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Author: gary

#56 A Pattern We See Constantly

Over the last two weeks I’ve described a pattern we see constantly. A values-driven leader. A capable team. A culture that’s drifting from the vision — not because of a crisis, but because of a clarity gap at the root. The leadership team was never fully honest about why the organization exists. So even well-intentioned […]

#55 What Leaders Rarely Say Out Loud

Last week I described a feeling a lot of leaders carry but rarely say out loud. The gap between the organization you’re running and the one you meant to build. Good people, real mission — and still something drifting. Here’s what’s almost always underneath it: The leadership team has never had a real conversation about […]

54 You didn’t build a company to feel like this

You have good people. A real mission. A leadership team that, on paper, should be pulling together. And yet. Meetings where everyone agrees — and then nothing changes. Values on the wall that nobody references when it actually matters. A culture drifting slightly away from what you intended, and you can’t quite name why. The […]

53 Pay What You Think It’s Worth

We’re breaking the pricing paradigm for the summer. We’re going with a trust-based model, in which we request that you pay us what you think our consulting was worth. Anything from zero on up. So how can we be of service to you? Check out our new website: www.portlandconsultinggroup.com. Best regards, Gary and Heather

52 I Almost Drowned in the Rogue River

This is a guest blog by Moe Carrick I almost drowned in the Rogue River. Not because the water was too big for us, not because we were in the wrong place at the wrong time. But because I didn’t say what I knew. The rapid was called the Picket Fence. Someone had died in […]

#50 What is all the fuss about psychological safety?

These are incredibly challenging times for leaders. 40% of CEOs fail in their first 18 months!* However, the top CEOs’ companies generate 2.8x more returns for their shareholders than their peers. One of the mindsets separating these top CEOs from all the others is they treat people and culture as a top priority. The top CEOs […]

#49 – A Compliment Sandwich is a Bad Business Practice

A “compliment sandwich” is a widely accepted practice of delivering bad news that a person’s performance needs improvement. A compliment sandwich starts with praise, then adds criticism, then finishes with praise. It’s supposed to make the listener more receptive and leave them feeling better. In theory, the more praise at the beginning and end, the […]

48 Revolution to Make Meetings Effective

“Why did we even meet at all?” I wondered as the interminable meeting finally concluded. Other times I have asked, “Why am I in this meeting?” And too often I have asked: “Why were X, Y, and Z in the meeting?” Tired of time-wasting meetings? You’re not alone. It’s time for a revolution! Revolutionary idea […]

#45 – Apologize with a MIDAS touch

Conventional wisdom holds that if there’s a potential legal claim against you, don’t apologize, because that could be deemed an admission of guilt or liability and increase claim risk. The opposite is actually true: Proper apologies tend to prevent claims or lead to amicable resolution. The key is how you apologize. We urge them to apply the […]