SERIAL CEO  

Margaret Heffernan is an entrepreneur and author. Born in Texas, raised in Holland, and educated at Cambridge, she worked at BBC Radio for five years where she wrote, directed, and produced. She has been chief executive of InfoMation Corporation, ZineZone Corporation, and iCAST Corporation. In 2011, she published her third book, Willful Blindness. @M_Heffernan


2 Best Words for a Start-up Job Description Ever

Next time you write a job description, take this hint from a U.S. Army Green Beret.  Read story

4 Ways Pope Francis Masters New Leadership

While the world watches, the new Pope is already making strategic moves that will go a long way toward bolstering his reputation.  Read story

Modern Manufacturing Ain't What It Used to Be (It's Better)

Do you think of manufacturing as dirty, noisy assembly lines? You have a lot of catching up to do. I recently visited two bright, innovative, efficient shops.  Read story

Bristle at Customer Complaints? That's the Last Thing You Want to Do

You may be tempted to view negative feedback as a nuisance. But, if you respond the right way, it's a gift.  Read story

What a 14-Year-Old Can Teach You About Management

Six business lessons an entrepreneur gleaned from her daughter's first job.  Read story

Clients Don't Pay? 5 Things You Can Do About It

Every business has customers who can't or won't pay. But there are several ways you can deal with them.  Read story

4 Ways to Make Company-Wide Meetings Mean Something

Do more than give everyone on your team a warm, fuzzy feeling. Feed their brains.  Read story

3 Leadership Lessons From the Pope's Exit

Pope Benedict XVI will abdicate his post late tomorrow night. Scandals aside, what can you learn from the way the church is handling his departure?  Read story

Love Is in the Air at Work. What Can You Do?

You'll be hard-pressed to extinguish office romances. Here's how to ignore them (and why you want to).  Read story

One Sure-Fire (and Fast) Way to Get Rid of Office Politics

Politics are the bane of company life. But eliminating them is a lot less complicated than you think. Here's how.  Read story

4 Characteristics of the Ultimate Start-up Hire

When you launch a company, each additional employee makes an enormous difference. Here's exactly what you need to look for.  Read story

How to Really Praise Employees

Don't just say, 'Nice work!' Psychologist Carole Dweck emphasizes the need to compliment the specific effort employees put in.  Read story

Cirque du Soleil and MGM Mirage: A Lesson in Strategic Partnership

Naturally, when you seek to grow, you plan new products or marketing campaigns. Why not consider other companies who could help?  Read story

Great Leadership Is All About One Thing (Hint: Not You)

You should strive to be your best, of course. There's just so much to learn from other people.  Read story

Yahoo Is Trying to Lure Back Former Employees: Should You?

Sometimes employees who leave or take a break return more qualified than before. In Yahoo's case, it smacks of desperation.  Read story

What Dell's Attempt to Go Private Says About the Public Markets

As Dell becomes only the most recent company trying to flee the public markets, you have to wonder why.  Read story

100 Companies Growing Super Fast

Never mind the economic downturn. There are companies finding double and triple-digit growth. What can you learn from them?  Read story

Great Leaders Aren't Just Role Models

Managers, employees, customers, and other entrepreneurs need a lot more than inspiration.  Read story

Hire Autistic People; Here's Why

People with autism are detail-oriented, fastidious, and reliable--and the largest generation is about to graduate high school.  Read story

Forget Resolutions: Review Your Biggest Mistakes Instead

Every year I make mistakes. But since mistakes are learning, it's worth reviewing them to find out what you learned this year.  Read story

5 Good Holiday Gifts for Your Employees

Your business is nothing without your people. How will you sufficiently thank them this year?  Read story

What Happens in Italy Doesn't Stay in Italy

If you spend the time, trouble, and expense of traveling for work, use the opportunity to learn. Your business will be better for it.  Read story

The Ultimate Management Test: Are Your Leaders Creating Leaders?

The conventional view of leadership is of something done by heroic soloists. Nothing could be further from the truth.  Read story

A Conflict-Free Organization Isn't Great. It's Near Death

Great organizations aren't devoid of conflict; they embrace it.  Read story

Stand Out: Master This Powerful, Oft-Neglected Leadership Skill

You can easily get coached in talking, presenting, and speech-making. What about listening?  Read story

Leadership Lessons: Petraeus & the Value of Failure

If you never fail, you come to believe you are invincible. And that, of course, is the problem.  Read story

Division of Labor: What to Do When Owners & Employees Disagree

If employees and managers have different perspectives, who's right, and how do you know?  Read story

Face It: Your Employees Cheat (or Used to)

Here's how you can encourage your staffers to be ethical at work (even if they haven't always been).  Read story

How to Manage People Older Than You

More and more people are working past age 65. Here's five ways to get the best out of workers--even those who have more experience than you do.  Read story

As You Grow, Maintain A Small-Company Culture

A new survey finds the happiest employees work at companies with fewer than 100 employees. What can you learn from that?  Read story

3 Characteristics of Amazing Presentations

First, make sure you have something to say. Then, follow these basic rules.  Read story

You Really Need Outside Directors. Here's Why

Trying to save time and money by cutting your advisory board? You could find yourself short on both.  Read story

Do Your Employees Skip Vacation? Don't Let Them

Most employees don't take the vacation time they're given. That's bad for them--and bad for your business.  Read story

A Leader's Job? Keep Your Employees Young & Dreaming

You have more to do than chart a strategic path. Keep your team adventurous and youthful.  Read story

Your Customers' Top Priority? Time

If you want to garner consumer loyalty and confidence, this is all you need to know. Here's why.  Read story

What's Your Powerful Brand Message? Think Local

The world is not flat. If you want to become a global business, the most important place to begin is at home.  Read story

To-Do Today: Eat Lunch With a Colleague

Ban mid-day meetings. Encourage employees to use lunch time to build relationships, and let their minds wander instead.  Read story

Why You Should Wait, Think--and, Only Then, Execute Furiously

In his wonderful book Wait , Frank Portnoy argues why speed isn't what makes all the difference, but how you use your time.  Read story

9 Secrets of Highly Successful Hiring

I've hired hundreds of people, and fired a few too. Here are the best recruiting insights I've gleaned the hard way.  Read story

Do You Always Tell Employees the Truth? You Should.

Even if you face something as difficult and stressful as having to close a business, you have only one choice: Do it badly, or do it right.  Read story