Stupid Mistakes that Slow Down Smart Companies.

Most companies don't fail because of competition. They fail because of complacency, silos, bad habits, and a refusal to challenge the status quo. Here are some of the biggest momentum killers:

🚫 Meeting Mania. Endless meetings with no decisions waste time and energy. Real work gets done after hours, not during the 14th Zoom call of the week. Fix: No agenda, no meeting. Make decisions in the room. End the cycle of talking in circles.

🚫 Silo Culture. Departments operate like rival tribes. Collaboration dies. Customers fall through the cracks. Fix: Align goals across teams. Share accountability based on trust, not fear. Build a connection around outcomes, not org charts.

🚫 Brilliant Jerks. Toxic "top performers" hit their numbers but kill morale and trust. The cost? You lose everyone else. Fix: Culture over ego. Results without respect aren't sustainable.

🚫 "That's Not My Job" Thinking. Rigid roles create delays, dropped balls, and customer frustration. Everyone's pointing—no one's owning. Fix: Foster a culture where everyone owns outcomes and supports the customer experience.

🚫 Micromanagement. Hovering kills creativity. If leaders don't trust their people, nothing moves fast. Fix: Set the goal, then step back. Let your team own the path to results.

🚫 Playing It Safe. If your team fears failure, they'll stop innovating. No risk = no progress. Fix: Celebrate smart failures. Reward curiosity and effort, not just perfection.

🚫 Poor Onboarding. A bad first impression creates instant regret, whether with a new hire or a new client. Further, hiring slowly and firing more slowly is also a bad move. You should know in 90 days if it's a fit or a failure. Fix: Onboard with clarity, care, and consistency. Reinforce value early and often.

🚫 Complacency. "Fine" is the enemy of excellence. Comfortable companies don't innovate. They fall behind. Fix: Build reinvention into the culture. Always be asking: What can we do better?

🚫 Chasing Dimes, Missing Dollars. Obsessing over tiny cost savings often blinds companies to bigger strategic opportunities. You save $500 and miss $50,000. Fix: Think ROI, not just expense. Invest in what accelerates growth. Start with people.

🚫 Confusing Busyness with Productivity. Packed calendars and constant motion feel productive, but they often hide a lack of results. Confusing the "productivity of WFH" with creating a profitable culture. Fix: Prioritize outcomes over optics. Focus on deep work, not just activity.

🚫 Leadership on Autopilot. Leaders who go through the motions create disengaged teams. When presence disappears, so does respect and performance. Fix: Show up. Ask better questions. Lead with intention.

🚫 Language That Shrinks. Phrases like "We've always done it this way" or "That's not realistic" are silent killers. They shrink ideas before they can grow. Fix: Watch your words. Replace limitation with possibility. Speak growth into the room.

Now it's your turn. What is missing?

Watch out for my next book, The Stupid Mistakes that Slow Down Smart Companies. It's going to be hilarious.

My keynotes and workshops passionately challenge conventional wisdom and misconceptions about selling, culture, and people leadership. With over 39.75 years of experience, I empower individuals and teams to recognize the profound impact of their actions. My keynotes and workshops leave a lasting positive impact, directly contributing to a company's success.

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