Bob Kreek has blogged about leadership and business on Leadership Pundit. Kreek was the founding President and CEO of Comedy Central – where he quickly transformed two disparate organizations and cultures into an extraordinary media success. He is a wiz at inspiring change and driving it to build powerful brands, market share, and growth.

Last Tuesday evening, Bob engaged the MBA students at Long Island University in a discussion about Comedy Central: The Management of Chaos.  Bob shared the outline of his remarks with me, which I’ve posted below. While we don’t have the examples he used, this short version gets to the heart of the subject.

Some of Bob’s key insights are:  1. ”My version [of chaos] exists when the world changes faster than people change. It brings uneasiness, but it also allows the opportunity for creativity and growth.”  2. You need to recognize chaos – here’s what to look for. 3. Whether chaos is good or bad depends on your ability to deal with it. But if it’s driven by some outside force, you need to manage it to your benefit. Here’s how. Continue reading…

Credibility is at an all time low – I can’t prove it, I just feel it. Overpromising has become a way of speaking. It has swept the pendulum way past credibility. Overpromising by definition results in underdelivery at best, and maybe even brand implosion.

We have all seen this hype, particularly from individuals and companies spewing superlatives about themselves to create their “brand” as the best, the biggest, the most this and that. They are meticulously manicured presenting a flawless image. But, one inevitable misstep and your credibility is potentially shattered. Being the best is a goal, not a promise.

So, how do you tout your virtues without overpromising? Continue reading…

“The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word ‘crisis.’ One brush stroke stands for danger; the other for opportunity. In a crisis, be aware of the danger – but recognize the opportunity.” Richard M. Nixon

Your competitors are weary. It’s been a tough year – with only conflicting predictions about the future. Customers are leaving. Those that stay have reduced their commitment.

Not since the late 1980’s have executives been presented with a marketplace so filled with opportunity, so ripe for growth. But few are looking at the opportunity. This is the time for business leaders to plant the seeds for a vibrant future of greater market share and greater earnings. Continue reading…