Wake-Up Calls for Managers
For the hard parts no one prepares you for
When the path isn’t clear, the stakes are high, and the answers aren’t obvious—this is where managers struggle most.
Wake-Up Calls for Managers delivers practical, real-world guidance for navigating:
- Tough conversations
- Leading through uncertainty
- Building influence without authority
- Driving results through others
The Leadership Caffeine Blog
September 2026 Leadership Development Digest
I’ve had a lifelong love of receiving publications that make me think. I love authors and ideas that spur the imagination, challenge convention, and raise possibilities. As a teen, I made the regular trip to the mailbox hoping to find the latest science fiction pulp...
September 2026 Leadership Development Digest
I’ve had a lifelong love of receiving publications that make me think. I love authors and ideas that spur the imagination, challenge convention, and raise possibilities. As a teen, I made the regular trip to the mailbox hoping to find the latest science fiction pulp...
The Management System Creates the Customer Experience—Observations in Excellence and Otherwise
For the management of business-to-consumer (B2C) organizations, the retail or service location is, of course, the ultimate proving ground. The experience for the consumer—good or bad, reflects the organization’s management systems from values, commitment to hiring, leadership development, and operations effectiveness. Here are some examples—good or bad—of the management system in action.
Five BIG Strategy Process Misfires of Management Teams—How to Avoid Them
Few management team activities are more important than those focused on strategy. Few management team activities are more frustrating than those focused on strategy. Here are five big areas management teams struggle with strategy and ideas to help your team get them right.
Rebecca Homkes joins Art Petty to talk strategy and her book Survive, Reset, Thrive
Dr. Rebecca Homkes, author of Survive, Reset, Thrive—Leading breakthrough growth strategy in volatile times, joins Art Petty to talk about the book, her experiences leading high growth teams through strategy, and why we should embrace and leverage uncertainty.
Julie Winkle Giulioni joins Art Petty to Talk About ‘Help Them Grow or Watch Them Go’
Here’s a great interview with career development and leadership expert, Julie Winkle Giulioni! Julie and I explore the current state of career development coaching in our organizations and Julie shares priceless guidance for leaders at all levels, drawn from the 3rd edition of her book with Beverly Kaye.
I always want it to rain on 9/11—personal reflections on the day the world changed
I always hope for rain on 9/11. Of the images and emotions seared into my mind from this day, the backdrop of that perfectly blue sky where we saw evil up close and felt the burn of tragedy and loss is something I can’t shake. Clear blue skies amplify my emotions on subsequent anniversaries of that awful day.
Reaching for the Executive Ranks, Part Three—Developing as an Integrative Thinker
The essence of your role as a senior manager is problem-solving through decision-making. Cultivating your critical thinking skills is right up there with the need to lead effectively at scale, project the presence essential to building credibility, and galvanizing support In this article, I share a case study and some resources for strengthening as an integrative thinker.
Back-to-School Time is Back to Professional Development Time
I love this time of year. The heat and humidity here in the Midwest give way to cooler, crisp air and some fabulous fall days. And, of course, it’s back-to-school time. It’s also time for the fall sessions of my two flagship professional development programs, the Senior Manager Program and the New(er) Manager Program.
“The beatings will continue until morale improves.” Bad manager practices
They’re still out there: lousy managers that lead by fear and intimidation. Imagine being on the receiving end of the practices shared here.
Four Big Topics from the Succeeding with Challenging Conversations Programs
Strengthening as a workplace communicator takes focus and deliberate effort. In a summer filled with multiple corporate workshop programs focused on Succeeding with Challenging Conversations, here are four big topics that energized the groups. Use the ideas in great communication health!