The Illusion of Execution in Business. Why Brilliant Strategies Fail and How to Build the System That Makes Execution Succeed
Months are spent developing a sophisticated strategy. Consultants build impressive slides. The board approves the roadmap. The launch is declared ready. Six months later, nothing has meaningfully changed. This is not an isolated failure, it is one of the most consistent patterns in business. It happens across all kinds of companies: fast-scaling startups facing their […]
The multifaceted negotiator — combining the precision of an engineer with the creativity of a designer.
The precision of logical reasoning and the creativity required to solve complex, unpredictable challenges form a truly unique combination. I know someone who embodies these qualities—and many more: Cihan Yasa, whom I met during my course “Mastering Difficult Negotiations” which I teach for the Executive MBA Programs at the TU Wien – Academy of Continuing […]
Assertive, not aggressive. The natural-born negotiator.
I met Damir at my course “Mastering Difficult Negotiations” which I teach for the Executive MBA Programs at the TU Wien – Academy of Continuing Education. From the first hours of the in-class interaction I perceived him as a very attentive and patient listener who asked thoughtful questions and integrated the answers into practice. As […]
Bad leadership – what the state can apparently (still) afford would ruin a company.
Just imagine that you are about to buy a new mobile phone and it is not as easy as you thought it would be, quite the opposite. The number of products on offer is generous, the budget rather limited, the decision-making process worrying. Only one thing can save you when you are spoilt for choice […]
The Power of Role Models
4 things that you can do if you would like to have more role model quality as a leader “I have never been led in such a way that I can say, ‘That’s the kind of leader I would like to be’. I simply lack the role models.” I hear this from many managers, whom […]
Negotiate strategically – with courage and skill.
Skillful negotiation solves problems and strengthens cooperation. But the path to a solution is sometimes bumpy, especially when a lot is at stake. I learned early on at the negotiating table how good negotiators deal with bottlenecks – and I learned from the best. Negotiate strategically – a lesson from top class negotiators My first […]
Mastering a Clash of Cultures in Project Management – with Diplomacy and Persuasion
When external project managers encounter resistance As an external project manager, are you familiar with situations like that? The project kick-off 6 months ago was successful, and you could hardly wait to show your client that you are even more capable than he thought. As the project manager, you were full of energy when you […]
Can LEADERSHIP be learned?
What can be learned – What is in leadership DNA – How can you change from being a rough diamond into a brilliant leader? My colleague is convinced that “You can’t simply learn leadership – it’s a talent. It’s just as innate as is common senseˮ. Master’s degrees, courses, seminars that promise the participants that […]
Growing in spite of – or specifically because of – uncertainty
“Ms. Ionescu, I like your concept, I like you, but … you really ought to change your company name. Using a word like “Growˮ in this time, when facts clearly show that our economy is already being driven into a very deep trough, awakens false expectations. How can people and businesses grow when all ways […]
Micromanagement – yes, but in the right way. 5 basic rules for successful leadership in small steps.
To lead or not to lead – that is the question “The project ended in disaster! Now I’m working on improving the mistakes made in the last months and getting the motivation of those involved back on track. I don’t understand what the problem was because we hired the best minds and the start was […]