In my original article from before 2018, inspired by Michael Collins' Saving American Manufacturing, I argued that the U.S. manufacturing sector was eroding the economy's foundation through job losses, trade deficits, and outdated practices. I emphasized the need for transformation beyond lean processes—focusing on growth, profitable customer selection, market expansion, and a shift to market-driven innovation. Since then, the landscape has evolved dramatically.

In today's "new economy," what you don't know can indeed destroy your organization—heightened uncertainty, rapid global shifts, and unmonitored employee morale lurk as silent threats, overwhelming leaders who cling to outdated historical data. Yet, opportunities abound: imagine forging creative bonds with customers and teams through proactive insights. At Insight, we advocate targeted research—inside audits of culture and productivity, outside evaluations of customer priorities, and around analyses of industry trends—to uncover misalignments and fuel strategic decisions. Start by engaging leadership to distill your unique DNA (mission, vision, values), align talent with roadmaps, and set measurable outcomes. Mobilize this knowledge into action: collect forward-looking data, share results to build trust, and refine plans in real-time. Don't wait for annual reviews; address your unknowns today to transform vulnerabilities into resilient, purpose-driven growth that differentiates you in a faster, service-based world.

Before starting the recruiting and hiring processes, Insight works with the management team to assure that everyone is on the same page with the requirements and expectations of the job. Too many times, managers are on different pages about what are the most important skills and talents for a candidate.

In the quest for personal and professional growth, self-assessments are powerful tools—but only if they’re accurate. "Beware the Inaccuracies of Self-Perception in Self-Assessment," dives into the pitfalls of flawed self-perception and its impact on effective self-evaluation. This article explores how cognitive biases and blind spots can distort how we view our strengths and weaknesses, offering leaders and professionals practical strategies to enhance self-awareness, leverage external feedback, and align self-assessments with reality for meaningful development and better decision-making.

Long ago, experts in the field of psychology (Plato, Aristotle, etc.) determined that there are three parts of the mind that we each have. These three parts make up our whole person. These three parts represent how we feel, do, and think during our individual creative processes. Learn more to optimize your performance!

In today’s competitive talent market, hiring the right people means more than checking boxes on a resume. "The Right Skills, The Right Fit: Take the Guesswork Out of Hiring," offers a strategic roadmap for leaders and HR professionals to streamline recruitment. By focusing on aligning candidates’ skills with organizational needs and cultural fit, the article reveals practical tools—like targeted assessments and behavioral interviews—to eliminate guesswork and reduce costly mis-hires. From defining role-specific competencies to fostering inclusive hiring practices, these insights empower businesses to build high-performing teams that drive long-term success in an ever-evolving workplace.

In a rapidly evolving business landscape, fostering a creative workforce is the key to staying competitive and innovative. "Tips on How to Cultivate a Creative Workforce" unveils actionable strategies to unlock your team’s creative potential, from encouraging open idea-sharing and embracing diverse perspectives to creating a psychologically safe environment where experimentation thrives. By prioritizing flexibility, investing in skill development, and aligning creative efforts with organizational goals, leaders can transform their teams into dynamic hubs of innovation.

A major challenge of sales and networking is achieving the balance of being involved with the process and then taking the time to follow up on leads. Once you gather leads, you need a system that will help you regularly respond to them.

To collaborate with other nonprofits, our strategic alignment collaboration model outlines the key elements for leadership to integrate internal purpose with external partners.  Discover how nonprofit collaboration can leverage collective resources to achieve a greater community impact.

In 2025, CEO succession planning has emerged as a critical priority for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs or SMEs), driven by a wave of retirements, economic volatility, and high leadership turnover rates. With over two-thirds of small business owners planning to retire within the next two years, yet only 30% of family-owned businesses surviving into the second generation, many SMEs lack formal plans—69% of private organizations with revenues under $50 million have none.

In 2017, the City of Elkhart adopted the River District Revitalization Master Plan. Developed with broad community stakeholder involvement, the plan was built on the previous decades of investment in Elkhart’s struggling Main Street. This effort shared a vision for the River District to be an expansion of downtown, as a walkable, mixed-use neighborhood redeveloped on 100-plus acres of parking lots, out lot retailers, former industrial sites, and auto-repair shops. Over 65% of the $300-plus million mixed-use development has been realized within five-years. The area continues to attract significant new private investment.

Kolbe RightFit™ is the program that makes finding the "right" person for the right job easier and less expensive. Statistically proven, it assists companies in screening and selecting the best job applicants by identifying who possesses the necessary skills and instincts. RightFit eliminates the guesswork of determining an applicant's performance potential by providing insight into how the candidate will perform in response to job requirements.