CEO Weekly Outlook

Good afternoon, all. On this Monday, it’s time to “get comfortable with uncomfortable emotions.” The Harvard Business Review counsels leaders on overcoming conflict aversion to deliver tough but important feedback to their employees.

Meanwhile, Forbes explores what mid-market CEOs can learn from Warren Buffett’s acquisition of Precision Castparts. One tried-and-true lesson: Invest in companies with long term value.

Business Insights

• Tips for building a more creative leadership team
• Don’t let your conflict aversion get in the way of giving feedback
• This 15 minute daily practice helps leaders reach their full potential
• What happens when a CEO does her own PR?
• How to make difficult conversations easier
• Apps to make life as a CEO easier
• How to cultivate speed
• Give clear and actionable feedback with this 6-part guide
• The best advice one CEO ever received
• Overcoming obstacles as a rookie CEO
• 4 lessons for mid-market CEOs to improve customer service

Transaction Toolbox

• How to leave your company to your children
• A realistic look at startup investing
• Investors find ways to indirectly profit from valuable startups
• Middle market companies can learn from Warren Buffett’s elephant deal to acquire Precision Castparts
• Entrepreneurs, economic growth, and the enlightenment
• 5 signs it’s time to step down

Middle Market Move of the Week

Flowers Food is going organic (and no, we don’t mean the growth strategy). They recently acquired Dave’s Killer Bread, a Oregon-based organic bread maker. Based in Georgia, the bakery goods company hopes to expand its reach into the Pacific Northwest and Canadian regions, as well as better attract a growing number of customers looking for healthy, natural food products. Dave’s sold to Flowers for $275 million in an all-cash deal.