John Spence

The people doing the quiet, essential work deserve our appreciation. It only takes a moment to say #ThankYou. Make it a habit to find people you can genuinely compliment each day. Small #kindnesses add up. They make every day a little better for everyone.

In this #Business in a Minute video, I talk about two #leadership traits that never lose relevance and why one of them is often overlooked.

#Leadership development has long focused on competence & emotional intelligence. That foundation still matters. What has changed is the environment. In this week's blog, I explain why #Adaptability Quotient has become an essential skill for #leaders. linkedin.com/pulse/leadersh…

Several years ago, I gave a #keynote to 1,600 employees from a Fortune 100 company on "The Essence of Excellence." I interviewed #CEOs, university presidents, and top thought #leaders. Ultimately, I felt it all came down to the three key ideas outlined in the infographic.

It's hard to think straight when the world feels unstable. A strong sense of purpose cuts through the noise. It gives you the #strength to move forward, even when the path is difficult. As Auschwitz survivor Viktor Frankl said, "Those who have a why can bear almost any how."

When you practice genuine #curiosity, you will come across ideas that feel uncomfortable or contradict what you have done in the past. Flexible thinkers are willing to question their assumptions and let go of beliefs that have stopped serving them.

In this Business in a Minute video, I explain why high-achieving leaders often create unnecessary pressure inside their organizations and the standard I encourage teams to pursue instead.

In this week's blog, I explain why recognition belongs on every #leader's calendar and what your silence is actually communicating to your #team. johnspence.com/team-silence-r…

"What got you here won't get you there." To be an effective #strategic thinker, you must adapt quickly & make decisions based on current information. This requires continuously learning new & innovative ideas & unlearning what is no longer effective.

The hardest problems to solve are often the ones we cannot see. #Patterns form quietly and habits become automatic, until assumptions are guiding decisions before we even notice them. Listen to Blind Spots: Looking for Change in All the Right Places: pod.link/1845676457/

Thank you to Erin Schroeder and Kristin Sheehan for everything you did to make this year's SII program a success. The event, jointly hosted by @SIFMA and @Wharton, ran smoothly because of you. Your work is a big part of what sets the Securities Industry Institute apart.

While visiting the university library bookstore at @Wharton, I was happy to see my book, Awesomely Simple: Essential Business Strategies for Turning Ideas Into Action, on display. I took a moment to sign all the copies. It’s just a small gesture, but hopefully a nice surprise.

While teaching this week at the @Wharton School of Business, someone from last year’s executive program stopped me in the hallway to share what happened after a conversation we had about #leadership. The idea was simple: love belongs in leadership. linkedin.com/pulse/why-best…

A quick moment with Benjamin Franklin on the @Penn campus. Hard to walk past him without thinking about how much he believed in the practical application of ideas, which felt fitting during a week spent working with executives at @Wharton.

Every year, the Securities Industry Institute convenes at @Wharton School of @Penn, giving me the opportunity to spend time with Jeremy Siegel. Jeremy has been a Wharton faculty member since 1976 and is one of the world's most respected voices on finance and investment strategy.

Back at @Wharton for my 27th year teaching in the Securities Industry Institute. I always look forward to this week. Spending time with #leaders who care deeply about improving their organizations is a real privilege.

Every #business faces difficult situations. Ignoring them doesn't make them better. Leaders who directly address hard truths with respect and professionalism are the ones who move their organizations forward.

When we first started, this area was nothing but plain dirt. Nearly twenty years later, our yard has transformed into something amazing. Growth does not respond to intensity. It responds to consistency. Gardens are built the same way teams are. Small, consistent actions.

If you stay curious instead of defensive, candor increases. Conversations get more direct. Problems come forward while they are still manageable. High standards still apply. In fact, they become easier to uphold when people are not guarding themselves.

Creating that kind of environment is a #leadership choice. You see it in the small reactions. The pause after someone admits a mistake. The expression on your face when a teammate disagrees. The tone in the room when hard news arrives. People are always studying those moments.