A Re-Branded Blog
This blog now has a new name.
SMART Leadership is now
Leadership Breakthroughs.
The History
I’ve referenced the SMART acronym (
a goal setting criteria) on blogs since 2003. Beginning with
Working SMART and later on this site, p.k.a.
SMART Leadership. The title framed content that supported our business of leadership development through executive coaching. Goal achievement skills
have been and remain an important part of leadership coaching. But there’s so much more.
Not So Smart
Plus, there are a lot of
so-called leaders who have frustrated followers by misusing the SMART concept by arbitrarily
handing down unattainable goals and demanding compliance. Their force-fed, frustrated followers want to run away and hide with the mere mention of the acronym. Shameful misuse of authority.
Communicating An Outcome vs. Activity
As Chicago Executive Coaching evolved, I discovered a
common thread connecting the most successful engagements: Clients’ results come from
breakthroughs. Their ah-ha moments lead to positive change in
attitudes,
behaviors,
skills and
focus. By listening to
readers’ feedback, I learned that posts on this site have also led to
breakthroughs.
Why Change?
SMART Leadership was a nice enough name. But there’s an important marketing principle that service providers too often forget:
People aren’t buying your service.
They’re really buying what the service will do for them.
Why not communicate an outcome? The title
Leadership Breakthroughs strives to do just that. Creating
breakthroughs through both
thought leadership and
effective coaching is a really important
deliverable.
Raising The Bar
The goal for creating and sharing content is more about creating moments of
discovery that in-turn stimulate
positive change. It’s less about goal setting tools for leaders. Here is what you can continue expect from
Leadership Breakthroughs:- Challenges to your thinking and traditional actions and approaches
- Entertainment for the purpose of enlightenment: It’s healthy to laugh at ourselves.
The simple change: the content is framed with a more appropriate title. One that reflects our purpose:
Facilitating Breakthroughs for Leaders
This re-branding resulted from improving
clarity of purpose. How’s yours?
Related Posts
Clarity of Purpose Resources
Kevin W

. McCarthy’s book,
The On-Purpose Business Person: Doing More Of What You Do Best More Profitably, is a short, easy reading parable that outlines a simple framework for
holistic strategic thinking and planning. It’s helped me to help others to crystallize and articulate the essence of their service model by understanding what happens for customers when you serve at higher levels.For those who are not leading an organization’s strategic direction, he wrote:
The On-Purpose Person: Making Your Life Make Sense. Since self leadership precedes formal leadership, perhaps the personal one is the prerequisite.

One Response
Tom,
This is interesting. Many years ago I noticed success on the projects I was engaged were precipitated by a breakthrough of some kind. I developed a file of “Breakthrough Events” that I caused or participated in coupled with the successful result. I use this as talking points in presenting myself for new engagements.
20 years ago my Breakthrough Event” was discovering that discussing Breakthrough Events is key to my marketing and sales.
Happy Easter!
Best…Scott (Scooter)