Mike Figliuolo

Founder and managing director

thoughtLEADERS

Mike Figliuolo is the author of The Elegant Pitch (Weiser, 2016) and One Piece of Paper (Jossey-Bass, 2011), and co-author of Lead Inside the Box (Weiser, 2015). He’s also the managing director of thoughtLEADERS LLC, a leadership development training firm. He regularly writes about leadership in the thoughtLEADERS Brief on LinkedIn.

Mon, 12/08/2025 - 12:02
Achieving a Work/Work Balance Don’t let work you dislike encroach on work you love
Wed, 01/21/2015 - 10:52
Leading a balanced life is a critical aspect of performing well as a leader. There are two types of balance. We always think about work/life balance in terms of “how much time do I spend away from the office?” You probably spend more hours at the…
How ‘Why?’ and ‘So What?’ Can Fuel Innovation It’s much better to lead the change than to be led by it
Wed, 11/05/2014 - 12:27
One of the biggest barriers to creating new ideas is the raw inertia of organizations. Personally, I’m not satisfied with the “way we’ve always done it.” Whenever I’m given an explanation of how the organization does something, I ask, “Why?” five…
Asking Questions Is Important Move out of the ‘answer guy’ realm
Tue, 09/23/2014 - 10:28
Along with an opposable thumb, we share one other trait with our hairy primate cousins: curiosity. We have an innate desire to understand “what happens if…” that begins in childhood. As we grow into adults, that natural curiosity dissipates, and we…
The Strategic Value of Saying No Say ‘yes’ to the initiatives you’ve already chosen
Wed, 08/20/2014 - 07:50
Repeat after me: “No.” Try it again. This time with conviction: “NO.” Strategy is inherently about saying no. It’s about the choices we make, and the ones we don’t make. I’ve seen plenty of strategies completely derailed due to an inability to say…
Taking a Ride on the Leadership Highway Do you lead like you drive?
Thu, 07/10/2014 - 13:16
As I was driving to the airport the other morning, I couldn’t help but notice that highway driving has a lot in common with leadership. I’d like to explore some leadership questions that come up when we think about driving on the highway and…
Overcoming Your Decision-Making Fears Don’t let fear delay your decision making, but be smart about it
Wed, 04/30/2014 - 09:38
A leader’s daily decision checklist is daunting: From hiring or firing to major business changes, every judgment call carries with it some level of risk. A bad choice could result in a toxic hire or a new product launch that crashes and burns.…
How to Drive Decisions Without Saying a Word People are more willing to support ideas when they have a chance to contribute to them
Mon, 03/31/2014 - 14:23
All too often, leaders seek to build support for an idea by talking—a lot. They go on and on about why the decision is a good one, detailing its benefits, the reasons others should support it, and the path forward. There’s passion and excitement…
How to Lead People Who Have Never Followed Transparency and keen discernment pave a clear path
Mon, 03/24/2014 - 15:32
What’s the biggest risk facing leaders of most entrepreneurial ventures? It’s not closing that first round of funding or landing a cornerstone customer. As with most things, it all comes back to people—and your ability to lead those who don’t have…
Three Things You Should Never Say When Presenting How to get the decision or outcome you want
Thu, 02/13/2014 - 11:29
PowerPoint is the devil’s instrument, and when you use it, you risk becoming a musician in his demonic orchestra. All of us are required to give presentations in some form or fashion at various points in our careers. If you’d like to succeed in…
Three Secret Phrases All Leaders Must Know Simple keys to enhance clarity and understanding
Mon, 01/20/2014 - 17:53
Leadership is inherently about communication. Your ability to communicate well with your team, your boss, your co-workers, and anyone else around you can make or break your career as a leader. Given the importance we place on communications, it…