Mark is recognized globally as an expert on leadership, customer service and organizational performance. A member of the National Speakers Association Speaker Hall of Fame, he is the author of 8 books including the international bestseller, The Fred Factor: How Passion in Your Work and Life Can Turn the Ordinary Into the Extraordinary. Mark teaches his clients to BE EXTRAORDINARY™.

Eloquence

I don’t often use the word “ought” but I’m making an exception: if you’re a leader, you really ought to read Peggy Noonan’s column Declarations in the weekend edition of the Wall Street Journal. Her insights are consistently exceptional. This past weekend she wrote about Barack Obama and his speaking skills. She agrees that he…

Decisive Victory

How many important conquests have ended in a whimper? How often have leaders declared victory too soon? When is it prudent to declare success? These are important considerations for leaders. Cloudy outcomes are more common than decisive victories. Credibility is undermined by prematurely declared success or a fizzled outcome and followers are discouraged or even…

Eloquent but Empty

Those were the words John McCain used to describe Barack Obama’s campaign promises. While I’m not sure I agree, it was a lovely turn of the phrase. Unfortunately I find McCain’s promises to be substantive and boring. That’s a problem for him. Leaders, including politicians, are always challenged to deliver meaningful and substantive messages in…

No Simple Solutions

In the aftermath of the tragic shootings at Northern Illinois University yesterday there are many suggesting simple solutions to a complex problem. Unfortunately, complex problems rarely have simple solutions. We grieve with those who were affected by the senseless act of a cowardly shooter. Close to the event it is impossible to separate emotion from…