Insights

It’s an old tale, yet it’s told in boardrooms every day: a company is soaring, then hits a sudden ceiling because its leadership can’t handle the weight of new success. When organizations grow quickly, the leadership structure is often the first thing to break, turning a period of triumph into an operational crisis. Treating leadership development as a casual expense, a once-a-year workshop, is an incredibly costly mistake that limits your future potential. Smart, sustained

In modern business, the caliber of leadership is arguably the single biggest predictor of an organization’s long-term success. Anyone can hold a title, but the true measure of a business rests on the effectiveness of its leaders, those individuals who can translate vision into tangible results and rally people around a common goal. There is a palpable gap between what most people consider a "good leader," often defined by a pleasant demeanor or years of experience, and a gen

By: Salima Hemani, President & CEO, SZH Consulting Each year, I choose a single word to focus my intention and leadership practice. This year, that word is clarity . Not simply because it is elegant or aspirational, but because clarity is one of the most powerful, and most underestimated, drivers of personal effectiveness, organizational health, and strategic progress. In fact, when I reflect on the work we do at SZH Consulting, clarity is the throughline. It is the capabilit

By: Omar Saldana The Clash’s 1981 song, Should I Stay or Should I Go, presents a dilemma - opposing alternatives where one has to choose between one of them. Either/or thinking is essential for learning and solving problems; it is also our default, natural, or instinctive. Research by Barry Johnson, Wendy Smith, Marianne Lewis, and others propose that there is a better way to think about dilemmas and, in turn, come up with more effective solutions. Dilemmas are situations whe

Why Organizational Structure Matters More Than Ever Organizational structure is more than a chart of who reports to whom; it is the foundation that shapes how work gets done, decisions are made, and teams collaborate. In today’s fast-paced, hybrid, and increasingly complex business environment, an effective structure can be a source of competitive advantage, while a poorly designed one can hinder performance, slow decision making, and reduce employee engagement. Companies are

By: Neil Rosario Organizations sure do love to talk about culture as if it’s a spontaneous story, a product of personalities, values, energy, and goodwill. We imagine culture forming organically, like a campfire that naturally gathers people or a great story that seems effortless, even though we rarely see the work behind it. We often think culture just pops up because people get along and everything clicks, like it all comes together with a quick ta-da , but there’s always s

Why Understanding Culture vs Structure Matters Organizations often focus on either their processes or their people, assuming that one automatically drives performance. In reality, business success depends on both organizational structure and culture working in alignment. Structure defines how work is executed, decisions are made, and accountability is maintained. Culture shapes behaviors, collaboration, and the shared values that motivate employees. Misalignment between the t

Modern workplaces are facing shifting demands, rising expectations, and a pace of change that rarely slows. Many leaders are trying to move their organizations forward while managing competing priorities, evolving team dynamics , and pressure to deliver results. Organization development consulting offers a structured way to navigate this complexity. It brings together data, behavior, and strategy to help organizations grow in ways that are intentional and sustainable. When or

High-performing teams  rarely come together by chance. They’re built through deliberate choices that shape how people think, interact, and take risks together. One of the most foundational elements of that environment is psychological safety, and yet many leaders underestimate what it truly requires. At SZH Consulting, we see this dynamic play out across industries each day. Organizations want innovation, agility, and strong execution. Their people want clarity, trust , and t