How to Become the Go-To Expert in Your Industry | AllBusiness.com

April 29, 2026April 28, 2026 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

When founders tell me they “don’t have time” for thought leadership, I usually ask one question: If your ideal client were choosing between you and a competitor tomorrow, what would they find about you in two minutes on Google?

When over 90% of consumers say they trust recommendations from people they know, and trust peer recommendations more than ads, your reputation as an individual expert is more powerful than your brand’s marketing in 2026.

Thought leadership is not about ego; it is about using your experience to solve real problems in public forums, in a way that builds trust, opens doors, and drives commercial outcomes.

Why Is Delegation Important in Leadership? | LifeHack

October 20, 2025October 19, 2025 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Are you a manager with a to-do list that seems to stretch for miles? You finalize a client proposal, answer a barrage of emails, troubleshoot a team conflict, and try to make headway on a strategic plan for the next quarter. Your calendar is a jigsaw puzzle that’s getting more complex by the hour….

In this whirlwind, managers often hesitate to delegate. They worry that their team won’t complete tasks to their standard, or they fear that letting go of control might reflect poorly on their abilities. Some think that teaching someone else will take more time than just doing the task themselves.

Does this situation ring a bell?

Delegating Leadership Style: What Is It and; When To Use It? | LifeHack

October 2, 2023October 1, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

In the bustling command center of the 1969 Apollo 11 mission, Flight Director Gene Kranz was a portrait of calm in a storm of complex tasks and critical decisions. As the person ultimately responsible for the success of this historic mission, he could have chosen to keep a tight grip on every detail. Instead, he led with trust, respect, and strategic delegation.

When a critical alarm signal, known as “1202”, flashed on the astronauts’ screens just moments before landing on the moon, the atmosphere in Mission Control became tense. Time was of the essence, and Kranz had a decision to make. Instead of jumping in to solve the problem himself, he turned to Jack Garman, a 24-year-old guidance officer on his team. Garman quickly identified the issue as a radar switch conflict and confidently recommended proceeding with the descent. Kranz trusted Garman’s judgment and gave the order to continue.

What You Can Learn From Infamously Bad Bosses | Business

July 31, 2023July 30, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Executives at Disney, Yahoo, and other companies show what NOT to do.

Being the boss comes with a lot of responsibilities. They’re the person everyone else looks to for leadership and direction. But what happens when the boss is caught doing things they shouldn’t be? That’s when scandals can hit – and public relations nightmares begin.

A great boss – whether a business owner or C-suite executive – is often not only a role model inside a company, but also the public face of the business outside the office. The person in this role is usually skilled at building brand awareness and bringing positive attention to the organization. Sometimes, however, company leaders make news for all the wrong reasons. Here are some notorious examples and what small business owners can learn from them.

Servant Leadership: 9 Ways to Be a Better Servant Leader | Getentrepreneurial.com

July 24, 2023July 23, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

After a long week at work and a late night serving curry and clearing tables at a BBQ we had hosted for our students, it was 9:30am on a Saturday morning. I was at the airport collecting some colleagues (that I’d never met before) who had flown into town from another campus for an event that they needed a lift to, 214 km away, off-road.

“Your taxi is here!” I happily chirped as I loaded their suitcases into the back of the car. They thanked me graciously and we talked for the next 3+ hours as we bumped and jiggled along one of the most beautiful typically-deep-red Australian outback tracks to a remote Aboriginal community.

As we rocked up to their destination, one asked “so what did you do to deserve having to be the driver for trip like this? What’s your role?”.

Problems That Can Kill a Small Business | Business News Daily

April 17, 2023April 16, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Money, leadership and employees are just a few problems that destroy small businesses.

Small businesses face potentially devastating issues like poor cash flow, inadequate leadership, disengaged employees and more.
To keep your business alive and thriving, create a financial plan, hire an effective leadership team and prioritize a strong company culture.
Research your business’ competition to market your products or services more effectively and attract customers to your brand.
This article is for small business owners who want to learn about and circumvent common problems that can derail success.

Starting a business comes with inherent challenges and pitfalls. However, even when you’re off to a good start, keeping a company running successfully isn’t for the faint of heart. Many small businesses encounter issues that prove to be insurmountable, leading to business closure and dashed dreams.

5 Ways to Successfully Lead Your Team During a Crisis | AllBusiness.com

June 28, 2022June 27, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

For any aspiring leader, going through a crisis is a rite of passage. After all, it’s easy to be a good manager when everything is going well, but your ability as a leader is truly tested when there is a true crisis.

While crisis management may be near the top of a manager’s priority list, it is one of the trickiest areas to navigate. Thus, it’s not surprising that crisis preparation for a company can cost anywhere from $60,000 to $500,000 (depending on the industry and location). In comparison, unprepared companies in a crisis can spend close to millions of dollars on mitigation while at the same time losing hundreds of millions in reputation and shareholder value.

Servant Leadership: 9 Ways to Be a Better Servant Leader | Getentrepreneurial.com

April 22, 2022April 21, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

After a long week at work and a late-night serving curry and clearing tables at a BBQ we had hosted for our students, it was 9:30am on a Saturday morning. I was at the airport collecting some colleagues (that I’d never met before) who had flown into town from another campus for an event that they needed a lift to, 214 km away, off-road.

“Your taxi is here!” I happily chirped as I loaded their suitcases into the back of the car. They thanked me graciously and we talked for the next 3+ hours as we bumped and jiggled along with one of the most beautiful typically-deep-red Australian outback tracks to a remote Aboriginal community.

As we rocked up to their destination, one asked “so what did you do to deserve having to be the driver for a trip like this? What’s your role?”.

“Oh I didn’t have to” I answered; “I’m the Head”.

How to Become a Leader That People Respect | Life Hack

January 6, 2021January 5, 2021 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

All I am asking…is for a little respect. That is the line that Aretha Franklin made popular in 1967 with her hit song entitled RESPECT. If we are honest, the words of that song ring true in our hearts today. As leaders, this concept of respect is even more powerful as each of us wants to learn how to become a leader that people respect day in and day out.

Did you know that there were two versions of the song RESPECT? Each one of the versions had a different message and demonstrated what they believed to be the best way to get the respect they had desired. Let’s take a moment to point out a stark difference between the two versions. We will use these two songs to illustrate how to become a leader that people respect.

Leadership Lessons From Steve Jobs | Getentrepreneurial.com

November 9, 2020November 8, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Everyone knows Steve Jobs ; or, at least, they know of its existence. Or, of the innovations he made in the world of technology.

Steve Paul Jobs, such his full name, perhaps never imagined the global impact generated by being a leading entrepreneur in the computer world: he was the creator of sophisticated and easy-to-use products, the founder of Apple, a world leader in its sector.

His different biographies emphasize the thick line on his character and the way of leading. Everyone recognizes him for having had visionary ideas, which made momentous contributions in the field of personal computers, cell phones and music in digital format.

Undoubtedly, like all great minds, it is loved and hated in equal measure. Bill Gates , his Microsoft competitor, once noted his admiration for the way of telling and creating empathy between the person (Jobs) and the products through their presentations; and many of those who worked alongside him at Apple in those years remember him as a true genius.