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.

Fri, 12/06/2024 - 11:07
How Leaders Turn Screwups Into Learning Opportunities It could mean a lot to your people
Wed, 09/18/2024 - 12:03
For many of us, screwing up is in our DNA. It happens. Blame Murphy if you like, but it happens. However, when this happens to someone on your team and you’re in a leadership role, the implications of a mistake can be far-reaching. The most…
Laying Siege to a New Job Using Bridges and Catapults How to breach walls to join the workforce
Tue, 09/10/2024 - 12:02
Moving to a new job can be scary and intimidating, with many risks inherent in making that transition. But if you think of the transition like laying siege to a fortress, you will be just fine. There are a few major risks you must account for as…
Defining Your Career Experience Headhunters, fingerprints, and social media
Wed, 08/28/2024 - 12:02
Susan Strayer, a friend of mine, posed a question on social media the other day: “Can you sum up your expertise in 140 characters or less?” Great question. A few people took her up on the challenge. Being an overachiever, I did it in three words.…
Are You Ready for the Next Apocalypse? Define goals, track them, and take action to make them real
Mon, 08/19/2024 - 12:03
In case you missed it, the apocalypse happened a few weeks ago. The end of days. The reckoning. It was a time to take a step back and reflect on all you’ve accomplished or failed to accomplish in your life. Even though the world was not torn asunder…
Authentic Leadership: His Name Is Angel The injustice of the word <em>just</em>
Mon, 08/12/2024 - 12:03
I hate the use of the word just in front of anyone’s title, as in, “He’s just an analyst,” or, “She’s just a cafeteria worker,” or, “I’m just an administrative assistant.” No one is just anything. The word is demeaning and pejorative. We’re all…
I Never Want to Be [Sic]k Take the time to proofread your writing, or pay the price
Wed, 08/07/2024 - 12:02
Reading the news (or even your email) can be distressing to the point of despondency. It can also be fun. It’s especially fun when people say or write silly stuff, and the reporter or editor has to write [sic] after a misspelling or a stupid comment…
You’ve Been Pwned! I go to work so I have the resources to go play
Tue, 07/30/2024 - 12:02
We take ourselves too seriously, and in doing so we become boring and no fun. Sometimes it’s OK to let loose, act silly, and have a good time. It’s energizing. So often we while away the days being the consummate professional. We read professional…
Hands-On Customer Service Training Let your team experience expectations firsthand
Mon, 07/15/2024 - 12:03
It’s all well and good to pontificate about “the customer comes first” or “deliver outstanding service,” but often it’s hard for your team members to wrap their heads around what that really means. You can say these things until your jaw muscles are…
Great Leaders Should Move to a Cubicle Show you’re an equal and learn a lot
Tue, 07/09/2024 - 12:03
Congratulations! You’ve arrived. You’ve earned that nice cushy office where you can shut the door and no one can hear you listening to the greatest American Idol video ever on YouTube (or looking for a video card to send to your mom on Mother’s Day…
Leaders Who Empower: Why Kenny Wins Every Time Do you allow low-rank employees to make decisions?
Tue, 07/02/2024 - 12:02
Are you giving your lowest-level employees the power to make crucial customer-relations decisions without supervision? If not, you’re making a huge mistake. Within a four-hour period on Friday I witnessed both excellent leadership and an abject…