“Ann, I love your Clear Thoughts newsletter. I read every edition. They’re all fantastic, and highly relevant to Medtronic.”
Paul Franson, Clinical IT Development Manager, Medtronic
more...
“I’ve never been to a retreat that was so focused, so fast paced, and with such clear progress throughout.”
Jay Primack, Managing Partner, Moriarty & Primack P.C.
more...
“I wish everyone read this book. Ann Latham’s “Uncommon Meetings” is a quick read, packed with substantive ideas on how to get more out of meetings in less time. Everyone who runs meetings should read it!”
Janet Warren, President, MarCom Capital
more...
“Ann Latham is one of the best business speakers I have heard. She is very experienced, the quality of her thinking is extremely high, and she knows how to deliver her message in an entertaining, concise, and convincing way.”
Dr. Alan G. Robinson, Isenberg School of Management, Author - "Ideas Are Free"
more...
“On a collaborative project with Boeing Phantom Works, Ann did a tremendous job in identifying the cost drivers, producibility issues, and productivity barriers of a supplier organization, all of which were impeding the success of our project.”
Ed Gerding, Chief Engineer C-17 St. Louis, The Boeing Company
more...
“Ann can help you identify the crux of a problem and solutions that will work for you. While others may be good, my 35 years of experience tells me that no one is better.”
Perry Walraven, President and CEO, Performance Controls, Inc. a Subsidiary of Hitachi Medical Corporation
more...
“Ann’s ability to simplify complex issues such that everyone understood their respective roles was a key part of her success. She truly helped us achieve profitable and predictable growth while improving the quality of our methods and processes.”
S. W. Emery, Jr., Chairman and CEO, MTS Systems Corporation
more...
“I would recommend Ann to anyone who wants to make better plans and decisions in less time and with better confidence in the outcomes.”
W. Lowell Putnam, Chairman/CSO, VCI (Video Communications, Inc.)
more...
“’Wow’ sums it up nicely. The way Ann works is impressive: she has a great handle on people, makes everyone want to work together, ensures meetings are focused and valuable, and simplifies the challenges and options so all can reach shared conclusions.”
John Heaps, President, Florence Savings Bank
more...
“You are clearly a gifted facilitator and helped us achieve some important outcomes. The ROI was there.”
Bob Fazzi, President & CEO, Fazzi Associates
more...
“Ann listens, understands, simplifies, reframes, and provides clear advice. I inevitably leave with a new perspective, better decisions, 3 - 4 specific action items, and the resolve and focus I need to get the right things done. If you are looking for a great coach, call Ann.”
Michael Niedenfuehr, Financial Planner, Cambridge Investment Research, Inc.
more...
“Ann’s book, Clear Thoughts, is the fresh, grounding breath of perspective that every executive needs in order to see clearly despite the daily chaos”
Jane Lansing, VP Marketing, Emerson Process Management
more...
“Ann uncovers common ground, creates opportunity, and guides the group to new shared conclusions in remarkably little time.”
Laurie Fenlason, Vice President for Public Affairs, Smith College
more...
“Working with a diverse group of manufacturing and design team members, Ann was able to gain consensus for improvement initiatives, win over even the skeptical, and move the team forward toward production-readiness.”
Dana Badgerow, General Manager, AeroMet Corporation
more...
“After working with Ann, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her to anyone in need of a strategy, plan, arbitration, facilitation, etc.”
Chuck McCullagh, CFO, The Williston Northampton School
more...
“Ann Latham transformed our thinking about how our organization works. This discovery led us to a strategic model that solves our pain and opens new opportunities. She truly lives up to her brand of ‘uncommon clarity.’”
Suzanne Beck, Executive Director, Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce
more...
“Ann is a captivating speaker, providing important principles in an approachable, common-sense way. Our audience enjoyed her depth and breadth of knowledge.”
Aimee Griffin Munnings, Esq., Director, Western New England College Law and Business Center for Advancing Entrepreneurship
more...
“The process that our committee engaged in was outstanding and the outcome of our work is truly exceptional.”
Russell Peotter, General Manager, WGBY - Public Television for Western New England
more...
“Ann’s work with us helped change the direction of three units very set in their ways and has opened up a myriad of possibilities for growth in the future.”
Joan Schuman, Executive Director, Hampshire Educational Collaborative
more...
“The time and stress saved by one phone call with Ann was astounding.”
Rev. Johanna McCune Wagner, Director of Religious Life, The Culver Academies
more...
Every organization would benefit from the material found in Ann’s audio seminar, “Meeting Mastery.”
Chuck Hatch, General Manager, Packaging Corporation of America
more...
Receive Our Complimentary Newsletter
Leaders Don’t Wait and 7 Other Traits
We all have so much to do that setting our sights on anything above surviving the
daily rush can seem unthinkable. Thus, organizations without strong leaders surrender
to the daily struggles and believe that tomorrow or next quarter or next year will be a better time to start making changes. Unfortunately, tomorrow is always tomorrow. That’s why leaders insist on starting today. Leaders don’t wait.
-
Leaders Create Time By Creating a Shared Vision
If you create a shared vision of a better future state, you will generate energy, commitment, and time people didn’t know they had. If people are excited about a better future, their excitement propels them forward. They find a way. They become more productive. They see habits that should be crushed and tasks that should be dropped. They cooperate and ask for help. They propose new methods and discover shortcuts. With determination and focus, people can achieve amazing things. Leaders create that shared vision that inspires people to find a way.
-
Leaders Focus
If you have too many priorities, you have no priorities. You must keep the list short so people can focus. Those tough decisions - what not to do, what to outsource, what to postpone, and what to do less well - are critical. Leaders create that focus for themselves and others.
-
Leaders Raise the Bar
Think you are pretty good? Settling for pretty good? If you grew at 20% last year, maybe you didn’t set your goal high enough. Leaders expect success to be a stepping-stone to greater success, not a pot in which to grow complacency and arrogance. They celebrate success and then raise the bar.
-
Leaders Have the Courage to Take Risks
Certainty doesn’t exist, never has, and never will. There is always more to learn. There is always one more experiment to run. One more person to ask. All of which leave you in pretty much the same place you started – uncertain. You have to take prudent risks. Leaders have the courage to act.
-
Leaders Forgive
Failures are inevitable. If you try something new, you risk failing. But you must forgive yourself and others when this occurs because not trying is the kiss of death. The status quo is the road to mediocrity, shrinking margins, and lost customers. Leaders forgive and keep trying.
-
Leaders Learn
With every success, big or small, you need to celebrate and learn. Figure out how you can replicate, amplify, or accelerate that success. With every mistake or missed opportunity, you need to learn. Figure out exactly what went wrong so you can avoid suffering the same fate once again. Leaders learn constantly from both successes and failures and insist others do likewise.
-
Leaders Know Comfort Zones Are Meant to be Broken
People learn little to nothing when they relax within their comfort zones. Step outside those zones and growth comes fast: new perspectives, increased self-confidence, stronger skills, greater understanding, new ideas, clearer vision, greater determination, increased tolerance – to name a few. Take care of your own growth first by taking on new challenges, going new places, meeting new people, and generally putting yourself in new situations. Give your employees new opportunities and encouragement to do the same. If you make growth safe and expected, your employees will thrive and so will your business. Leaders don’t let comfort zones hinder growth.
-
Leaders Don’t Wait
Don’t wait until the time is right. It never is. If you insist on getting all your ducks in a row, you’ll never make a move; ducks just aren’t that well behaved. Besides, some of them should be flushed and scattered. If you are serious about progress, whatever direction you are headed, start today. Make a commitment. Ask for help and cooperation. Identify the first step. Start the ball rolling today. Leaders simply don’t wait.
© 2010 Ann Latham. All Rights Reserved.