Blog
Insights, tools, and training straight from the team at Compass Point
BLOG | NEXT CHAPTER
From Hero to Mentor: The Mid-Career Shift That Changes Everything
Transitioning from front-line leader to mentor doesn’t mean fading into the background. It means stepping into a new, equally powerful role—one that focuses on legacy, long-term impact, and equipping the next generation to lead effectively. But let’s be honest: this shift isn’t easy.
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BLOG | EXECUTION
Hitting a Wall in Business: Which Blocks are in Your Wall?
A management team had hit “that wall”. Sales were stagnant and communication was at an all-time low. The team dreaded meetings and they weren’t sure how to move forward. Learn how the owner transformed his stagnant company with the help of a new CFO and consulting support, resulting in a significant profit increase and revitalized team dynamics.
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BLOG | CUSTOMER
How Family Businesses Can Navigate Post-COVID Challenges
“In quiet and untroubled times, it seems to every administrator that it is only by his efforts that the whole population under his rule is kept going..."
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BLOG | FAMILY DYNAMICS / GOVERNANCE
Becoming a Family Business: This Firm Lives What They Teach
You may know the man in the photo as Tom Garrity, Founder of Compass Point, a family business consulting firm in Southeastern PA, headquartered in the Lehigh Valley; I know him as my inspiration, mentor, confidante, tennis partner, and best of all – my dad. This blog marks...
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BLOG | LEADERSHIP
Cracking The Culture Code for Business and Leadership Strategy
Discover how business and leadership intersect in Daniel Coyle's "The Culture Code," offering insights into building successful organizations. I recently asked the LinkedIn community what book most closely aligns with your leadership identity...
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BLOG | FAMILY DYNAMICS / GOVERNANCE
The 4-Letter Word Owners Can’t Afford NOT to Talk About: EXIT
I’ve had my share of family business owners who avoid discussing this four-letter word to the point of pure denial, quickly ending the conversation when this word bubbles up. The word? E-X-I-T. It sounds so final. The brutal truth is that 100% of owners exit the business, yet only 50% – just 1 out of 2 owners – will do it on their terms...
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BLOG | LEADERSHIP
Family Business Peer Groups are Gamechangers for the Next Gen
Many family-led companies hire business consultants to grow the business. Some even send their emerging leaders to personal development programs. But there is a gap – and it’s a BIG one.
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BLOG | PEOPLE / TALENT
Unlocking the Golden 5% in Your Employees
The Golden 5% is the full expression of our ability, multiplied by our maximum possible effort, multiplied by our full contribution of heart. It is the performance equivalent of what we offer in a deeply loving relationship – the absolute best of ourselves. And yet, we rarely give it or reliably inspire the giving of it by others in organizations. Why?
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BLOG | FAMILY DYNAMICS / GOVERNANCE
Business Issues: Identify and solve, or they could cost you.
Part of the challenge in a family business, or any business for that matter, is that the world does not stop and allow you to pursue your strategy in a nice, orderly fashion. Whether it is internal or external, business issues pop up throughout the day. So how do you prevent issues from derailing the company’s progress? Here are a few ideas for minimizing their occurrence and how to deal with them effectively when they do happen.
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BLOG | PEOPLE / TALENT
How to Coach (or deal with) a Negative Employee
As a leader, it is more likely that you’ll manage a negative employee or situation than not. Whether it is a short-lived instance or a long term issue, it can be manageable with candid conversations. Here are a few steps that work well to address and remedy the situation: Unearth the problem...
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BLOG | FAMILY DYNAMICS / GOVERNANCE
The Many Facets of Ownership
In 1978 the 2-circle illustration of family business evolved when Harvard business professor Renato Tagiuri and then-graduate student John Davis added a third circle – Ownership – to better account for the distinct groups that existed in a family business. With the addition of Ownership, the 3-circle model more accurately captured the seven facets of ownership.
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BLOG | LEADERSHIP
Leadership Is Not What You Think
When I first started Compass Point 20 years ago, leadership was an ancillary topic. My work focused on the systems, financials, hiring the right people, and being a confidant to the owner. At the time I didn’t see it as leadership coaching, but rather as building a relationship with a client who trusted me enough to let me see the inner workings of their mind and business. I helped the person as I helped the business. Times – and leadership – have changed.
Read PostWhere Family Businesses Come to Grow & Learn
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