The Journal

Tools & frameworks for leaders.

Field notes on coaching, strategy, and leading well — written by Jay and selected colleagues.

a clip art style illustration of a dark-skinned woman's feet in flip flops at the beach

Jimmy Buffet was right…”Life is better in flip-flops.”

Summertime, and the livin’ is easy. Or is it? New studies reveal American workers are taking fewer and fewer summer vacations—and when they do, they often take their work with them. As a business coach, I stress the importance of proper rest. And in my 30 years of consulting, virtually every client has agreed that…

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“Dad, you’re writing a book?”

That was my youngest son’s question about a month ago when he found out that I indeed was working on my first book. I said, “Yup…sorry I didn’t tell you. I guess I’m bad at self promotion.” ? Nevertheless, 3 years after starting this project, I’m happy to announce that my book, “Would They Follow If They…

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Strategic Planning Help

Going in Circles? Get Strategic Planning Help

Think your team might be stuck? A strategic planning facilitator can help you build real alignment and a plan that your team actually follows through on.

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a clip art style illustration of diverse office workers gathered around a laptop having a collaborative meeting with multicolored speech bubbles overhead

EOS® Meeting Structure: Pros, Cons & Alternatives

Explore the EOS® meeting structure, including Level 10 and Quarterly meetings, plus practical alternatives like StratOp for stronger leadership alignment.

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A flat color illustration of a person in a yellow parka climbing a mountain with mountain-climbing gear while birds fly in the background

Strong leaders don’t play it safe.

There’s an old saying, “Nice guys finish last.” If you know me, it won’t surprise you that the phrase has a baseball connection. The Brooklyn Dodgers’ outspoken manager, Leo Durocher, coined the phrase in 1946 to explain why the New York Giants were stuck in last place despite having good talent. Known as “Leo the…

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cartoon graphic of two people looking confused with bubbles full of question marks over their heads

Navigating Conflict Resolution: A Step-by-Step Guide

Conflict is an inevitable aspect of human interaction, occurring in various settings such as workplaces, families, and communities. While it can be uncomfortable, addressing conflicts directly and constructively is essential for fostering healthy relationships and maintaining harmony. And yet, I find that effective conflict resolution eludes most of us. There have been volumes of books,…

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