Focus on Boeing and the State of Arizona Manufacturing is responsible for a great deal of pollution in our environment, extending as far back as the 1700s. Anyone reading this article can probably easily recall pictures from grade-school history books depicting the early American factories of the industrial revolution: Smokey, dirty, and dangerous.  The effects of these historic factories on the environment and those of the following centuries have created a negative stereotype that manufacturing [...]

A widely accepted premise is that leaders should have a vision for their organization or group.  However, vision that is not based on reality is nothing but fantasy. Leaders’ vision, therefore, should be grounded on attainable ends, even if this grounding is speculative to some degree.  So, how can a leader have vision that is wedded to something firm in a rapidly advancing technological age?  A look back in history to a widely-acknowledged leader who [...]

The transformation of airports into cultural centers is already clearly underway.  Diverse shopping, dining, and retail options are just a few unique experiences airports offer to their passengers.  Most recently, Los Angeles International Airport announced that passengers will no longer need to leave the airport to experience regional flavors as HMS Host will open nine locally-inspired restaurants in the airport, and Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport announced the opening of a local microbrewery.  Technology within [...]

From the title and the timing of this column, you may have thought this column will be about the presidential election, state of the economy, or some other rant about our country’s future. But it’s not – I’ve learned long ago not to discuss politics with colleagues, friends, or even enemies! But in a way I am talking about our country’s future, because if we don’t think long-term within our organizations, we won’t have well-functioning, [...]

When I was a kid, my family faithfully watched the sitcom The Jeffersons.  The show (which spawned from All in the Family) explored much of what was happening culturally at the intersection of race relations in the United States.  We loved to watch the antics of the crazy character, George Jefferson, played by actor Sherman Hemsley. On July 24, 2012, Hemsley died of complications related to lung cancer. His death brought back a flood of [...]

Recently, CAAL was asked to address the Connecticut SBIR and Global Trade conference on the subjects of leadership and innovation. In the process of preparing our remarks I reviewed the 2012 IBM CEO Survey. Titled “Leading Through Connections”, IBM identifies a number of business imperatives that are upper most of CEOs’ business concerns (IBM, 2012). Prominently on the list are: connections, engagement, collaboration, analytical competencies, partnerships, and tolerance for change. All of these subjects are [...]

Do you manage people? If so, do you give regular performance feedback to your employees?  Performance reviews are fundamental to good leadership and organizational improvement. If your employees receive feedback now, they will have time to make use of it and improve their performance.  If, on the other hand, they find out in December that you think they need to improve upon something, they won’t have the chance for development and improvement. Communicate with your [...]

Leadership is sometimes viewed as a one-size-fits-all solution to organizational issues. That view is further clouded by the multitude of theories that propose specific leadership traits, competencies, behaviors, or shortcuts as a cure-all answer to every organizational challenge. Since many people view leadership as the same across the organization and at every level, the focus remains on getting work done more effectively and more efficiently and not on developing new skills, behaviors, and values as [...]

He needs to flip his mental mode to thinking in terms of becoming a trim tab instead of the rudder. What small sources of influence might he be able to develop and control that could change his level of effectiveness? For instance, maybe he could contribute to the company newsletter, become a union rep, or help with the boss’ pet project. The point is that small changes can have big impacts.