Mastering Accountability, Projects and More

In this Issue

1. Mastering Accountability
2. Unprepared and Unprofessional?
3. Civics: The “Good Old Days” are now
4. It’s not a Company, it’s a Project
5. Work Ethic, State by State
6. Econ Recon

Mastering Accountability

If you missed Vistage’s “Top Gun” ?Accountability CEO Climb Event, you can still watch Air Force?Lt. Col .Robert “Shark” Garland,?former CEO of the US Air Force Weapons School share his recent 90-minute Vistage CEO Climb webinar, Mastering Accountability: The Military’s Secret to High Performing Teams . Open to non-members as well. (This is a 60-minute summary of the presentation Col. Garland has made over 70 times to our CEO Groups across the US. He received a Vistage Top Performer Speaker Award in 2023.)

Our next CEO Climb Event will be on Friday, October 18 at 10 a.m. Non-members are welcome: Register now for Leveraging AI for Executive Success.

Unprepared and Unprofessional?

We’ve had an extraordinary labor market for the past few years and while still strong, it is showing signs of cooling off…and it appears that Gen Z may be feeling the pain first.

A recent Fortune article indicates that managers are finding that too many (but certainly not all)?Gen Z employees are “unprepared and unprofessional”?and per a Fortune Magazine article “Bosses are firing Gen Z grads just months after hiring them .” The problem is sufficiently widespread that universities are beginning to offer workplace preparation programs such as how to handle a networking conversation.

Compounding the problem may be some unrealistic expectations around compensation. This Inc Magazine article explores???The Great Salary Disconnect: What Gen-Z Gets Wrong About Pay .

Gen Z (and Y) are the future.? Let’s help them succeed.?

Civics Lesson:? The “ Good Old Days” are Now

In this election year, for many the big issue is the economy. We’ve had a great stock market and strong employment metrics, but a resurgence of inflation due to the extraordinary injection of funding for Covid relief. Both parties claim, as they do every four years, that?they are the key to a sound economy and “good times.”

Each of us must decide which candidate and party will deliver, but it’s important to not lose sight of how much global living standards have improved over the centuries. Economist Brian Wesbury offers a quick look at ?“three key metrics that highlight this progress .?

These trends tell a powerful story of human progress, economic and otherwise.”While challenges remain, the data clearly show that, over the long run, the world has become a better place for billions of people.”

People sometimes yearn for the “good” old days. They could not be more mistaken: you wouldn’t want to live at any other time. ?

It’s not a Company, It’s a Project

In Vistage groups we like to say,?“the problem we name is the problem we solve.” One of the most important benefits of a Vistage Group is making sure the CEO has defined the problem. A brilliant solution to the wrong problem helps no one. ?

CEOs often, and understandably, see their companies as a long-term enterprise with many moving parts. This can make understanding and solving the problem challenging (and sometimes impossible); perhaps far more challenging than it needs to be.

An article from Entrepreneur Magazine suggests that?it might be more effective if you sometimes started visualizing your company as a project instead of, well, a company.” Try ?“Treating Your Business Like a Temporary Endeavor….” ?…?

Work Ethic, State by State

If you’re thinking about relocating your company,?the nature of the available workforce is a primary concern.?How about a list of where people work the hardest? Visual Capital shares a ranking of every state using an index created by Wallethub.

Check out?how hard working your state is and if it makes sense to consider moving.?Check out this analysis and map of US States that Work the Hardest.

Econ Recon

Don’t Borrow Yet! ITR Economics Brian Beaulieu reviews some good news for the economy including declining interest rates and inflation.?However, he warns that inflation and higher rates will return.?Find out how to plan your borrowing accordingly in?this week’s edition of Fedwatch.? ?

Still a Seller’s Market for Housing:??The one aspect of the economy that touches all is housing. Economist Brian Wesbury offers a one-page “Three on Thursday” explanation of why it’s Still A Seller’s Market for Housing.

On the other hand, there are, according to Realtor.com , 4 Clear Signs This Raging Seller’s Market Has Peaked—and a Buyer’s Market May Be Slowly Moving In.

Thanks for continuing to read the Make A Difference (MAD) newsletter. I appreciate you and wish you a productive week.

Sue Tinnish, PhD,?Vistage Chair, Facilitator, & Executive Coach

Find me easily at: 847.404.7325, [email protected] , Twitter:?@STinnish, LinkedIn: www.dhirubhai.net/in/suetinnish , Website: https://vistage.com/chairs/sue.tinnish