Chip Bell

1 week ago | forbes.com | Chip Bell

“Leadership is a journey…you never arrive,” says Duke Energy CEO Lynn Goode. She spotlights the demand for adaptability, resilience, and growth for those in charge. Bookend her sentiment with Albert Einstein’s quote, “For everything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labor in freedom” and you have the essence of leading in today’s wild world of work. High performance is spawned and nurtured in a milieu of freedom. Let’s explore a parable.

1 month ago | forbes.com | Chip Bell

Elon Musk was on the television in the background at a cocktail party. He was dancing around on a stage, waving a large chainsaw. "What if you were his boss?" I was asked by a friend who is familiar with my blogs on leadership. Innovation is a key feature of all successful organizations today. It requires out-of-the-box thinking with uncertain experimentation. Attracting talent for greater innovation hazards acquiring a few eccentrics whose gifts come wrapped in controversial packaging.

2 months ago | forbes.com | Chip Bell

Innovation is vital to the success of all businesses. Innovate or perish is the new mantra. Leaders must perpetually reinvent their processes, products, and services since they typically have multiple competitors offering similar offerings. Only through innovation can most organizations differentiate. “Innovation isn’t just a buzzword,” wrote Total Nutrition Technology CEO Lourdes McAgy in a recent Forbes article. “It’s a tangible driver of business success.

Jan 15, 2025 | forbes.com | Chip Bell

My first trip to New York’s Saks on Fifth Avenue featured a super friendly elevator operator sitting on a small stool pushing a button to drive the elevator to the next floor and announcing the department as the elevator door opened. I exited at “Men’s Wear.” Once there, it was my first-time meeting Ella, a passionate salesperson specializing in men’s suits and related apparel. I recalled wondering how long before the nice elevator operator would be replaced with self-service buttons.

Dec 14, 2024 | forbes.com | Chip Bell

We are in the season of leadership examination. Decisions made around cabinet posts, rulers of countries, board members, and the tops of pyramids will have implications for practically every person on the planet. The headlines shout of new rules, roles, and responsibilities for governance of all types and contexts. According to a 2023 McKinsey report, only 25% of global business leaders see their counterparts as inspirational and fit for purpose.