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
Define the Question Before You Solve the Problem Ramifications of miscommunication
Mon, 03/05/2018 - 12:02
To effectively solve problems, you must first understand the question being asked and why it’s important to your stakeholder. Without clarity on why your stakeholder cares, the recommendation you generate might be useless. The first step for…
The Importance of Setting Quantitative and Qualitative Goals Integration can provide a more complete picture of overall performance
Tue, 01/30/2018 - 12:03
When you set goals, there’s commonly two types: quantitative and qualitative. By setting both types of goals for your organization, you can achieve a balance of results driven by people focusing on the behaviors that matter. Quantitative goals and…
Five Questions You Must Answer to Measure Your Business Well Arbitrary data need not apply
Tue, 01/02/2018 - 12:03
Focusing on metrics is key to achieving your desired business results—but it can be difficult to determine which metrics actually matter. There are five major questions you need to answer to ensure the metrics you’re measuring matter and you can…
Treat Your People Like Individuals to Get Better Engagement Leadership without personal understanding is superficial, impersonal, and ineffective
Tue, 10/31/2017 - 12:02
The better you understand your people, the better you will relate to them. First, you must treat them like individuals. No one wants to be a nameless cog in a big machine. All too often we inadvertently make people feel that way. You disagree, you…
Brutal Prioritization Make sure the ‘must’ work gets done at the highest level of quality
Mon, 05/22/2017 - 12:03
During times of excessive work and crisis, something has to give. Sometimes brutal prioritization is the only way to make it through challenging times with your sanity intact. It happens to all of us. The universe, in its infinite wisdom,…
What Leaders Can Learn From the Movie Logan The newest Wolverine sequel through the eyes of a thought leader
Mon, 04/03/2017 - 12:02
Logan (a/k/a the Wolverine for the uninitiated) isn’t just a badass comic book character. He’s a leader who can teach us all about sacrifice, perseverance, and how to productively channel anger. Have you seen Logan yet? If not, go. Now. I’ll wait…
Six Leadership Resolutions for a New Year Assess now—be overwhelmed later
Mon, 01/23/2017 - 12:02
I enjoy the holidays because they offer time to reflect. The work world slows down for a few weeks, and you can think about what went well during the past year, what didn’t go well, how you want to grow, and what you can do to improve yourself for…
How to Persevere When Facing a Work Grind Six tips for getting out of the rut
Wed, 11/23/2016 - 11:04
It’s called “work” for a reason. Most days we’re able to “work” through it and find enjoyment in what we do, but occasionally we’re faced with a grind that saps our strength and threatens to derail us. Fortunately, there are simple techniques for…
Twelve Characteristics of Great Leaders What’s their secret? There isn’t one.
Tue, 08/09/2016 - 10:27
Sponsored Content M ost of us are good leaders. Most of us aspire to be great leaders. Few are. What does it take to transcend “good” and become “great?” What’s the secret? There isn’t one. The differences between a good leader and a great one…
Work Isn’t Worth a Heart Attack So don’t use it as an excuse to neglect your health
Wed, 06/08/2016 - 15:53
Work is a convenient excuse for not taking care of yourself. Not exercising, poor diet, and stress are a bad combination. You’ve got to make time for you. Work will always be there when you get back. Just over a year ago, I had a heart attack. My…