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, 10/15/2025 - 12:01
Experts and Fraudsters And 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 Networking It’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 Sale Putting 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 Mistakes But 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 Development Go 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 Leadership Avoid 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 Strategy Good 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…
How to Prepare for Your Next Career Change Things have changed, including how to advance
Wed, 10/16/2024 - 12:01
This ain’t your daddy’s or mommy’s business world anymore. I’m sure you’ve figured that out already. First of all, people use cell phones. I keep reminding my father. “Dad, turn on your cell phone when you’re not home.” “Why? Then it will ring. I’m…
The Real Reasons You Didn’t Get the Job And sometimes the world just isn’t fair
Thu, 10/03/2024 - 12:03
Interviewing for a new job is an exercise in humiliation, fear, and confusion. Whether you’re interviewing for a job at a new company or just changing roles at your present employer, the process is nauseating. You do everything you can to put your…