the meeting problem firsthand at Fortune 500 companies all across the country. Now, Al is part of a new generation that brings fresh eyes to stuck business systems. Al is a speaker and blogger on Making Revolutionary Change Happen, and is a graduate of the NYU Stern School of Business.
For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars:

*Leading Effective Meetings
*Successful Meeting Planning
*Leading Virtual and Remote Teams

To learn more, read these AMACOM Books:

*Quick Meeting Openers for Busy Managers, by Brian Cole Miller
*Project Management That Works, by Rick A. Morris and Brette McWhorter Sember
*The Little Black Book of Project Management, by Michael C. Thomsett

Robert Bloom on Winning Customer Preference

Webevents — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 13:10:29 +0000

It’s 3:00 a.m. Do you know what your customer wants? According to Robert Bloom, author of The New Experts: Win Today’s Newly Empowered Customers at Their Four Decisive Moments, your customer is one second of Smartphone research and a twitter review away from being on to the next brand. Robert explains why anticipating the “3:00 a.m. nightmare” and nailing several make or break, now or never moments throughout the customer experience is the key to making your brand their preference.

Robert H. Bloom is a widely respected authority on business growth. He served as U.S. Chairman and CEO of Publicis Worldwide, the centerpiece of the $4.6 billion global marketing services company, and helped craft and implement growth strategies for some of the world’s largest brands, including BMW, L’Oreal, Nestle, Southwest Airlines, and T-Mobile.
For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars:

*Customer Service Excellence: How to Win and Keep Customers
*Leading Extraordinary Customer Service
*Developing and Executing a Customer-centric Strategy

To learn more, read these AMACOM Books:

*Exceptional Service, Exceptional Profit, by Leonardo Inghilleri and Micah Solomon
*Strategic Customer Service, by John A. Goodman
*The Experience Effect, by Jim Joseph

Bill Holland on Cracking the New Job Market

Webevents — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 13:15:28 +0000

What do Food network star Paula Dean and waste management mogul Sidney Torres have in common? They bred their super successful brands out of hardship, career expert, Bill Holland explains in this episode of Edgewise. Bill shares strategies from his new book, Cracking the New Job Market: The Seven Rules for Getting Hired in Any Economy (AMACOM), and lays out how to represent yourself as a professional brand that clearly defines your value as congruent with what employers are recruiting for.

Bill Holland is founder of R. William Holland Consulting, LLC, specializing in HR and career management. He has also served as Executive Vice President at Wright Management Inc. and as Chief Human Resource Officer at Meriden Bank, the University of Pennsylvania, and the BP Outsourcing Business for Anderson Consulting. He is currently a Senior Vice President for BeamPines and he is the author of a new book, Cracking the New Job Market: The Seven Rules for Getting Hired in Any Economy (AMACOM).
For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars:
*Essentials of Strategic Alliances and Partnerships
*Leveraging Social Media to Engage Customers and Build Your Brand
*Expanding Your Influence: Understanding the Psychology of Persuasion

To learn more, read these AMACOM Books:
* Cracking the New Job Market, by R. William Holland, Ph.D.
* Managing Brand You, by Jerry S. Wilson, Ira Blumenthal
*Unbeatable Resumes, by Tony Beshara

Scott Eblin on Executive Success

Webevents — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 11:00:23 +0000

Statistics show that almost half of new executives do not make two years in their roles. Why is this? In this episode of Edgewise, Scott Eblin, Executive Coach, and author of The Next Level: What Insiders Know about Executive Success, answers this question. Scott shares insight from his experience coaching senior execs that have transcended the unspoken roadblocks and outlines which behaviors to shed and which to adopt in order to make a lasting mark as a leader.

Scott Eblin is a former Fortune 500 executive, and the Founder and President of The Eblin Group, where he has coached hundreds of senior level leaders and scores of organizations, including Astra Zeneca, Booz Allen Hamilton, Capital One, GE, Johnson & Johnson, and the World Bank. Scott is a graduate of Davidson College and Harvard University, and currently serves on the faculty of the Leadership Coaching Certificate Program at Georgetown University.
For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars:
*Developing Executive Leadership

*Preparing for Leadership: What it Takes to Take the Lead

*AMA’s Advanced Executive Leadership Program
To learn more, read these AMACOM Books:

*The AMA Handbook of Leadership, by Marshall Goldsmith, John Baldoni, Sarah McArthur
* Preparing for Leadership, by Donna J. Dennis, Ph.D., Debbie Meola

Conant and Norgaard on the Leadership Touch

Webevents — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 13:23:28 +0000

“Everyone has experienced the pleasure of working with someone who is learning and growing and everyone has experienced the pain of working with someone who is not,” affirms Douglas Conant, CEO of Campbell’s Soup. Doug with strategic leadership expert, Mette Norgaard, Ph.D, co-authored Touch Points: Creating Powerful Leadership Connections in the Smallest of Moments, which is a call to action for executives and managers to commit to employee development. Mette’s research and metrics based assertion is that touch points, strategic, meaningful interactions, are what galvanize people to make ideas happen and ultimately drive success. Listen as Doug and Mette explain how these hands on investments in their employees, translate into exponential returns for companies.

Doug Conant, CEO of Campbell Soup Company, distinguished himself with 25 years experience with three of the world’s top food companies—General Mills, Kraft, and Nabisco—before joining Campbell’s as the 11th CEO in its 140-year history in 2001. A key driver is Campbell’s four-pronged success model: Winning in the workplace, winning in the marketplace, and winning in the community, and doing it all with integrity. Doug is active on a number of boards, and is Chairman and Trustee of The Conference Board. He is also a trustee of the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Mette Norgaard, Ph.D, is an international expert on strategic leadership. She partners with top executives to design leadership and learning solutions that bring their strategies to life. Prior to starting her own firm, Norgaard directed Franklin Covey’s executive retreats, where she worked with thought leaders such as Stephen Covey, and Ram Charan. Mette has worked closely with senior-level leaders from organizations like Microsoft, Proctor & Gamble, Estee Lauder, Harley-Davidson, Johnson & Johnson, the US Navy, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and Finnish Broadcasting Corporation (YLE).
Conant’s and Norgaard’s long-term collaboration with Campbell’s high-potential leaders has produced the book TouchPoints: Transforming Everyday Interactions into Powerful Leadership Moments.
For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars:

* Project Team Leadership: Building Commitment Through Superior Communication

* Win! How to Engage and Energize Your Employees

* Advanced Leadership Communication Strategies

To learn more, read these AMACOM Books:

* The Power of Strategic Commitment
, by Josh Leibner, Gershon Mader, Alan Weiss, Ph.D.
* The Team-Building Tool Kit
, by Deborah Mackin, Deborah Harrington-Mackin
* The Sustainable Enterprise Fieldbook
, by Jeana Wirtenberg, PhD, William G. Russell, David Lipsky, PhD

Carol Sanford on the Responsible Business

Webevents — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 15:00:22 +0000

It’s tough for corporations to strike the right chord of corporate responsibility today’s fickle economic climate. While more companies are starting green initiatives to project a positive public image, they are also cutting back on employee development. Carol Sanford, CEO of InterOctave Development Group and author The Responsible Business: Reimagining Sustainability and Success, contends that this kind of dissension creates a less than harmonious corporate culture, which ultimately leads to failure. In this episode of Edgewise, Carol explains that creating sustainability is not about outlining strategies and processes to hopefully yield return. It’s about identifying your business mantra and making sure every aspect of the business is conducted in this spirit.

Carol Sanford has been leading major consulting efforts in both Fortune 500 and new economy businesses for over 25 years. She has worked for companies such as Colgate, DuPont, Weyerhaeuser, Yahoo, Silicon Graphic, Agilent and many others. Carol has 25 years of global experience helping businesses and organizations build consciousness capability to position themselves strategically, develop leadership to execute strategy, and redesign work to gain and keep competitive advantage in the marketplace and community. She is the founding Executive Director of the Institute for Strategic Leadership at Washington State University ’s Vancouver campus. Carol has published over 100 works in 10 languages, including a column in Executive Excellence, Stephen Covey’s newsletter.

For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars:

* Developing and Executing a Customer-centric Strategy

* Motivating for Results

* Win! How to Engage and Energize Your Employees

To learn more, read these AMACOM Books:

*Green Tech, by Lawrence Webber, Michael Wallace
*Where We Stand, by Seymour Garte
*Investing in a Sustainable World, by Matthew J. Kiernan

Steven Pressfield on Doing the Work

Webevents — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 01:13:42 +0000

How many brilliant projects have you begun in your mind? In this episode of Edgewise, author Steven Pressfield discusses his latest book, Do the Work, which is geared to be a mental boot camp that kick starts artists and entrepreneurs out of their heads and into action. Steven takes on public enemy #1, resistance, which comes in the form of fear of failure for some, or research paralysis for others. Steven’s goal is to have you is to recognize your limiting thoughts and behaviors, fight them, and get the work DONE. While he targets creative people, the ideas are applicable to anyone relying on inner strength to execute a meaningful endeavor. Steven helps us think of resistance as the rest-stop on your creative path. You know it’s coming up. So, are you going to stop and get the Cinnabon? Or hold out and accelerate down your road to success.

Steven Pressfield is the author of the hugely successful historical novels Gates of Fire, Tides of War, and Last of the Amazons. His debut novel, The Legend of Bagger Vance, was made into a movie starring Matt Damon and Will Smith in 2000. He lives in California.

For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars:

*Motivating for Results
*Developing Leaders at All Levels: Fostering Initiative and Accountability
*The 8th Habit®: From Effectiveness to Greatness

To learn more, read these AMACOM Books:

*One Foot Out the Door, by Judith M. Bardwick, Ph.D.
*Inspiring Your People for Maximum Performance, by Alexander Hiam
*Spiral Up, by Jane C. Linder

Tony Beshara on Unbeatable Resumes

Webevents — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 13:30:40 +0000

In today’s job market, applicants are often focused on submitting resume after resume and less on crafting a solid CV for each position. In this episode of Edgewise, America’s top recruiter, Tony Beshara, tells how to prime your resume and put it in the hands of decision-makers. Tony has collected his findings from 30 years of perusing resumes and cover letters into his latest book, Unbeatable Resumes(AMACOM), breaking down the approach to a cross section of career levels, job titles, and job functions. Tony not only specifies the critical components of stand-out resume, he arms applicants with strategies to get themselves out of the application abyss into an actual interview, and even how to master awkward questions.

Tony Beshara,is a 30-year veteran of the placement and recruitment field, and owner of Babich and Associates, a job placement firm. He has appeared numerous times on the nationally syndicated “Dr. Phil Show.” Tony is recognized as the #1 recruiter in America by the industry’s leading journal, The Fordyce Letter. Since 1973, he has placed more than 7,000 people on a one-on-one basis, in more than 100 different job categories. His candidates have accepted positions earning minimum wage and salaries up to more than a million dollars a year. Tony is the author of Acing the Interview, The Job Search Solution, and the recently released Unbeatable Resumes (AMACOM).

To learn more, read this AMACOM Books:
*Unbeatable Resumes, by Tony Beshara

Stephen Wunker on Capturing New Markets

Webevents — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 13:30:04 +0000

Exxon is to kerosene as Nintendo Wii is to Atari. In his book Capturing New Markets, Stephen Wunker expounds on the premise that with every successful new product, platform or medium, comes an underrepresented audience to be tapped into. Stephen explicitly explains how to leverage innovation for market domination.

Stephen Wunker is Managing Director, New Markets Advisors. Collaborating with companies ranging from start-ups to large corporations, he helps clients develop new ideas, evaluate growth opportunities, and improve how they organize to pursue innovation. Prior to becoming a consultant in this field, Stephen built and sold two companies — a telecom start-up and a corporate venture for one of Africa’s largest cellular carriers. Stephen also led case teams at the leading consulting firm Bain & Company. He has written dozens of articles for publications including Forbes and BusinessWeek, and his television appearances include Bloomberg and the BBC. He has been a Visiting Executive at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business. Stephen has an MBA from Harvard Business School, a Master’s in Public Administration from Columbia University, and a BA in public policy, cum laude, from Princeton.

Elizabeth Harrin on Emerging Social Media Technology

Webevents — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 13:00:50 +0000

Social media has emerged over the last decade as the most prominent online presence; very few websites are static pages with no updates or interaction anymore. These breakthroughs in technology are supposed to make communication easier but there can be so many different brands and platforms available, the choice of provider can be daunting. However, our guest Elizabeth Harrin points out that not every option to communicate requires thousands of dollars and long meetings with IT: blogs and wikis are free, easy, and widespread. A simple but effective technological approach can make all the difference to internal communication and to the customer base as well.

Elizabeth Harrin, BA (Hons), MA, MBCS, is an award-winning blogger and the author of Social Media for Project Managers. Elizabeth is a PRINCE2 Practitioner, a member of PMI, and a program manager living and working in London. She has a decade of experience in projects. Elizabeth has led a variety of IT and process improvement projects including e-commerce and communications developments. She is also experienced in managing business change, having spent eight years working in financial services (including two based in Paris, France). She is a founding member of PMI’s New Media Council. As well as working as a practicing project and program manager, Elizabeth runs The Otobos Group, a business writing consultancy. Elizabeth’s previous book is Project Management in the Real World , a case-study based book covering what project managers really need to know to make their projects successful. She also writes the blog A Girl’s Guide to Project Management.

For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars:

*Social Media for Managers: New Tools for Communication, Innovation and Collaboration
*Leveraging Social Media to Engage Customers and Build Your Brand
*Developing Your Collaborative Skills

To learn more, read these AMACOM Books:

*The Art of Connecting, by Claire Raines, Lara Ewing
*The Web Conferencing Book, by Sue Spielman, Liz Winfeld
*Managing Online Forums, by Patrick O’Keefe

Tony Miller on Systemically Strengthening Our Schools

Webevents — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 13:30:18 +0000

In devising a strategy to bolster the nation’s eroded educational framework, Anthony Miller, Chief Operating Officer of the U.S. Department of Education, pulls from his business background as well as international research on the processes and metrics employed by other countries to raise the academic bar. At the core of Tony’s blueprint, is the alignment of student achievement goals and initiatives with budgets and operating plans, and making critical investments in training teachers, particularly in the use of technology and collaboration tools to facilitate communication and maximize targeted learning. Tony also discusses partnerships between major corporations and higher education systems, and the importance of deploying such initiatives to equip students with the competencies most essential to competing and exceling in the 21st century global workplace.

Tony Miller is the Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating Officer at the U.S. Department of Education. In this role, he manages a broad range of operational, management and program functions. Prior to joining the Department in 2009, Tony was an operating partner with Silver Lake, a leading private equity firm. From 2003 to 2006, he was with LRN Corporation, a compliance software and eLearning company, where he was executive vice president of operations. Prior to LRN, he worked for 10 years at McKinsey & Company, where he was a partner specializing in growth strategies, operating performance improvement and restructuring for companies throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. Tony began his professional career with Delco Electronics, a subsidiary of GM Hughes Electronics, where he managed regional channel marketing. In addition to his private-sector operating experience, Tony advised the Los Angeles Unified School District from 1997 to 2000, developing student achievement goals and strategies, aligning budgets and operating plans, and designing metrics and processes for overseeing district-wide performance. He undertook similar work with the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District in 2001. Through his service as an ex-officio member of the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education Budget and Finance Committee in 2002–03, he deepened his understanding of state funding and school district budgeting matters. Tony Miller is a graduate of Purdue University and holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars:
*Kirkpatrick’s Four Levels: Increasing Training Effectiveness Through Evaluation
*Training the Trainer
*Strategic Agility and Resilience: Embracing Change to Drive Growth

To learn more, read these AMACOM Books:
*The Corporate University Handbook: Designing, Managing, and Growing a Successful Program, by Mark Allen
*The Power of Business Process Improvement: 10 Simple Steps to Increase Effectiveness, Efficiency, and Adaptability, by Susan Page
*Designing Dynamic Organizations, by Jay Galbraith, Diane Downey and Amy Kate

Michael Nick on Selling to the C-Suite

Webevents — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 13:30:45 +0000

In today’s fickle economy, senior executives are no longer relying solely on ROI in their purchase planning. In his book Key to the C-suite, Michael Nick outlines the additional financial metrics being used to make buying decisions and empowers sales professionals with the tools to communicate within this new landscape. He explains how to skillfully articulate your value to their bottom line and how to build a business case by assessing your value inventory and leveraging new tools like Linked in to gain a leg up of insight on the client.

Michael Nick is president and founder of ROI4Sales, Inc. and author of ROI Selling, Why Johnny Can’t Sell, and How to Create the Perfect ROI. He is a nationally recognized expert in value estimation and ROI and conducts several public workshops and seminars throughout the year. Michael published a research paper sponsored by Microsoft Dynamics, which became the most downloaded white paper in Microsoft history with over 20,000 downloads. Michael’s expertise has extended internationally with companies like Oracle, Great Plains, Hewlett Packard, AutoDesk, MacGregor, Rockwell Automation, GEAC, CheckFree Corporation, Comdata, TSYS, NextGen and S1 Corporation and has tens of thousands of sales people worldwide using ROI Selling techniques from ROI4Sales, Inc.

For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars:
*Measuring and Maximizing Marketing ROI
*Strategic Sales Negotiations
*Selling to Major Accounts-A Strategic Approach

To learn more, read these AMACOM Books:
* The Zero-Turnover Sales Force, by Doug McLeod
* ProActive Sales Management, by William “Skip” Miller
* Red-Hot Selling, by Paul S. Goldner

Jane Stevenson on Driving Innovation

Webevents — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 11:00:22 +0000

Innovation—it’s more than a ubiquitous term for the shiny, new, and different. Jane Stevenson, co-author of Breaking Away: How Great Leaders Create Innovation that Drives Sustainable Growth–and Why Others Fail, mines the minds of high profile executives and shares the gems that spark success. She defines four categories of innovation and the characteristics of leaders within them. She also details how companies like Google & GE use metrics and algorithms to forecast trends, and how CEOS can embrace the ideas of risk and failure along the trajectory to success.

Jane Stevenson is Vice Chairman, Board and CEO Services in Korn/Ferry International’s Atlanta office. She is an industry expert on recruiting leaders of growth and innovation. A pioneer in the field, she was responsible for bringing in many of the first Chief Innovation Officers and CEOs who focused on growth through innovation. She is an accomplished public speaker and is frequently consulted by Business Week, Fortune, Forbes, and the Wall Street Journal to discuss trends and issues relating to innovation and general management.

For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars:
*Creativity and Innovation: Unleash Your Potential for Great Succes
*Leading Innovation
* Moving from an Operational Manager to a Strategic Thinker
To learn more, read these AMACOM Books:
*The Seeds of Innovation: Cultivating the Synergy That Fosters New ideas, Elaine Dundon
*Coolfarming: Turn Your Great Idea into the Next Big Thing, by Peter Gloor
* Getting to Innovation: How Asking the Right Questions Generates the Great Ideas Your Company Needs, by Arthur B. VanGundy

Josh Bersin on the Upswing in E-Learning

Webevents — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 11:00:06 +0000

According to Josh Bersin, learning technology expert, the decrease in spending on learning and development in the corporate sector due to the economic downturn is starting to creep its way back up, and technology is at the forefront. In this episode of Edgwise, Josh discusses how companies including Cisco, GE, and Apple approach the training and development of their talent. Josh defines trends of high impact learning cultures, informal training initiatives, Blended Learning, and how they can be a cost-effective conduit to optimizing employee execution. Josh also shares the single most important component of effective corporate training programs and how executives should be supporting and facilitating the learning taking place in their organizations.

Josh Bersin is the founder & CEO of Bersin and Associates, a leading provider of research and consulting services in e-learning technology and implementation. Josh has been quoted on talent management expertise in BusinessWeek, Harvard Business Review, The Wall Street Journal, Investor’s Business Daily, on BBC Radio and National Public Radio.In 2010, Bersin was named by HR Examiner magazine among the “Top 100 Influencers in HR” and the “Top 25 Online Influencers in Talent Management.” Bersin also serves on the editorial advisory board for Workforce Solutions magazine and as a volunteer on the scholarship committee for the SHRM Foundation. Josh is also a columnist for Chief Learning Officer magazine and author of The Training Measurement Book: Best Practices, Proven Methodologies, and Practical Approaches, and The Blended Learning Book: Best Practices, Proven Methodologies, and Lessons Learned.

For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars:
*Kirkpatrick’s Four Levels: Increasing Training Effectiveness Through Evaluation
*Developing Your Collaborative Skills
*AMA’s 2-day Course on Corporate Performance Management

To learn more, read these AMACOM Books:
*e-Learning 2.0: Proven Practices and Emerging Technologies to Achieve Real Results, by Anita Rosen
*Training on Trial: How Workplace Learning Must Reinvent Itself to Remain Relevant, by James D. Kirkpatrick, Ph.D
*The AMA Guide to Management Development, by Daniel R. Tobin, Ph.D & Margaret Pettingell

James Morgan on Strategic Execution & Process

Webevents — Fri, 27 May 2011 13:59:25 +0000

Strategy Execution is the crux of success in business. So why do less than half of companies polled in a recent Booz Allen survey feel they are meeting their targets? Dr. James Morgan, shares insight from his 30 years of experience of sharpening strategic visions and implementing methods to see them through. He details the pitfalls and the core tenets of strategic planning and execution. Listen, take notes, and start winning!

Dr. James R. Morgan is President of Strategy Dynamics, Inc. He has over two decades of experience in strategic planning, organizational culture, structured change management, and the implementation of Best Practices in Strategic Management for senior leadership clients. Consulting services provide participating organizations with recognized expertise in the development of both strategy and process. Prior to forming Strategic Dynamics, Dr. Morgan served as Chief Operating Officer for Milwaukee Insurance and as a Senior Manager with Price-Waterhouse Coopers. Dr. Morgan has a PhD from Capella University in Minneapolis, an MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a BBA from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars:

*Project Scope and Requirements Management
*Strategy Execution: Getting It Done
*Strategic Planning

To learn more, read these AMACOM Books:

*The Power of Strategic Commitment: Achieving Extraordinary Results Through Total Alignment and Engagement , by Josh Leibner, Gershon Mader, Alan Weiss, Ph.D
*Team-Based Strategic Planning: A Complete Guide to Structuring, Facilitating & Implementing the Process, by C. Davis Fogg
*Making Sense of Strategy, by Tony Manning

Roger Courville On Optimizing Online Presentations

Webevents — Fri, 20 May 2011 13:55:02 +0000

Standing out in the world of webinars can be challenging. Content abounds and attention spans are ever-fleeting. Online presentation guru, Roger Courville, discusses how to effectively leverage nuances of the virtual space to convey your message and win audiences. From graphic design to communication models and culture, Roger highlights the key elements to creating and delivering stimulating online programs.

Roger Courville is author of The Virtual Presenter’s Handbook, contributing author to Business Expert Guide to Small Business Success, and an internationally sought-after speaker on using virtual eye contact and body language in Webinars. He is Principal at 1080 Group, a training and coaching firm helping executives design and deliver interactive Webinar presentations and programs. The 1080 Group team has a collective experience that includes hundreds of clients, thousands of Web seminars, and more than a million Web seminar attendees.

For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars:
*Leading Virtual and Remote Teams
* Leveraging Social Media to Engage Customers and Build Your Brand

To learn more, read these AMACOM Books:
* Creating Web-Based Training: A Step-by-Step Guide to Designing Effective E-Learning , by Joseph T. Sinclair, Lani W. Sinclair, Ph. D., Joseph G. Lansing
* The On-Demand Brand: 10 Rules for Digital Marketing Success in an Anytime, Everywhere World , by Rick Mathieson
* e-Learning 2.0: Proven Practices and Emerging Technologies to Achieve Real Results , by Anita Rosen

Susan Shearouse on the Upside of Conflict

Webevents — Fri, 13 May 2011 11:00:22 +0000

Whether personal or professional, conflict is inevitable. In her book Conflict 101: A Manager’s Guide to Resolving Problems So Everyone Can Get Back to Work (AMACOM) Susan Shearouse shares insight from her 20 years of experience in mitigating disagreements as a conflict resolution strategist. Susan discusses the importance of trust, how assumptions lead to false perceptions, and using the “Satisfaction Triangle” as a conflict arbitration tool.

Susan Shearouse has provided facilitation, mediation, technical assistance, training in conflict resolution processes, group decision-making processes, managing change, sexual harassment awareness and organizational effectiveness to organizations and individuals since 1990. She is an adjunct staff member for the American Arbitration Association, McNamara and Associates, Inc. and an associate of Resolution Dynamics, Inc. In addition, she has served as Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Specialist for the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services (FMCS) and as adjunct faculty in Georgetown University’s MBA program. Susan earned a Master of Science in Conflict Resolution from George Mason University in 1988, and was Executive Director of the National Conference on Peacemaking and Conflict Resolution (NCPCR). She is on the Advisory Board of the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University.

For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars:
*Responding to Conflict: Strategies for Improved Communication
*Confronting the Tough Stuff: Management Skills for Supervisors
* Standing Strong in Difficult Workplace Situations

To learn more, read these AMACOM Books:
* Conflict 101: A Manager’s Guide to Resolving Problems So Everyone Can Get Back to Work, by Susan H. Shearouse
* The Conflict and Communication Activity Book: 30 High-Impact Training Exercises for Adult Learners, by Bill Withers & Keami D. Lewis
* Listening to Conflict: Finding Constructive Solutions to Workplace Disputes, by Erik J. Van Slyke

David Livermore on the Cultural Intelligence Difference

Webevents — Fri, 06 May 2011 11:00:52 +0000

David Livermore, author of The Cultural Intelligence Difference, due out this month, defines Cultural Intelligence Quotient (CQ) as one’s ability to function effectively across national, ethnic, and organizational cultures. From a misinterpreted gesture, to an email in lieu of a phone call, there are implicit actions, rules, and guidelines that differ from countries or even corporations, that can make a profound professional impression. Knowledge of these nuances isn’t innate, regardless of skill-level, IQ, or EQ. But CQ can be learned. David outlines the four areas of CQ and why your proficiency in them can be the defining factor in your career progress.

David Livermore is a thought leader in Cultural Intelligence (CQ) and global leadership. He has been interviewed and referenced by major news sources such as CBS News, NBC, Forbes, The New York Times, USA Today, and The Wall Street Journal. His previous book, Leading with Cultural Intelligence, was named a best-seller in business by The Washington Post. He’s president and partner at the Cultural Intelligence Center in East Lansing, Michigan and a visiting research fellow at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. Dave has done training and consulting with leaders in 100 countries across the Americas, Africa, Asia, Australia, and Europe.

For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars:
*The 21st Century Global Leader
* Communicating Up, Down and Across the Organization
* The Human and Cultural Aspects of M&A

To learn more, read these AMACOM Books:
*The Cultural Intelligence Difference: Master the One Skill You Can’t Do Without in Today’s Global Economy, by David Livermore, Ph.D.
* Leading with Cultural Intelligence: The New Secret to Success , by David Livermore, Ph.D.
*The Diversity Training Activity Book: 50 Activities for Promoting Communication and Understanding at Work, by Jonamay Lambert & Selma Myers

Jennifer Kahnweiler on the Introvert Advantage

Webevents — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 10:00:55 +0000

According to Jennifer Kahnweiler, author of The Introverted Leader: Building on Your Quiet Strength, introversion is a trait shared by society’s most distinguished leaders: Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, and President Obama. In this episode of Edgewise, she provides tips on how to harness attributes commonly associated with introversion, such as calm temperament, depth of focus, and thoughtful communication to lead effectively. Jennifer also delves into the introvert/extrovert dynamic across corporate hierarchy, how introverts are embracing social media to build their brands, and the surprising truth about introverts and corporate power.

Jennifer B. Kahnweiler, Ph.D., is the founder and owner of AboutYOU, Inc., a career consulting firm for professionals and organizations. She has more than 25 years’ experience in consulting across a wide range of industries. Dr. Kahnweiler has been an internal consultant for GE Capital, AGL Resources and the U.S. Department of Education. External consulting assignments have included projects with the Department of Homeland Security, Turner Broadcasting, AT&T and the Coca-Cola Company. Other recent clients include Capital One, Tyco International, Cooper Tire, Glaxo SmithKline, Emory University and Duke Energy. Dr. Kahnweiler is coauthor of Shaping Your HR Role: Succeeding in Today’s Organizations, and she writes a column for AARP The Magazine. In addition, Dr. Kahnweiler regularly delivers seminars in the Administrative Professional Portfolio at AMA.

For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars:
*Building an Informal Network: How Work Really Gets Done
* Communicating Up, Down and Across the Organization
* Building Better Work Relationships: New Techniques for Results-oriented Communication
To learn more, read these AMACOM Books:
* 12 Steps to Power Presence: How to Assert Your Authority to Lead, by John Baldoni
*The Interpersonal Skills Toolkit, by Terry Gillen
*The Voice of Success: A Woman’s Guide to a Powerful and Persuasive Voice, by Joni Wilson

Dan Pink On the Modus Operandi of Motivation

Webevents — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 14:55:11 +0000

Work + produce = reward. This is thought to be the algorithm that inspires efficiency across the workforce.

In this episode of Edgewise, best-selling author Dan Pink discusses his findings, based on over 40 years of research: that the stimulus for success isn’t just the almighty dollar, but the presence of autonomy, mastery, and purpose in an employees work life.

Dan shares tactics to tap into and harness one’s personal rhythm of productivity, to empower peak performance and to make lasting contributions to within an organization.

Dan is the author of New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling books including “Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us”, “A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future”, “The Adventures of Johnny Bunko: The Last Career Guide You’ll Ever Need”, and “Free Agent Nation: The Future of Working for Yourself”. Dan’s articles on business and technology appear in the New York Times, Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Wired, where he is a contributing editor, and he has provided analysis of business trends on CNN, CNBC, ABC, NPR, and other networks in the U.S. and abroad.

Dan served from 1995 to 1997 as chief speechwriter to Vice President Al Gore. He also worked as an aide to U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich and in other positions in politics and government. Dan received a BA from Northwestern University and a JD from Yale Law School. To his lasting joy, he has never practiced law.

For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars:

*The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People® 3-Day Signature Program

*Motivating for Results

*Successfully Managing People

To learn more, read these AMACOM Books:

*True Greatness: Mastering the Inner Game of Business Success, by Kevin Elko, Bill Beausay
*Primal Management: Unraveling the Secrets of Human Nature to Drive High Performance , by Paul Herr
*Facilitating Project Performance Improvement, by Jerry Julian

Seth Godin on the Death of Books and Rebirth of Ideas

Webevents — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 12:00:07 +0000

One might assume that Seth Godin, having penned more than a dozen bestsellers and hailed as America’s greatest marketer, has found a magic formula and is sticking with it. However, in his new e-book “Poking the Box,” Seth shatters logic by encouraging readers to give the book away, exposing an ambition to develop minds, not dollars. In this episode of Edgewise, Seth expounds on why the exchange of content via new media is more than a means to make a living, and how to leverage it to ultimately make an impact.

As an entrepreneur, Seth has founded dozens of companies, most of which failed. Yoyodyne, his first internet company, was funded by Flatiron and Softbank and acquired by Yahoo! in 1998. It pioneered the use of ethical direct mail online, something Seth calls Permission Marketing. He was VP of Direct Marketing at Yahoo! for a year.
His latest company, Squidoo.com, is ranked among the top 125 sites in the US (by traffic) by Quantcast. It allows anyone (even you) to build a page about any topic you’re passionate about. The site raises money for charity and pays royalties to its million plus members.

For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars:

*Creativity and Innovation: Unleash Your Potential for Greater Success
*Making Sense of Web 2.0: Leveraging Social Media in Your Organization
*The 21st Century Global Leader

To learn more, read these AMACOM Books:

*The Innovation Killer, by Cynthia Barton Rabe
*Turn Your Great Idea into the Next Big Thing , by Peter Gloor
*Secrets of the Marketing Masters, by Dick Martin

John Beeson on the Unwritten Rules of Getting Ahead

Webevents — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 12:15:38 +0000

You work hard and get consistently solid performance reviews, but still haven’t landed the coveted management level promotion you know you deserve. In his new book, Unwritten Rules, John Beeson explains that you need to be much more than a workhorse to transcend the cubicle walls and just how take the reins of your career trajectory.
With 20 years of management experience and birds eye perspective of promotion and executive placement decision making, John has identified the six essential skills you must embody to bolster your career to the next level. He explicitly outlines the attributes and strategies necessary to successfully clear the invisible hurdles that could be holding you back from your C-Level Suite.

John Beeson is Principal of Beeson Consulting, a management consulting firm specializing in succession planning; executive assessment, coaching, and development; and organization design. Earlier in his career, he served as partner and officer of Harbridge House, Inc., a Boston-based management consulting firm. Clients for whom John has consulted include Best Buy, Colgate-Palmolive, General Electric, International Paper, Philips Electronics, Sprint, Bank of America, Aetna, MassMutual Financial Services, and UTC.

In addition to his consulting experience, John worked at Hallmark Cards, Inc., serving as Corporate Director of Organization and Human Resource Development. Prior to joining Hallmark, John was responsible for management and organization development at Frito-Lay, a division of PepsiCo, Inc. At both Frito-Lay and Hallmark his responsibilities included management development, succession planning, and organization development on a company-wide basis. John is a graduate of Amherst College and holds an MBA from the Wharton Graduate Division of the University of Pennsylvania.

For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars:

*The Voice of Leadership: How Leaders Inspire, Influence and Achieve Results

*Mastering Organizational Politics, Influence and Alliances

*Strategy Execution: Getting It Done

To learn more, read these AMACOM Books:

*The AMA Handbook of Leadership, by Marshall Goldsmith, John Baldoni, Sarah McArthur

*The Power of Strategy Innovation, by Robert E. Johnston, J. Douglas
*The Art of the Strategist: 10 Essential Principles for Leading Your Company to Victory
, by William A. Cohen, Ph.D.

Ann Rhoades on Revolutionizing Company Culture

Webevents — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 14:00:09 +0000

Human resource maven Ann Rhoades believes that a company’s outward culture is a direct reflection of its internal character, its people. In recent years employees and employers have had a rough time navigating and maintaining emotional and operational roles. Ann shares the principles she’s developed leading initiatives at companies such as Juniper Networks and Jet Blue, and guides us through 6 steps to understanding and invigorating your company’s culture from the inside out.

Ann Rhoades is a dynamic and visionary Human Resources Executive with over 25 years experience in a variety of service-based industries. She held the position of Vice President of the People Department for Southwest Airlines and was Executive Vice President of Team Services for Promus Hotel Corporation and most recently, the Executive Vice President of People for JetBlue Airways where she currently remains a Board Member as well as President of People Ink, her Human Resources consulting company. Ms. Rhoades currently serves on JetBlue Airways Corporation, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, Restoration Hardware, Accion New Mexico and as chairwoman for Safer New Mexico Now. She has an MBA in Management from the University of New Mexico.

Ray Anderson on a Commitment to Environmental Sustainability

Webevents — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 11:00:24 +0000

Being environmentally conscious isn’t just a fad for Ray Anderson. He was working to raise awareness long before the trend of “going green.” To him, it’s more than just a marketing phrase, it’s a way of doing business. It’s also a way to reduce waste and, in the long run, save money, but only if the company is genuinely committed.

Ray C. Anderson is the Chairman of the Board at Interface, Inc. He’s a sought after speaker and advisor on all issues eco, including a stint as co-chair of the President’s Council on Sustainable Development during President Clinton’s administration. Anderson has been lauded by government, environmental, and business groups alike. In 2007, Ray was honored as a recipient of the Purpose Prize from Civic Ventures, a think tank and an incubator, generating ideas and inventing programs to help society achieve the greatest return on experience, and by Auburn University with its International Quality of Life Award. He has a new book out called Confessions of a Radical Industrialist: Profits, People, Purpose – Doing Business by Respecting the Earth.

For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars:

*The Voice of Leadership: How Leaders Inspire, Influence and Achieve Results
*AMA’s Advanced Executive Leadership Program
*The 8th Habit®: From Effectiveness to Greatness

To learn more, read these AMACOM Books:

*Where We Stand, by Seymour Garte
*Future Savvy, by Adam Gordon
*Generation Text, by Dr. Michael Osit

Mark Murphy on How to Get to Where You Want to Be

Webevents — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 12:00:11 +0000

To Mark Murphy, the key to success is visualization, for personal goals as well as business goals. If you’re training for a marathon, it’s helpful to imagine crossing the finish line. The same is true for business. If the company has goals, it’s up to the managers to paint a picture of success that inspires the employees, gets them motivated, and helps them meet that goal.

Mark Murphy is the founder and CEO of Leadership IQ. He leads one of the world’s largest studies on goal-setting and leadership, and his groundbreaking research has been featured in Fortune, Forbes, Business Week, U.S. News & World Report, the Washington Post, and hundreds more periodicals. Mark has lectured at the Harvard Business School, Yale University, the University of Rochester, and the University of Florida. And his clients include Microsoft, IBM, MasterCard, Merck, MD Anderson Cancer Center, FirstEnergy, Volkswagen and Johns Hopkins. Mark is the author of Hard Goals: The Secret To Getting From Where You Are To Where You Want To Be.

For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars:

*Making the Transition from Staff Member to Supervisor
*Making the Transition to Management
*Management Skills for New Managers

To learn more, read these AMACOM Books:

*How the Best Leaders Lead, by Brian Tracy
*Whoever Tells the Best Story Wins, by Annette Simmons
*The Leader as Communicator, by Robert Mai & Alan Akerson

Robbie Vorhaus on Making Changes to Be More Efficient

Webevents — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 14:00:35 +0000

Robbie Vorhaus wants you to be a watchmaker, not a timekeeper. A timekeeper may always know what time it is, but if they look away from the clock for one moment, they’re not useful anymore. A watchmaker, however, can create a product that will do the job for him or her, and then go on vacation without losing money. The goal is to build skills and a team that make you necessary and still let you step away.

Robbie Vorhaus is the founder and principal of Vorhaus & Company, Inc., a multi-platform communications agency he founded in 1989, providing strategic communications counsel and support to world leaders; celebrities and notables; C-suite level leaders and their boards; political and environmental activists; along with international NGOs, non-profits, and leading and emerging entrepreneurs worldwide.

For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars:

*Expanding Your Influence: Understanding the Psychology of Persuasion
*Play to Your Strengths: Harnessing the Power of Your Personality
*Making the Transition to Management

To learn more, read these AMACOM Books:

*Beyond Success, by Jeffrey L. Gitterman
*Whoever Tells the Best Story Wins, by Annette Simmons
*The Art of Connecting, by Claire Raines & Lara Ewing