The Archive

Every issue of Exec Edge, from day one. Sharp thinking for leaders, one idea at a time.

78 issues published

The 60-second reset between tough meetings

Your worst decisions happen right after your most stressful moments. Here are two quick breathing resets that can help you recover in 60 seconds.

4 min read

How to help sales reps without micromanaging them

Pipeline reviews that focus on "what do you need?" instead of "what's the status?" get better results. Here's the 30-minute weekly format that works.

3 min read

Discounting too fast? (Template inside)

Most companies keep only 84% of their quoted prices. Here's a one-hour exercise to find your pricing gap and fix undisciplined discounting across your sales team.

4 min read

Stretch goals don't work

Research shows 80% of people fail to hit stretch goals, often abandoning them quietly. Here's a better approach: set three numbers for every metric instead of one.

3 min read

48 hours to better decisions

A 48-hour customer interview sprint that reveals the insights behind better product, pricing, and hiring decisions.

4 min read

Build it, buy it, or partner up?

A practical 5-question framework to help executives make smarter build vs buy vs partner decisions, with specific thresholds and 3-year cost analysis.

4 min read

What's really killing your focus

Short calendar gaps between meetings are productivity killers. Learn 4 practical strategies to engineer your calendar for deep work and better focus.

3 min read

Speed up your team's decisions

Three proven frameworks to clarify decision roles and eliminate meeting delays. When to use RAPID, DACI, and RACI.

4 min read

Diversity training isn't enough

Most diversity programs create activity, not accountability. Here's a 4-component system that puts inclusion metrics in manager reviews.

4 min read

When cash drops, what's your plan?

When cash drops, you need a plan—not panic. Learn how to build Good/Base/Bad scenarios with pre-committed actions for every runway threshold.

4 min read

The burnout signs you can't see yourself

Burnout hits your cognitive function first—worse decisions, shorter attention—but the mental tools to notice it are already compromised.

3 min read

The 10X test (Template inside)

A one-page framework for evaluating strategic initiatives with clear stop criteria. Includes the 10X test used by Ramp's leadership team.

4 min read