Blog

Search

Search for:
about mark otto
Mark Otto is a business consultant, author. and speaker. He draws on a lifetime of experience with the organizational strategic, and leadership challenges of growing companies to offer
practical and effective advice for improving leadership skils and business performance. Learn More
Connect with me
- Twitter
- Linkedin
- Facebook
- YouTube
- RSS Feed
- Subscribe
Categories

Why the Best People Are Leaving Your Company

January 27, 2014

Unexpected losses of key people are one of the most costly and troublesome issues a business can face. With all the talk some leaders give about the importance of attracting and retaining top talent, you wouldn’t think there would be a revolving door in some companies. But so often there is.

Be a Leader Wherever You Are

By Mark Otto on

January 24, 2014

In organizations, large and small, leadership is needed at every level and every area. It’s a false assumption to believe that you have to be in the C-Suite in order to be an effective leader. So how do you lead when you’re not the top dog? You learn to develop your influence wherever you currently are in an organization.

Why Business Problems Are Gifts

By Mark Otto on

January 22, 2014

Business growth is simply not possible without change. But the business press and management gurus promise us that if we follow this or that formula for success, then all of our problems will disappear. These are false promises. Change is part of business and life, and as long as we are alive, we will have obstacles to overcome. Ignoring this most basic law of business growth is like ignoring gravity.

Using the Power of Anticipation for Business Success

By Mark Otto on

January 20, 2014

50% of all businesses are gone within the first 2 years. After 5 years, it’s 80%. In 10 years, it’s 96%. 500,000 businesses are started every year. At the end of 10 years, there are only 20,000 of them left. The bottom line: Only 4 out of 100 businesses survive 10 or more years.

The CEO Pledge for Business Growth

By Mark Otto on

January 17, 2014

CEOs of growing companies face all the challenges that come with success: they need to scale their organization, to go regional, national, or global, to recruit and develop the right team as they scale, to build a great culture, to work effectively with their board, and to lead by influencing others rather than doing it all themselves. Success requires specific behaviors and changes to take on each new challenge along the way.

5 Business Growth Lessons I Learned the Hard Way

By Mark Otto on

January 15, 2014

Early in my career, I assumed that all business growth was good; I assumed bigger was always better. After a $1 billion bankruptcy, it’s safe to say that I was wrong. Looking back, I can see that we stumbled and fell over the same fundamental issues that I see growing companies tripping over today.

10 Rules for Firing Someone the Right Way

By Mark Otto on

January 13, 2014

In business life, one of the greatest challenges is having difficult conversations. And for many managers, firing someone is the hardest conversation of them all. But you cannot build a great business without a strong team – that means learning how to let people go.

How to Identify High-Potential Employees

By Mark Otto on

January 10, 2014

Do you have the leadership and managerial talent needed to grow your business? Developing your high-potential employees helps meet one of the biggest challenges of rapidly growing organizations: the ongoing need for leadership talent.

Is Your Business Built to Grow?

By Mark Otto on

January 08, 2014

Much of what we believe about what it takes to scale a successful company and keep it growing is just plain wrong. Despite all the conventional wisdom about the greatness of America’s entrepreneurial culture, the fact is most companies start small and stay that way.

7 Habits of Unsuccessful Leaders

By Mark Otto on

January 06, 2014

I have witnessed numerous highflying companies come crashing to the ground. Through these experiences, I’ve learned a fundamental truth: Businesses don’t fail. Leaders fail. Nearly all leaders who preside over struggling businesses slip into several leadership traps on the way down. These traps can be so destructive that they can overshadow a leader’s strengths.

< Older Posts Newer Posts >

Search

about mark otto

Connect with me

Categories