by Martin Willoughby Published: May 27,2012
We live in an age of the “free agent” workforce. This can present a real challenge in keeping great employees. For leaders, an often overlooked issue is building loyalty within the organization. I recently interviewed Paxton Farese, the founder of The Farese Group, which provides retirement and income distribution planning. The firm has built a [...] [...]
by Martin Willoughby Published: May 20,2012
Tags: agriculture, Cindy Hyde-Smith, Lester Spell, Martin Willoughby
Cindy Hyde-Smith made history as the first woman in the United States to be elected as Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce. She succeeded longtime Commissioner, Dr. Lester Spell, Jr., who did not seek re-election for a fifth term in office. Her election followed a 12-year career as a Mississippi State Senator for District 39 where [...] [...]
by Martin Willoughby Published: April 15,2012
Tags: banking, Commercial Real Estate, Jan Graham, Martin Willoughby, Regions Financial Corporation
Juggling motherhood and a successful career is no easy task. I only have the smallest glimpse into what it really involves when my wife is out of town, and I try to manage my work schedule and my children’s active schedules. I watched my wife Nicki for years balance the tensions of home and work [...] [...]
by Martin Willoughby Published: April 1,2012
Tags: Blue Ribbon School, Hank Bounds, Martin Willoughby, Pascagoula School District, U.S. Department of Education, University of Southern Mississippi
Dr. Hank Bounds has been a key figure in education and moving Mississippi forward for the last two decades. Only 44 years old, he is currently serving as commissioner of higher education and is one of the youngest people to hold such a position in the country. He was appointed in 2009 after serving four [...] [...]
by Martin Willoughby Published: March 12,2012
Tags: Atlantix Global Systems, Better Business Bureau, Boundaries, Butler Snow, Dr. Henry Cloud, Eric Prockow, John O’Hara, Keltman Pharmaceuticals Inc, Martin Willoughby, Mississippi, Mississippi Business Journal, Peter Drucker, University of Georgia
Integrity matters. A leader’s ability to lead is built upon a trust relationship. When there is a failure of integrity then the trust can be irrevocably broken. Integrity goes beyond simply being honest. Its definition means, “to be whole, integrated, and complete.” Dr. Henry Cloud, co-author of the bestseller Boundaries noted, “our character, the ability [...] [...]
by Martin Willoughby Published: March 5,2012
Tags: Argentina, Atlanta, Buenos Aires, C Spire, Codetel, CTI, Dominican Republic, Dr. Paul Hersey, Ericsson, Hamilton College, Iowa, Ken Blanchard, London, Management of Organizational Behavior, Martin Willoughby, Mississippi, Mississippi Business Journal, Oglethorpe University, Seattle, Sterling Illinois, The One Minute Manager, The Situational Leadership Theory, Verizon Wireless
Leadership theories tend to come and go like fads. However, one of the most enduring leadership concepts has been situational leadership. The Situational Leadership Theory was created in 1969 by Dr. Paul Hersey, the author of “The Situational Leader” and Ken Blanchard, the author of the international best seller “The One Minute Manager.” The theory [...] [...]
by Martin Willoughby Published: February 26,2012
Tags: Charles Barkley, Entergy Mississippi, Haley Fisackerly, Kevin Eikenberry, Martin Willoughby, Mississippi, Mississippi Business Journal, Mississippi Development Authority, Mississippi Economic Development Council
Organizations face challenges daily. The key is how they respond. The leader’s role is crucial in setting the tone for the organization. Leadership guru Kevin Eikenberry noted, “Remember that whatever energy you bring to your work will be noticed and amplified. Your personal attitude is a huge part of the energy you inject into your [...] [...]
by Martin Willoughby Published: February 19,2012
Tags: Abraham Lincoln, Bruno Mars, Eric Clark, George Washington, Golden Rule, Gulf Coast, Martin Willoughby, Missisippi Business Journal, Mississippi, Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson
Mississippi’s community colleges play an invaluable role in the economic development of our state. Each year our 15 community and junior colleges teach and train about 250,000 students. In addition to regular academic classes, our community colleges offer GED preparation, Adult education, workforce training, and technical educational. This past school year, the community colleges awarded [...] [...]
by Martin Willoughby Published: February 3,2012
Tags: Albert Schweitzer, Beverly Johnston, Brookhaven, Commitment to Learning, Delta State University, DeSoto County Schools, Excellence, faith, FOCUS, Hernando Elementary, Madison County District, Madison Station Elementary School, Martin Willoughby, Mississippi, Mississippi Business Journal, National Blue Ribbon Schools, National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, Proverbs, Servanthood, U. S. Department of Educatio
My quest is to find leaders who have been effective in leading their organizations and learn from their success. I have found these leaders in businesses big and small, non-profit organizations, and governmental entities. They all share some similar traits, yet I always learn new and interesting ideas and best practices. I recently came across [...] [...]
by Martin Willoughby Published: January 31,2012
Tags: Huffman & Company CPA, Martin Willoughby, Mississippi, Mississippi Business Journal, Tony Huffman
Clients today have many choices. There are many qualified service providers and numerous services have become commoditized. Companies that succeed in this environment know and understand the value of partnering with their clients for success. Forming client partnerships is more than just providing quality service, it requires a commitment to a long-term relationship and truly [...] [...]
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