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John Spence

Managing Partner at John Spence, LLC

Gainesville, United States

For over 30 years, my passion for helping companies and people succeed has driven me. Through executive coaching, training programs, keynote speeches, and strategy consulting, I've assisted organizations worldwide, ranging from startups to the Fortune 10. My approach focuses on transforming complex business concepts into simple, practical solutions. I deliver tangible results that help my clients achieve their goals and achieve long-term success. I am also the author of "Awesomely Simple – Essential Business Strategies for Turning Ideas into Action" and "Excellence by Design – Leadership."

Background
At 26, I was the CEO of an international Rockefeller foundation, overseeing projects in 20 countries. Two years later Inc. Magazine named me one of America’s Up-and-Coming Young Business Leaders. More than a dozen organizations have recognized me as one of the world's top business experts. The American Management Association named me one of America's Top 50 Leaders to Watch, along with Sergey Brin and Larry Page of Google and Jeff Bezos of Amazon. The prestigious Thinkers50, the definitive global ranking of management thinkers, shortlisted me as one of the top eight in the World for their Distinguished Achievement Award. Thinkers 360 placed me on the Power List of the 200 Biggest Voices in Leadership. Others on the list include Simon Sinek, Gary Vaynerchuk, Adam Grant, and Marshall Goldsmith.

Services
As an executive coach, I work closely with you to enhance your skills in strategy, culture, high-performance teams, and other critical business topics. With my experience as CEO of four companies and a global business consultant, I bring real-life solutions to help you achieve sustainable results.

As a training facilitator and keynote speaker, I'm an expert at making complicated business topics easy to understand. Every program I deliver is custom-tailored to meet your specific needs. My presentations are fast-paced, highly engaging, content-rich, and deliver ideas and tools that can be implemented immediately.

As your strategy partner, I will help sharpen your strategic thinking and guide you through the process of identifying a set of core strategies that will serve as the foundation for your team's creation of a strategic blueprint designed to increase market share, revenues, and profitability.

Available For: Advising, Authoring, Consulting, Influencing, Speaking
Travels From: Gainesville, FL
Speaking Topics: The Future of Leadership, Achieving Business Excellence, Extreme Customer Focus

John Spence Points
Academic 0
Author 441
Influencer 118
Speaker 11
Entrepreneur 40
Total 610

Points based upon Thinkers360 patent-pending algorithm.

Thought Leader Profile

Portfolio Mix

Company Information

Company Type: Service Provider
Theatre: Global
Minimum Project Size: N/A
Average Hourly Rate: N/A
Number of Employees: 1-10
Company Founded Date: Undisclosed
Media Experience: 31
Last Media Interview: 12/14/2023

Areas of Expertise

Business Strategy 42.11
Change Management 32.10
Coaching 32.05
Culture 34.56
Customer Loyalty
Entrepreneurship 36.06
Leadership 37.21
Management 33.68

Industry Experience

Aerospace & Defense
Agriculture & Mining
Automotive
Chemicals
Consumer Products
Engineering & Construction
Federal & Public Sector
Financial Services & Banking
Healthcare
High Tech & Electronics
Higher Education & Research
Hospitality
Insurance
Manufacturing
Media
Pharmaceuticals
Retail
Telecommunications
Utilities

Publications

51 Article/Blogs
From Competence to Connection: Leadership Qualities That Drive Success
John Spence LLC
November 18, 2024
As you rise in an organization, the skills that once made you successful become less central. Technical expertise takes a back seat to the ability to work with and through others. Leadership isn’t about doing the work yourself anymore. It’s about guiding others to get results. That’s why technical skills aren’t on this list of essential traits. These leadership qualities determine your impact. Developing them shapes your success and the success of those you lead.

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Tags: Business Strategy, Culture, Leadership

Strategy Is Just a Guess
John Spence LLC
November 11, 2024
I have been helping companies build winning strategies for more than three decades. Crafting a strategy can be intimidating. There are many moving parts and a lot at stake. After all, you are plotting the future of your organization. You want to get it right.

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Tags: Business Strategy, Culture, Leadership

AI in Business: Thrive or Fall Behind
John Spence LLC
November 04, 2024
Artificial intelligence is not a passing trend. It’s here, and it’s reshaping everything from day-to-day operations to strategic decision-making. AI’s impact will continue growing in every industry, organization, and role. As the saying goes, “If you don’t like change, you’ll like irrelevance even less.” Leaders now have no choice but to adopt and integrate AI if they want their businesses to thrive in a competitive landscape.

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Tags: Business Strategy, Culture, Leadership

The Only Thing Worse Than Lying to Others Is Lying to Yourself
John Spence LLC
October 30, 2024
There will be times when your principles are tested. The question is, how will you respond? Will you give in to temptation and compromise your standards or will you stand tall and remain true to your values? It’s easy to say what you’ll do in theory, but your actions count most when the rubber meets the road. Some folks want it both ways. They want to profit, but they also want to feel good about themselves. So, just like Eve took a bite from the forbidden apple, they take the bait and justify their wrongdoing, claiming “It’s just this once.”

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Tags: Business Strategy, Culture, Leadership

The Phases of Life’s Experience(s)
John Spence LLC
October 21, 2024
Within a single life, it’s possible to identify (for most people) a ‘phased’ series of experiences. If we can see this pattern, two more things evolve: first, we can see our lived lives from a more objective view & perhaps gain more insight into our experiences; and second, within our lives, we go through numerous ‘experiences’ that, within themselves, follow this pattern. From that knowledge we can confront our life’s path with a more confident perspective and likely learn quicker, move more easily. It is also possible to learn ‘rules’ or ‘life lessons’ for each phase and to apply them in future endeavors with greater success.

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Tags: Business Strategy, Culture, Leadership

Thoughtfulness in Leadership
John Spence LLC
October 14, 2024
When I hear the word mindfulness, I think of someone sitting quietly in deep meditation. It feels passive and disconnected. For me, it conjures up an image of a Zen CEO. It just doesn’t seem to fit in a business connotation.

However, when I replaced mindfulness with thoughtfulness, everything shifted. Thoughtfulness is active and focused. It requires effort and intention to solve a problem.

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Tags: Business Strategy, Culture, Leadership

The 3 Greatest Questions Leaders Should Ask Their People
John Spence LLC
October 07, 2024
eople typically don’t leave jobs to pursue other opportunities; they leave because of their leaders. Studies indicate that 80% of disengagement and job turnover cases are due to leadership issues. This resource offers a simple yet powerful solution: three questions that address the core need for connection, engagement, and inspiration. By applying these questions, leaders can transform their team dynamics, resulting in a motivated and committed workforce.

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Tags: Business Strategy, Culture, Leadership

The Future of Work: Why We Need Great Leaders Now
John Spence LLC
September 23, 2024
This morning, I came across a Harvard Business Review article that has predictions about the future of work. It’s fascinating—and a little bit scary. The article draws on insights from 570 experts: tech entrepreneurs, economists, and writers. Their perspectives paint a range of possibilities for how work could change in the coming decades. Some are hopeful, others cautionary, but all agree on one thing—the future will be anything but business as usual.

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Tags: Business Strategy, Culture, Leadership

Mediocre Behavior Is a Choice
John Spence LLC
August 12, 2024
Nobody wants to be called mediocre. It’s like the screeching sound of someone’s nails on a blackboard. Yet, unfortunately, we’re surrounded by mediocrity. The bad news is that it’s contagious; the good news is that there’s a cure.

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Tags: Business Strategy, Culture, Leadership

Navigating Change: A Guide for Credit Union Executives
CU Insight
July 31, 2024
The credit union industry, like many others, is facing a period of significant change. Economic uncertainty and political instability are adding layers of complexity to an already challenging landscape. For executives, these conditions necessitate a clear-eyed view of reality and the courage to engage in difficult conversations.

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Tags: Leadership, Management

Ground Rules for Difficult Discussions
John Spence LLC
July 29, 2024
I have been in a lot of uncomfortable meetings. There was not an elephant in the room. There was a herd. People were anxious, angry, confused, and downright scared. They knew it was going to be ugly. And it usually was. The reason? People weren’t prepared to have a productive meeting and did not know how to deal with emotionally charged topics. They figured they would just get in there and fight it out. Not a good plan.

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Tags: Business Strategy, Culture, Leadership

A Call to Action for Leaders
John Spence LLC
July 08, 2024
Fierce leaders are committed to making a difference. They’re willing to stand up for something important to them. They pursue their purpose with intensity. Unapologetically. Realizing that not everyone will agree with their positions. Some will think them foolish. Others will rally to the cause.

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Tags: Business Strategy, Culture, Leadership

Guidance from a Mentor: Valuable Tips for Everyone
John Spence LLC
July 01, 2024
Just focus on being awesome this week in class. Don’t worry about the final exam. Focus on getting an A on the next quiz. If you concentrate on crushing every week, your final grade will take care of itself.

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Tags: Business Strategy, Culture, Leadership

Unlocking Customer-Centricity: Five Models to Transform Your Business
John Spence LLC
June 24, 2024
It is one of my mantras: “Whoever owns the voice of the customer owns the marketplace.” As simple as this idea is, shockingly few businesses are truly customer focused. Why not listen to the people who pay all the bills? This seems like a no-brainer. It should be a core element of your strategy.

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Tags: Business Strategy, Culture, Leadership

The Art of Customer Service: Learning from Luxury
John Spence LLC
June 17, 2024
In the world of fine dining, service is an art. It’s a testament to the power of detail. Demonstrating how the smallest touch can elevate an experience from mundane to memorable. This practice underlies a universal truth: How you do the little things is how you do everything.

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Tags: Business Strategy, Culture, Leadership

Urgency: The Catalyst for Change in Tough Economic Times
John Spence LLC
June 10, 2024
Even though there’s a mandate to reduce headcount, underperforming employees persist, protected by well-meaning managers. Noble intentions, but unsustainable. Continued losses risk everyone’s job.

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Tags: Business Strategy, Culture, Leadership

Micromanagement: A Leader’s Wake-Up Call
John Spence LLC
June 03, 2024
Then it hit me. I was that guy. The micromanager. I apologized and gave the project back. He shared how challenging it is to tell your boss they’re micromanaging. He suggested I write this blog to help others in that situation.

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Tags: Business Strategy, Culture, Leadership

Why Work-Life Balance Won’t Make You A Better Leader
John Spence LLC
May 28, 2024
Many leaders stick to a rigid separation between work and home life, convinced it boosts concentration and productivity. However, this often leads to extended office hours, missed family moments, and personal sacrifices for career growth. While it may initially increase productivity, it eventually results in burnout, isolation, and diminishing personal satisfaction and professional output returns.

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Tags: Business Strategy, Culture, Leadership

The Importance of Thoughtfulness
John Spence LLC
May 20, 2024
An essential element of leadership is sound decision-making. This requires thoughtfulness. Taking the time to think things through carefully. Applying intellectual rigor. Unfortunately, many of us have been taught to make decisions in an ineffective way. This is for several reasons.

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Tags: Business Strategy, Culture, Leadership

Hard Work Is Good for Your Soul
John Spence LLC
May 13, 2024
Work isn’t just about getting a paycheck; hard work builds character, promotes dignity, and gives you control over your life. But some folks don’t see it that way. As Sam Ewing, the professional baseball player, said, “Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don’t turn up at all.”

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Tags: Business Strategy, Culture, Leadership

Testing AI Ethics with ChatGPT
John Spence LLC
May 06, 2024
In the thought experiment you’ve presented regarding an autonomous vehicle (AV) faced with a life-and-death decision, the ethical dilemma hinges on how the vehicle will make a decision when a collision is unavoidable. This scenario encapsulates a modern take on the classic “trolley problem” in ethics, adapted here into the context of AI and autonomous technology. The decision-making process of the AV can be broken down and analyzed using principles of machine ethics, which integrate programming, policy, and moral philosophy.

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Tags: Business Strategy, Culture, Leadership

Strategic Planning vs. Strategic Thinking
CU Insight
April 24, 2024
Creating a unique and valuable strategy is pivotal to your credit union’s success in a highly regulated industry where it is challenging to stand apart from your competition. Hence, the annual “strategic planning” retreat. But I think calling it a planning retreat is misleading. You’re not there to create a plan. You’re there to develop a strategy. There is a big difference.

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Tags: Business Strategy, Leadership

The Power of Reflection
John Spence LLC
April 16, 2024
One of the most powerful tools in a leader’s skill set is the art of reflection. The ability to look back on past strategic decisions, understand their outcomes and use these insights to refine future strategies. Every decision, whether successful or not, holds valuable lessons. By analyzing these decisions, you gain insights into what worked, what didn’t, and why

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Tags: Business Strategy, Culture, Leadership

Enhancing Decision-Making: Lessons from Daniel Kahneman
John Spence LLC
April 08, 2024
This heuristic involves making decisions based on the information that comes to mind most readily, which might not always be the most relevant or accurate. In business, this can lead to skewed risk assessments. For example, suppose a company recently experienced a cyber-attack. In that case, its leaders might overestimate the likelihood of another attack soon and allocate excessive resources to cyber security, neglecting other important areas.

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Tags: Business Strategy, Culture, Leadership

April Leadership Development Carnival
John Spence LLC
April 02, 2024
It is my great honor to host these incredibly talented authors for another installment of the Leadership Development Carnival! I am truly privileged to present a collection of remarkable posts from some of the most exceptional leadership writers. My sincere thanks go to Weaving Influence and the Lead Change for organizing and curating these insightful pieces.

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Tags: Business Strategy, Culture, Leadership

27 Author Newsletters
Navigating Leadership with Emotional Intelligence
Linkedln
November 27, 2024
I’ve noticed a trend. In my leadership training workshops and executive coaching, people downplay the importance of emotional intelligence (EQ) in leadership. They think it’s too touchy-feely and don’t want to be seen as “emotional.” People believe showing vulnerability is a weakness. They are wrong.

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Tags: Business Strategy, Culture, Leadership

Questions Demand Answers
Linkedln
September 11, 2024
The quality of the questions you ask determines the quality of your life. Being curious is commendable. Wanting to understand the world around you and what others think is essential. However, as the famous author Ursula K Le Guin said, “The only questions that really matter are the ones you ask yourself.”

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Tags: Business Strategy, Culture, Leadership

Mastering Emotional Intelligence
Linkedln
September 04, 2024
Imagine you’re in a meeting with your leader. The discussion centers on the latest sales numbers. You’ve analyzed the data. Given the down market, the targets they have set are unrealistic. You try to explain this, offering solid evidence and reasoned arguments.

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Tags: Business Strategy, Culture, Leadership

Employees First: A Case Study in Corporate Success
Linkedln
August 28, 2024
Many businesses are hyper-focused on maximizing financial returns. While revenue and profitability goals are essential, prioritizing them above all else can lead to disaster. In my work with companies around the world, I’ve discovered a fundamental truth: organizations that put employees first consistently outperform those that chase monetary success alone.

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Tags: Business Strategy, Culture, Leadership

The Power of Referrals in Business
Linkedln
July 24, 2024
Many businesses depend almost exclusively on referrals. A few come to mind right away: real estate agents, financial advisors, lawyers, and accountants. It is rare that someone would Google “lawyers near my location.” They are going to ask their friends to recommend one. Other businesses advertise, but they rely heavily on referrals. Examples include restaurants, dry cleaners, and car repair shops. If you find a mechanic you trust, everyone wants to know about them!

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Tags: Business Strategy, Culture, Leadership

Maximizing Workforce Confidence and Engagement in 2024
Linkedln
July 17, 2024
The economic landscape in the United States remains strong despite global uncertainties. Workforce confidence is high. Seventy percent of workers feel secure in their jobs, up from 61% in 2021. This reflects the overall strength of the U.S. labor market, which shows resilience even as other parts of the world face challenges.

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Tags: Business Strategy, Culture, Leadership

Urgency: The Catalyst for Change in Tough Economic Times
Linkedln
June 12, 2024
Even though there’s a mandate to reduce headcount, underperforming employees persist, protected by well-meaning managers. Noble intentions, but unsustainable. Continued losses risk everyone’s job.

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Tags: Business Strategy, Culture, Leadership

Why Work-Life Balance Won’t Make You A Better Leader
Linkedln
May 29, 2024
Many leaders stick to a rigid separation between work and home life, convinced it boosts concentration and productivity. However, this often leads to extended office hours, missed family moments, and personal sacrifices for career growth. While it may initially increase productivity, it eventually results in burnout, isolation, and diminishing personal satisfaction and professional output returns.

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Tags: Business Strategy, Culture, Leadership

War of the Words: The Great Buzzword Purge
Linkedln
May 01, 2024
The English language: a vast and vibrant tapestry of nearly 600,000 magnificent words. Slowly being strangled by a trio of dangerously overused buzzwords. Fear not, fellow wordsmiths! Today, we embark on a noble quest – a crusade to liberate your vocabulary from the shackles of “unprecedented,” “resonate,” and “synergize.”

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Tags: Business Strategy, Culture, Leadership

Excellence Not Perfection
Linkedln
April 24, 2024
Many years ago, a friend visited me at the company I was running. As we walked around the office, I introduced him to our staff. Each took a minute or two to talk about the projects they were working on. I invited some executive team members to join us for lunch.

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Tags: Business Strategy, Culture, Leadership

How Adaptability Quotient (AQ) Shapes Effective Leadership
Linkedln
March 27, 2024
As I look at the leadership landscape, I believe there are three quotients that one must have to be an effective leader. The first is IQ, and by this, I do not mean the number; I mean competence. You must be very good at what you do. The next is EQ, emotional intelligence, your ability to understand your emotions, regulate them appropriately, and show empathy.

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Tags: Business Strategy, Culture, Leadership

I’m Sorry Bob
Business Brief
March 13, 2024
I was recently building a custom AI assistant to help me do research and named it Bob. I gave Bob some very specific commands about the way I wanted him to deliver information. Much to my chagrin, after multiple attempts, Bob still was not giving me what I needed. I decided that Bob wasn’t working out and I would have to remove him from the company. Here is our conversation about his termination.

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Tags: Business Strategy, Culture, Leadership

Riding with Yoda: Advice for a Happier Life
Business Brief
February 28, 2024
I was recently in San Antonio Texas on business. I got an Uber for the 20-minute ride from my hotel to the client’s office. Little did I know that I had gotten in the car with Yoda. Actually, his name was Leo, but he was wise beyond most people I have ever met. During our short ride, he shared powerful ideas about life, family, work, and faith. I gave him my email and asked him to drop me a note. This is the way I make sure people are serious about staying in touch. I have given my email out hundreds of times, and only a handful of people ever send a note. Leo sent a note the next day. Here is our exchange.

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Tags: Business Strategy, Culture, Leadership

An Essential Tool for Strategy Execution: The Power of Dashboards
Linkedln
February 21, 2024
Creating a robust strategy can be monumental task, but it’s only the beginning. The real challenge, and often the stumbling block for many organizations, is in the execution. The gap between strategic planning and successful implementation is wide. This is where the indispensable tool of a dashboard comes into play. A dashboard is critical for any organization serious about turning its strategic visions into reality.

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Tags: Business Strategy, Culture, Leadership

The Clear Path to Success: How to Eliminate Mediocrity and Drive Progress
Linkedln
February 14, 2024
One of my favorite business phrases is “ambiguity breeds mediocrity.” When things are unclear, people are uncertain. They don’t know what to focus on. They’re not sure what to do next. Progress comes to a grinding halt. As a leader, creating clarity is your responsibility. Here’s how to do it.

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Tags: Business Strategy, Culture, Leadership

From Plan to Performance: How to Execute Your Business Strategy
Business Brief
February 07, 2024
You’ve got a killer strategy. Your team has spent days, weeks, maybe even months crafting it. You’ve evaluated your market, studied your competitors, and set ambitious goals. You’ve got a plan that could take your business to new levels of success. But then, nothing happens.

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Tags: Business Strategy, Culture, Leadership

35 Questions to Inspire Self-Reflection
Business Brief
January 31, 2024
When was the last time you paused to reflect on your life? You’re too busy for that, right? Wouldn’t you like to know if you should continue full-speed ahead or if you’re veering off course? Here are 35 questions to inspire self-reflection. They will help you identify your values, discover your driving forces, challenge your behavior, and determine whether you should recalibrate your direction.

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Tags: Business Strategy, Culture, Leadership

Turning Seminar Ideas into Action: A Simple, Proven Method
Business Brief
January 24, 2024
Attending a seminar can flood you with new ideas. But often, these ideas fade away. Why? Because we don’t act on them.

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Tags: Business Strategy, Culture, Leadership

Turning Life’s Trials into Triumphs: Practical Techniques for Resilience
Business Brief
January 17, 2024
Life doesn’t get easier or more forgiving. We grow stronger and more resilient. But how do you do that?

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Tags: Business Strategy, Culture, Leadership

The Leader’s Toolkit: Four Essential Leadership Skills for Business Success
Business Brief
January 11, 2024
Continuous improvement is crucial for business leaders. It drives personal and organizational success. Focusing on just a handful of key development areas can yield significant benefits. Here are four critical areas where even modest improvements can lead to big gains.

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Tags: Business Strategy, Culture, Leadership

The Strategic Power of Customer Relationships
LinkedIn
December 13, 2023
The voice of the customer is everything. It should be a primary focus of your strategy. It deserves a significant investment of time, money, and people. Strong customer relationships are among the only sustainable competitive advantages for many businesses. It should be a top priority

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Tags: Leadership, Business Strategy

Effective Decision-Making for Leaders: A Strategic Approach
LinkedIn
December 06, 2023
Strategy is about making decisions. You have limited resources. You must allocate them carefully. Deciding where to invest your money, time, and human capital is daunting. There are usually several options with varying degrees of urgency. Making sound strategic decisions in a timely manner is a vital skill for leaders.

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Tags: Leadership, Business Strategy

Counterfeit Leadership
LinkedIn
November 29, 2023
The fact is, some leaders are causing irreparable damage to great institutions by shirking their responsibilities. They’re afraid to address difficult issues, make tough decisions, and introduce the change that’s required to achieve long-term success. Instead, these “counterfeit leaders” spend much of their time playing politics, protecting their turf, and promoting their self-interests. To make matters worse, counterfeit leaders, in both public and private sectors, often masquerade as positive role models while condoning unethical or irresponsible behavior that undermines the very foundation of their institution.

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Tags: Leadership, Business Strategy

The Power of Not Being Number One
LinkedIn
November 15, 2023
Many companies aim high. They set their vision or BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) to be the best in the world. It’s a lofty goal. But let’s be honest. Only a few can achieve it. It takes massive resources, focus, and effort. If you can do it, great. Go for it! But what if you can’t?

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Tags: Management, Leadership

Trust: Your Most Valuable Asset
LinkedIn
October 25, 2023
Running a business is expensive. Buildings, office equipment, IT investments, and of course, payroll. But a lack of trust is by far your biggest expense. When employees do not trust the leaders turnover is high. When employees don’t trust each other, job performance is low. Whenever employees don’t trust your business everything is in jeopardy.

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Tags: Management, Leadership, Culture

6 Books
Letters To A CEO
Flycaster & Company
January 01, 2023
For nearly two decades, John Spence has served as a trusted advisor and coach to senior executives at top companies around the globe. They turn to him because of his wealth of experience working with big corporations – to hundreds of small to medium-sized businesses and entrepreneurial start-ups. Because his clients know that he has read a minimum of 120 business books a year since 1989, they will often ask him to summarize the key points of what he has learned on a specific topic into a “letter” that will help them learn a new skill or make a major business decision.

Letters to a CEO is a compilation of the actual letters that John has sent to his clients in the last few years. It covers such critical business topics such as how to make good decisions, increasing accountability throughout the organization, strategic thinking, high-performance teams and much more.

Each letter is only a few pages long but every one is packed with John’s best ideas, insights and lessons learned as the CEO of ten companies. Add the knowledge he gained in reading nearly 3,000 business books in his quest to learn as much as he possibly could on what it takes to build, grow and sustain a highly successful organization and you have Letters to a CEO. Reading this book is like having a top Fortune 500 executive coach standing by to give you great advice whenever you need it.

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Tags: Business Strategy, Change Management, Leadership

Awesomely Simple - Essential Business Strategies For Turning Ideas Into Action
Jossey-Bass
September 08, 2009
The six core strategies to elevate any business-and how to implement them-made simple

What do the world's most successful companies and organization have in common? And what can you actually take away and use from their examples? Distilling the best fundamental business strategies, trusted advisor and strategist John Spence helps you take a hard look at your business and together develop specific plans and action steps that will allow you to dramatically improve the success of your company.

Delivered in Spence's approachable and straightforward manner, Awesomely Simple reveals the six key strategies that create a foundation for achieving business excellence: Vivid Vision, Best People, A Performance-Oriented Culture, Robust Communication, A Sense of Urgency, and Extreme Customer Focus.

Filled with case studies and clear action items, includes easy-to-follow guidelines for implementing the strategies in any organization no matter its mission or size
After concisely breaking down each strategy, Spence gives specific examples, tips, tools, discussion questions and exercises for how to execute them successfully
A perfect resource for business leaders, Awesomely Simple will help you turn ideas into positive action and achieve lasting business success.

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Tags: Customer Experience, Leadership, Culture

Awesomely Simple
Jossey-Bass
September 01, 2009
What do the world's most successful companies and organizations have in common? And what can you actually take away and use from their examples? Distilling the best fundamental business strategies, trusted advisor and strategist John Spence helps you take a hard look at your business and then to develop specific plans and action steps that will allow you to dramatically improve the success of your company.

See publication

Tags: Business Strategy, Customer Experience, Leadership

Awesomely Simple: Essential Business Strategies for Turning Ideas into Action
Jossey-Bass
August 01, 2009
The six core strategies to elevate any business - and how to implement them - made simple.

What do the world's most successful companies and organizations have in common? And what can you actually take away and use from their examples? Distilling the best fundamental business strategies, trusted advisor and strategist John Spence helps you take a hard look at your business and then to develop specific plans and action steps that will allow you to dramatically improve the success of your company.

Delivered in Spence's approachable and straightforward manner, Awesomely Simple reveals the six key strategies that create a foundation for achieving business excellence: Vivid Vision, Best People, A Performance-Oriented Culture, Robust Communication, A Sense of Urgency, and Extreme Customer Focus.

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Tags: Business Strategy, Culture, Leadership

Excellence By Design: Leadership - The Six Key Characterics of Outstanding Leaders
Flycaster & Company
January 01, 2008
A straightforward, practical, and actionable guide designed to teach the essential steps necessary for becoming an extraordinary leader. Solid advice, powerful tools and timeless wisdom on how you can dramatically improve your leadership effectiveness. Lays out the six key characteristics of outstanding leaders.

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Tags: Management, Leadership, Entrepreneurship

Excellence by Design – Leadership
Flycaster & Company
January 01, 2008
Straightforward, practical and actionable guide designed to teach the essential steps necessary for becoming an extraordinary leader. Solid advice, powerful tools and timeless wisdom on how you can dramatically improve your leadership effectiveness. Lays out the six key characteristics of outstanding leaders.

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Tags: Business Strategy, Culture, Leadership

2 Founders
Flycaster & Company
Flycaster & Co.
October 16, 2009
Boutique advertising and marketing company specializing in the marine industry.

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Tags: Entrepreneurship

Managing Partner
John Spence LLC
March 02, 1994
Managing Partner at John Spence LLC, where I provide executive coaching, strategic guidance, workshops, and keynote speeches to organizations worldwide.

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Tags: Leadership, Business Strategy, Coaching

6 Influencer Awards
Power List of the Top 200 Biggest Voices in Leadership in 2022
LeadersHum
February 01, 2023
Other people who receive this award include Gary Vaynerchuk, Marshall Goldsmith, Adam Grant, Simon Sinek, and Dorie Clark

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Tags: Leadership, Coaching

Top 50 Leaders to Watch in America
American Management Association
February 01, 2023
Other recipients of this recognition include Serge Brin and Larry Page of Google and Jeff Bezos of Amazon.

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Tags: Leadership

Thinkers50: 2017 Distinguished Achievement Awards Shortlist - Top 8
Thinkers50
September 01, 2017
Breakthrough Idea Award
The Thinkers50 Breakthrough Idea Award celebrates a Eureka moment in management. It is given for a radical idea, which has the potential to forever change the way we think about business. From Taylorism to the Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid, new ideas have challenged what we know about the world. This award is dedicated to the legacy of CK Prahalad, who proved there is nothing so practical as a great idea.

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Tags: Leadership

Top 500 Leadership Development Experts in the World
HR.com
April 10, 2015
John Spence is recognized as one of the top 500 leadership development experts in the world.

Prestigious Leadership Awards salute top leadership practitioners and highlight their roles in the industry.

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Tags: Leadership

Top 5 Small Business Experts America
Small Business Trends
September 19, 2014
Voted as one of the top 5 Small Business Experts in America by small business owners across the United States

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Tags: Entrepreneurship

Top 100 Thought Leader in Trustworthy Business Behavior: Global List
Trust Across America
February 01, 2013
Recipients hail from around the globe and include leaders from the public and private sectors as well as authors, consultants, researchers and academics. Other 2013 recipients include: Richard Branson -Virgin Group, Tony Hsieh – Zappos, Ram Charan - top global business consultant, Thomas Freidman – author, Rosabeth M. Kanter - The Ernest L. Arbuckle Professorship at Harvard Business School, Patrick Lencioni – author, Tom Peters – author, Howard Schultz - CEO of Starbucks.

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Tags: Leadership

1 Speaker Award
100 great leadership speakers for your next conference
Inc. Magazine
December 16, 2014
Presented by Inc. Magazine. Others on the list included Sir Richard Branson, Ken Blanchard, Bob Berg, Dori Clark, Marshall Goldsmith, John Kotter, Gary Hamel, and John Maxwell.

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Tags: Leadership

2 Trainings
Securities Industry Institute – Wharton School of Business
Securities and Financial Management Association (SIFMA)
March 12, 2001
The Securities Industry Institute is recognized worldwide as the premier development program for securities industry professionals. Now in its 60th year, the Securities Industry Institute focuses on helping participants broaden their perspectives, increase job effectiveness and strengthen management skills.

SII utilizes a variety of class formats from general sessions to individual electives, panel discussions to small workshops; many supplemented with pre-course work and case studies. The curriculum embraces a combination of practical information, theory, and broad issues. Participants who complete this intensive three-year program receive a certificate of completion that is recognized among the leading firms in the industry.

During my more than two decades as an instructor, the programs I have delivered at the Institute include leadership, strategic thinking/strategic planning, organizational culture, high-performance teams, the future of business, accountability and business excellence.

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Tags: Business Strategy

Global Leadership Development Program – Senior Instructor
Merrill Lynch
April 01, 1997
Serving as a consultant, I delivered highly customized training programs and executive coaching to employees at all levels across the organization, from financial managers to the C-Suite. I also served as a senior instructor for the Global Leadership and Development Program for high-potentials. Areas that I focused on for this client included leadership, strategic thinking, high-performance teams, conflict resolution, presentation skills, communication effectiveness, and negotiations.

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Tags: Leadership, Coaching

1 Whitepaper
The Journey To Thought Leadership: 13 Steps To Take You There
John Spence LLC.
August 20, 2024
I never had the goal of becoming a Thought Leader. My focus has always been on doing great work. The accolades have been a fruit of that labor. Today our company's mission is for me to be consistently ranked as one of the top 100 Thought Leaders in the world. This is not about ego. It is about doing the quality of work that allows me to be considered for those awards. From a business standpoint, quality work at that level equals more and happier clients.

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Tags: Entrepreneurship, Leadership

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1 Business Consulting
Executive Coaching

Location: Global    Fees: $4,000 per month

Service Type: Service Offered

Executive Coaching and Business Advisory:
As an executive coach, I have worked with numerous leaders, from small companies to the C-Suite, in global organizations. I provide personalized guidance, helping individuals maximize their potential, refine their leadership skills, and achieve their professional goals. Through insightful coaching sessions, I assist executives in navigating challenges, enhancing their decision-making abilities, and driving sustainable growth. For many clients, I coach their entire executive team, helping them become a more cohesive and effective high-performance team.

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1 Keynote
Keynotes on Business Topics

Location: Global    Fees: $20,000 + Travel

Service Type: Service Offered

Keynote Speaking:
As a keynote speaker, I specialize in turning complex business concepts into actionable strategies. Each presentation is custom-tailored backed by in-depth research and real-world experience. My presentations and workshops are fast-paced, content-rich, and focused on delivering ideas and tools that the audience members can implement immediately. Whether to a small group of executives or more than 20,000 people in the audience, I have the experience to deliver excellence in every presentation.

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1 Speaker
Training and Development Programs

Location: Global    Fees: $20,000 + Travel

Service Type: Service Offered

Training Programs
I have a proven track record of designing and delivering comprehensive training programs for over 30 Fortune 500 companies, smaller private companies, and professional associations. These programs cover a wide range of topics, including leadership development, strategy, high-performance teams, and organizational culture.

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