It's been almost a year since I last wrote a book review. Most of my past reviews can be found on edmondbusiness.com/author/phil-klutts, where I published a monthly column of business and leadership-focused books. I read a couple dozen books each year, and wanted to share my most recent read with you because I think it is incredibly relevant, well-written, and discusses vital skills for leaders. We all face uncertainty, complexity, and volatility. Leaders need the knowledge, ability, and...
22 days ago • 2 min read
You’re standing behind the podium. Eyes are on you and you start speaking. Suddenly, that piercing squeal of feedback cuts through the room. What’s your instinct? Most people step back. It feels like the right thing to do—move away from the noise, create distance, let the moment pass. But here’s the thing: that instinct is wrong. Every week I tell our volunteers at church to lean into the mic and speak loudly when they hear feedback on the mic. Pulling away is a natural response but it...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Are you locked in? It’s time to think about the rest of the year. Labor Day is Monday, cooler temperatures are upon us, and before we realize it will be time for Christmas parties and then 2026. Take this opportunity to lock in to your goals for 2025 and reach your goals. Most people will wait until September 30th to close out Q3 and think about their Q4 focus. But not you. Let’s use this long weekend to find an hour and focus in on the next 4 months. Here’s a simple 3-step framework you can...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Clarity and Confidence I was reminded of why I focus on clarity and confidence in a couple of different instances this week. My coaching and advisory services focus on these two words because I have found they are most often what hold people back from accomplishing the goals they've set out to accomplish. In one situation, I was helping a client work through identifying clear next steps to reach his goals. Most people know they need to have a clear vision and measurable goals, but often get...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Back to School and Back to Rhythms Schools across Oklahoma started back this week and with it comes a change in rhythms. Not just for students and teachers, but for their families as well, which means many of us professionals and entrepreneurs too. My family bookended our summer with family trips. We started in Utah to visit the Mighty 5 National Parks in Southern Utah. It was a breathtaking week. I didn't take a laptop and disconnected fully. I decided to continue a bit of summer break - so...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Last week, I brought attention to the speed at which a new Pope was named. It took less than 36 hours to name the new Pope, which is not the fastest but certainly up there in the top 5. I also shared James Clear's framework for categorizing decisions. Be sure to check out last week's email if you missed it. Here's the link How do you go from the idea of making faster decisions to actually doing it in real leadership situations? Let's review a few practical tips on how to make that happen....
5 months ago • 3 min read
Here’s a bet I’m willing to take: You are too slow at making decisions. Stay with me… this isn’t an accusation. It’s a call to be more effective and better prepared. We just watched one of the largest and oldest organizations on the planet make its most important decision. And most headlines will tell you they made it in less than 36 hours. Yes, I’m talking about the Catholic Church, which just named a new Pope. It was less than 2 days from when the Conclave began to when there was white...
5 months ago • 2 min read
Last Friday was not an efficient day for me. I drove over 25 unnecessary miles, wasting almost an hour just sitting in the truck driving back and forth from Edmond to OKC, back to Edmond, then back across town to another appointment. This extra time and effort bothered me as I was getting ready for the day. I want things to be efficient. That's part of my personality and it has also been trained in me. Systems thinking, production management, and Lean Six Sigma have all been foundational to...
6 months ago • 1 min read
Good Morning, My reflections today have me focused on both the darkest moment in history and the moments that wrecked OKC 30 years ago. 9:02am, April 19th, 1995. I remember feeling the shake and moments later seeing the black plume of smoke rising in the air. I was at home in Edmond. 12 miles away seems like so far, especially as a 12-year-old, but the impact of that blast was felt much further away. Maybe you don’t remember or have lost some specifics of that morning and the days to follow....
6 months ago • 1 min read