Mike Figliuolo

Founder and managing director

Mike Figliuolo is the author of The Elegant Pitch (Weiser, 2016) and One Piece of Paper (Jossey-Bass, 2011), and co-author of Lead Inside the Box (Weiser, 2015). He’s also the managing director of thoughtLEADERS LLC, a leadership development training firm. He regularly writes about leadership in the thoughtLEADERS Brief on LinkedIn.

Tue, 11/26/2024 - 12:03
New Business Idea? What’s Your Problem?Focus on solving defined problems and increase your chances of market adoption
Tue, 01/30/2024 - 12:03
If you have a new business idea, I’m excited for you. If you ever want to get it off the ground, however, be sure you have a problem. A real problem. I know that sounds cryptic. Allow me to explain. When I hear a new pitch, the first question I ask…
A New Year’s Resolution to Improve Your BusinessOf bread, lawn mowers, and cheap customers
Tue, 01/23/2024 - 12:03
By eliminating low-value work from your life, you can focus on more important things. Get rid of difficult customers and focus on driving your business instead. To get your new year started right, I’d like to share with you what I’ve been taught by…
You Call Them Business Partners, But Your Contract Says OtherwiseEnsure your contract is fair in both directions
Wed, 01/10/2024 - 12:03
Your legal department is screwing up. Royally. You work hard to build relationships with other businesses. How many hours do you invest getting closer to partners, customers, and suppliers? And then that wonderful handshake happens, and it’s time…
Want a Great Year-End Review? Write It Yourself.Help shape the conversation with your boss and ensure your good work gets noticed
Tue, 01/02/2024 - 12:03
My favorite time of year is rolling around (and no, it’s not the holidays with their nauseatingly excessive tinsel-before-turkey consumerism). I’m talking about the time for end-of-year progress reviews. They’re those agonizing, mandatory, and often…
Grow Your Business and Career by Asking for HelpYou’ll perform better and achieve more if you do
Mon, 12/18/2023 - 12:03
It’s hard asking for help. Getting rejected stings. But by not asking, you’re probably missing out on some great opportunities. I don’t know about you, but when I was growing up I was a little bit of a dork. OK, OK... a huge dork. I sold comic…
How to Lead Like a CoxswainThings like knowing your team’s mood are critical
Mon, 12/11/2023 - 12:03
Anyone who has ever seen a crew team rowing down the river has likely wondered why one person is a passenger and everyone else in the boat is rowing like mad. It would seem the coxswain has the easiest job in the boat. It’s actually incredibly…
It’s OK to Be a Social Networking ClownSure, you have to be professional, but have a good time anyway
Tue, 12/05/2023 - 12:03
Nothing annoys me more than being told how to do something. It’s OK to have an opinion, but to position oneself as having the authority of an expert and tell others the right and wrong way to do something is a slippery slope. Unless you’re…
Hotheads and KarmaStay cool. It all works out.
Mon, 11/27/2023 - 12:03
It’s not worth getting upset over little things (or even big things) at work. Being hotheaded gets you nowhere. Just know that karma eventually works everything out. Perspective and patience: It’s a challenge, especially in a lightning-fast…
If You Don’t Read This, You’re Going to DieNo one knows everything. Not even you.

Wed, 11/15/2023 - 12:03
Most companies fail due to dumb mistakes made by senior managers. The biggest mistake of all: a hubristic unwillingness to accept that there’s plenty you don’t already know. As we get more senior in our organizations, we get a lot smarter. Our…
Surprise! You’re Fired!You might be at risk and not even know it. How engaged are you?
Wed, 11/01/2023 - 12:03
Have you ever met someone who was fired from their job? I’ll bet you $50 they said, “Yeah, I never saw it coming.” For some reason, getting canned always comes as a shock to people. They’re clueless as to how bad they’re doing and how close to the…