Art Petty, Author at Management Excellence by Art Petty

Values-Based Leadership: More of What I Learned at Matsushita

I reflected on the Basic Business Principles as the values are known at Matsushita, when I co-authored the Values for a future employer, and I reflect and draw upon them regularly as I teach sections on Values-Focused Leadership in workshops and classrooms. A typical session will end with a majority of participants highlighting how they never understood until now how powerful the corporate values could be in strengthening their culture, driving performance and guiding behavior. This is a valuable lesson to learn for all of us.

By Art Petty|2024-08-08T13:50:26-05:00May 11th, 2008|1,770 Legacy Leadership Caffeine and Management Articles|2 Comments

Three Simple, Low Cost Ideas to Help Jump-Start Leadership Development

Jump-starting a leadership development activity does not require a tremendous investment in program development, outside consultants or big company meetings. Sometimes the best results come from simple approaches, and anything that gets people talking about the right issues can serve as a starting-point. The key point is for you to do something. Any or all of these three simple ideas can get you started.

By Art Petty|2024-08-08T13:50:28-05:00May 7th, 2008|1,770 Legacy Leadership Caffeine and Management Articles|1 Comment

Marketers, Are Trade Shows Extinct Yet?

This post is certain to generate some controversy about a long-standing, big investment marketing tactic that I believe is increasingly irrelevant. At the worst, if you read this and at least think about scrutinizing your investment in this marketing approach, I've done my job. The thoughts were prompted by a recent article in BtoB magazine entitled: "Exhibition industry sees growth slowing." What a shocker. And while the economy is identified as the primary culprit for this slowdown, I submit that this tactic is a carryover from another era when people gathered information and insights about prospective suppliers or service providers in a very different way, and when lead generation was more about trolling and interrupting than pinpointing.

By Art Petty|2024-08-08T13:50:29-05:00May 6th, 2008|1,770 Legacy Leadership Caffeine and Management Articles|4 Comments

Planning to Recognize Failure-The Project Manager’s Guide to Preventing Project Calamity

Every Project Manager with a few years of experience under his or her belt can likely recall at least one example of a major project that lived on long after the plug should have been pulled and the project canceled. The best (or worst) examples are the ego-driven initiatives of top executives that can't let go for fear of losing face by admitting defeat. More than a few organizations have been taken to or pushed over the edge by these self-anointed visionaries bent on changing their corporate world with some grand project. Once invested, they cannot let go, and if left unchecked, the results can be nothing short of disastrous for the organization.

By Art Petty|2024-08-08T13:50:31-05:00May 4th, 2008|1,770 Legacy Leadership Caffeine and Management Articles|0 Comments

Staying Strong in the Middle While Your Company Is Falling Apart

There are no magic answers for taking a horrible company situation and suddenly making it better. There are also no guarantees that your heroic efforts will save the day. However, as a professional and an emerging leader, these are the situations that test your skills, that challenge you to mature and that give you the tools to succeed the rests of your career. If you plan on walking through the door in the morning, show up prepared to fight for your firm. And when you walk out the door at night, remember the wise words of a good friend: "Family and health count, all the rest of this stuff is just politics and money." Keep it in context.

By Art Petty|2024-08-08T13:50:32-05:00May 1st, 2008|1,770 Legacy Leadership Caffeine and Management Articles|0 Comments

The Carnival of Human Resources-A Great Content Source

The Carnival of Human Resources, Installment #32 is live today at the Maximize Possibility blog. One click leads you to 27 great blog postings on all things people, leadership and business. Go ahead and check it out. You will be glad that you did. Thanks to Jake Flanagin for running my post on "Strategy Bursts." It's in some great company with thefeatured bloggers.

By Art Petty|2024-08-08T13:50:33-05:00April 30th, 2008|1,770 Legacy Leadership Caffeine and Management Articles|0 Comments

The Raw Marketing Power of Passionate People in the Workplace

A passionate employee is like rocket fuel for your organization. These rare and valuable people build your brand, strengthen client loyalty, stimulate repeat business and energize your workplace just by their daily participation in your business.

By Art Petty|2024-08-08T13:50:34-05:00April 29th, 2008|1,770 Legacy Leadership Caffeine and Management Articles|1 Comment

It Might Be Time for You to Start Acting Like The Leader You Want to Be

A blog post at on Looking and Acting Like a Success at Alan Weis's Contrarian Consulting site triggered some thoughts on what it means to look and act like a leader. While Alan's post emphasizes how a successful person might act to present a desired image, how does a leader portray himself or herself as competent? If this seems superficial to some, I would challenge that a leader is responsible for acting (and to an extent looking) the part.

By Art Petty|2024-08-08T13:50:36-05:00April 28th, 2008|1,770 Legacy Leadership Caffeine and Management Articles|0 Comments

Too Many Projects Chasing Too Few Resources in the Strategy-Starved Organization

Saying "No" to new projects and "No More" to projects in process are difficult for the best of firms and impossible for organizations without a clear strategy and the supporting processes. The participants in strategy-starved organizations have no context for decision-making and unless that context is created, are destined to founder and likely sink while the crew focuses on constantly rearranging the deck chairs. Armed with the context of strategy, project portfolio management is still a difficult task requiring unceasing commitment from the executives and constant vigilance at the project management level. If you are currently running around with a deckchair in your hands, it's time for you to look at the captain and officers and start asking the strategic questions.

By Art Petty|2024-08-08T13:50:38-05:00April 27th, 2008|1,770 Legacy Leadership Caffeine and Management Articles|0 Comments

Want to Improve Your Business? Fire the People Holding You Back.

Why is it that so many managers struggle with the issue of firing the employees that justifiably require firing? I've watched as brilliant business owners and otherwise accomplished leaders have agonized over this issue, unable to take the final step, while knowing all the while that it has to be done

By Art Petty|2024-08-08T13:50:40-05:00April 25th, 2008|1,770 Legacy Leadership Caffeine and Management Articles|4 Comments

About Art Petty