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.

Wed, 06/18/2025 - 13:38
How to Set Better Boundaries at WorkYou need to define your own lines
Wed, 02/19/2025 - 12:01
You are the only one who can protect your time and your interests. You have to establish the “line” you’re not willing to cross or allow others to cross. Whether it’s the number of hours you work, the work you do (and the work others do), or the…
Staying True to Your Purpose in LifeIt’s important to define what’s important to you and align your choices with that
Tue, 01/28/2025 - 00:03
For me, the future is all about learning and teaching. Learning new ideas or disciplines fascinates me. Interconnecting those experiences and disciplines and creating new ideas to share with others through teaching is even more exciting. And the…
Experts and FraudstersAnd how to tell the difference
Mon, 01/13/2025 - 12:02
Every day there’s a new pile of “experts” cropping up on every subject imaginable. The key to differentiating genuine experts from frauds is to ask the right questions. Warning: This post is a bit of a rant (but it does have a story and some…
What Squirrels Can Teach You About NetworkingIt’s fair to ask, ‘What have you done for me lately?’
Wed, 01/08/2025 - 12:02
When it comes to networking, are you a squirrel or a grasshopper? From what I can tell, there are loads of grasshoppers out there but very few squirrels. You folks know that fable about the squirrel and the grasshopper, right? The squirrel works…
Solve Your Customer’s Problem If You Want the SalePutting your buyer’s interests first is the difference between having a customer or a client
Wed, 12/18/2024 - 12:01
Everyone has goals these days. The one that causes more disconnects than any other is a sales goal. It’s a number to hit (either units or dollars or both—the better ones are actually measured in profit dollars rather than revenue dollars). They’re…
Go Ahead, Make MistakesBut not really
Tue, 12/10/2024 - 12:02
As leaders, we say we want our people to be empowered to go out and make decisions. We say we’re OK with them making mistakes, and we’ll still support them making decisions on their own. But not really. I’m lucky to have a huge leadership lab in…
The False Economy of ‘I’ll Do It Myself’What can happen when you want to improve and save money at the same time
Tue, 11/26/2024 - 12:03
We’re constantly seeking ways to both improve our business but save money at the same time. That can lead to the dangerous dynamic of “I’ll do it myself.” Doing more with less can turn us into idiots. Our hubris and arrogance puts our idiocy into…
What Amusement Parks Can Teach You About Professional DevelopmentGo ahead, take that ride
Tue, 11/19/2024 - 12:03
I recently went to Kings Island amusement park with the kids. Beyond experiencing the thrill of $9 sodas and wicked awesome roller coasters, I learned a few things about professional development while I was there. Some of you love roller coasters,…
The Seven Deadly Sins of LeadershipAvoid these failures and temptations if you want to be a leader of character
Tue, 11/12/2024 - 12:03
Leadership is perilous territory. People’s lives are at stake (sometimes literally). Although avoiding the following seven deadly sins won’t guarantee you’ll be a great leader, succumbing to them will guarantee you’ll have a significant learning…
How Saying ‘No’ Strengthens Your StrategyGood strategic execution is about making smart choices and decisions
Wed, 10/30/2024 - 12:01
We’ve already talked about what a strategic plan is (and isn’t) in our discussion: “Strategic Planning Isn’t ‘Budget +10%.’” Hopefully, you’ve now got a direction mapped out and a list of initiatives to pursue, and you’re ready for a little tactical…