Since its founding in 1994, Choice One Engineering has been different from other places to work. Early on, Tony Schroeder and his four co-founders prioritized creating a personable, responsive, and fun environment where people were serious about results but not taking themselves too seriously. Like many entrepreneurs, they set out to build the company they wanted to work for [ Read More ]
There are many advisors and coaches who can help improve your leadership skills and grow your business, and when we’re asked to give a recommendation on what tools or courses will help someone grow, our simple answer is: it depends. Our more thorough answer starts with the end in mind. What are your desired outcomes? Does your current [ Read More ]
Eric Wiechart, President Chairman of the family-owned All Service Glass company in Lima, Ohio, became part of the Aileron community almost 10 years ago when he attended Course for Presidents. At the end of the session, he took the opportunity to ask Aileron Founder Clay Mathile a question — and Clay’s response, he said, shook him to the core. [ Read More ]
We believe we are all leaders. It’s not a question of whether you lead, but rather how you lead and what impact your leadership has on your team, your business, your personal life, and yourself. And while we are all leaders, we all may not have robust training in how to lead. It’s hard to clear the path [ Read More ]
Everything in a business – the people you hire, the vision you construct, the customers you serve, and more – is connected. Building a better understanding of the interrelated methods and processes at work is key to your ability to improve your business results. We call this approach “systems thinking.”The Aileron definition of systems thinking is: the belief that [ Read More ]
If you’ve spent more than a few minutes with an Aileron coach or community member, you’ve likely heard about professional management and how it can help you lead with confidence to build a sustainable, thriving organization. We define professional management as a systematic way to run a business. Specifically, we use the Aileron DOC System of Professional Management [ Read More ]
Running an online search for “strategic planning resources” will yield countless ideas for your business. But how do you know which of those results will deliver for you? What strategic planning tools best serve your needs? The answers to those questions depend on your specific situation. The “best” solution is the one that helps you create intentional, strategic [ Read More ]
After years of working in the family business, Jim Smith suddenly became CEO of Keith Smith Company, America’s largest independent producer and provider of broiler hatching eggs, in the early 1990s. Looking for support and guidance in his new leadership role, Jim eagerly connected with Aileron’s founder Clay Mathile through a mutual acquaintance and began his professional management [ Read More ]
Growing revenue and growing the life you’ve dreamed of are common goals we hear from new founders and seasoned entrepreneurs alike. For Matt Carlton, CEO of Carlton Construction, growth was great – until it was outpacing what he could handle. In 2018, the company experienced the best revenue year in its history, having doubled revenue for two consecutive years. [ Read More ]
Management consultant and author Peter Drucker is known for saying culture eats strategy for breakfast. Anyone who’s run a business can attest to the power culture has over all areas of the business. Underlying cultural struggles can make collaboration, recruitment and retention, and growth difficult or even impossible. Said differently, unless your culture is in working order, no strategy [ Read More ]
Regardless of our title, status, age, or experience level, we’re all leaders. The question is not whether you lead, but how you lead. At Aileron, we believe the best way to lead is consciously. Conscious leadership is an approach to leading the self and others that emphasizes radical self-awareness, energetic responsibility, and a we > me mindset. Traditional vs. [ Read More ]
The start of a new year often brings renewed energy and commitment to your business and its goals. As you look to the year ahead, consider scheduling time now for these best practices for professionally managed organizations so they don’t get lost in the shuffle. 1. Time to work on your business, not in it If you’re like most [ Read More ]
