Karen Ladany

The number one mistake we see organizations make is reaching for an expensive fix to solve their problem: upgraded technology, a new process, a new employee, another reorg, or a second location. It doesn't matter how large. When something isn't working, the instinct is to throw money at the problem, and the more money you throw at it, the better the solution will be, right? When you start to understand leverage points, you realize that most of the time, the smallest changes have the...

What We're Reading The 6 Essential Skills Your Workforce Needs to Keep Pace with AI by CV Viverito, published October 7, 2026, in Harvard Business Review. The Quick Summary AI upskilling often leaves employees overwhelmed and organizations disappointed, because companies keep piling on courses and tools. Drawing on Gartner research, the article narrows the focus to six skills in two areas. Work orchestration (working with AI to get results): Problem formulation: defining the right problem to...

What We're Reading Your Executive Team Needs More Productive Conflict by Rebecca Newton, published October 7, 2026, in Harvard Business Review. The Quick Summary Executive teams may have a conflict problem, but not the one you think. In an effort to maintain harmony, executives often avoid challenging one another, leaving important decisions insufficiently debated. Productive disagreement requires shared purpose, interpersonal trust, and an environment where people feel safe challenging...