Cheryl A. Bachelder's Blog

There have been a lot of challenging circumstances lately. World pandemic. Economic crisis. Culture crisis of racial injustice. People are struggling. Overwhelmed by the layers of anxiety. My mother could get COVID-19. My husband lost his job. My neighborhood is protesting. My friend is hurting. My country is divided.

And then there is social media screaming – “Do you care?” The pressure is immense.

So what do we say when asked the question, do you care?

The standard response: “Of course, I ca...

In the early days of the COVID-19 crisis, leaders had a full plate just dealing with the immediate implications of closed operations, employee safety, rapid cash flow decline, and more. By now, most have created a new plan for 2020 that reflects this unprecedented challenge.

In light of this progress, I want to ask you to step back for just a moment and ask yourselves this question does our new 2020 plan reflect the purpose, the mission, and the WHY of our organization?  Would our team...

What have you learned in the last 30 days?  Will you remember it 30 days from now?

Just a few weeks ago our worlds turned upside down and many of us found ourselves unable to do the things we normally do.  Go to our job site.  Go to the gym.  Go to church.  Go to a restaurant. Go on a trip.

New worries arrived with the pandemic concerns about our parents, our immune-compromised friends, our bank accounts, our retirement, our job stability.

And if youre reflecting on this rapid change, you...

Courage is rightly esteemed the first of human qualities, because, as has been said, it is the quality which guarantees all others. Winston Churchill

Nothing like a global pandemic to reveal the courage and character of our leaders.

If you aspire to be the top leader of a business or any institution in the world, get out your journal right now and start taking some notes during the COVID-19 crisis. We are witnessing remarkably courageous leadership in an unprecedented crisis.

When I was...

In the last week, most of us have experienced a dramatic change in our schedules and environments. Many are now working from their homes or not without a job. It all happened so suddenly, leaving us reeling from the degree of change in our lives.

So, since the changes in your lifewhat have you noticed that you probably havent noticed for a while?

My girlfriend was taking a walk outdoors yesterday while we talked on the phone and she said, Can you hear how loud the birds are singing? Do you...

I heard this story some years ago that has stuck in my mind. It was about a village that depended on a mountain stream for their water. For years, at the top of that stream, there was an old man who made it his work to keep the stream clear of debris, twigs and logs that could cause it to become polluted or stagnant. No one really paid any attention to this man, until one day he stopped doing this job. In short order, that pristine spring fed stream became muddy and gross. No one had valued...

Throughout my career, I’ve been involved in lots of discussions about compensation for business leaders. Perhaps the most common thesis for motivating executives is “make them feel like owners.” That typically leads to a discussion of bonuses and stock awards — that are paid when goals are met.

No doubt, owning shares in the company where you work can be motivating. It focuses you on the shareholder — who has provided the capital for your business. When their shares increase in value, you...

At a business lunch last week, my colleague said, “You can’t ask someone if they have integrity.”

Isn’t that the truth?

You cannot evaluate a person’s integrity by asking them about it. In fact, in my experience, asking them almost guarantees an inaccurate answer.

The word integrity means “a firm adherence to a moral code or values.” “Incapable of corruption.”

In my estimation, there are no human beings that are incapable of corruption. Perhaps firm adherence to a moral code is how we avoid...

If you know me well, you know how much I love big ideas – those inspired daring destinations. I love innovation in every aspect of the business – new products, new advertising, new technology, new designs, new distribution systems. The bolder, the more innovative, the better.

You also know my convictions about serving people and the enterprise well. I believe we can create workplaces where people can thrive, contribute and grow as people. By placing the right people in the right positions,...

Whew. The election is over. The campaign advertising has stopped. Back to work we go…

Don’t get me wrong. I am very grateful to live in the United States – a republic where the people elect their leaders. I have never seen a better system of government in my travels around the world. I believe our Constitution set up an amazing process for our citizens to govern themselves. And I’m delighted that every adult in America had the opportunity to vote their views last week. That is GREAT!

But I...