Social Media – thoughtLEADERS, LLC: Leadership Training for the Real World

Be a Social-Media-Ready Leader

April 28, 2026/0 Comments/in Books, Business Toolkit, Career, Communications, Guest Blogger, Social Media, Strategy /by Trevor Jones

You can’t control every post, every image shared, every story that someone decides to tell the masses. But there are steps you can take to help limit the risk of opening your phone to a notifications jumpscare.

Today’s post is by Melissa Swift, founder and CEO of Anthrome Insight, and author of Effective: How to Do Great Work in a Fast-Changing World.

Today, there are so many places where people can go to talk about their jobs, workplaces, employers, and bosses. From LinkedIn and Reddit to Instagram and TikTok to Glassdoor and Blind, there is no shortage of discussion of work on social media.

And much of it’s pretty negative – which can have a range of impacts from hurt feelings to people getting fired to companies actually losing value or failing. I remember vividly getting called out on a consulting platform for perceived sins around some employee engagement awards. The poster didn’t quite have their facts right, but they weren’t entirely wrong about some of the underlying issues, either. And I went from feeling a bit awkward already to feeling downright terrible. Who wants to be that person getting complained about as hordes of people watch?

So what’s a leader to do? (other than avoiding Coldplay concerts, of course)

You can’t control every post, every image shared, every story that someone decides to tell the masses. But there are steps you can take to help limit the risk of opening your phone to a notifications jumpscare. You don’t need to have a perfect profile or an immense following yourself, but you do want to protect your own professional image (and your company’s) from unwanted shocks. Let’s look at some ways to do so.

A good place to start is how you communicate and operate at work. A number of executives have recently highlighted to me the role of coherence – being consistent and logical in what you say and do. This is a fantastic example of something that’s “simple but not easy.” Every day, a million imperatives push us in a million directions. Even the most focused leaders can find themselves all over the map on a bad day.

But coherence is critical in a world of pervasive social media. Think about what triggers someone to post…so often, it’s frustration. And frustration is frequently triggered by a moment of “I just don’t get it” – someone’s words don’t make sense checked against their actions, or their words don’t make sense in relation to their other words, or their actions to their other actions. Or maybe it’s all just a hot mess from the point of view of someone not inside that leader’s head at that particular moment. In any of these scenarios, frustration can very easily turn into a public statement.

So coherence is your friend. To the extent that what you say and do makes sense with all of the other things you say and do, you avoid triggering the co-workers in your vicinity and limit the risk of being publicly shamed for a perceived inconsistency. You may not always have this perfectly under control – many organizations are incoherent beyond what any one leader can impact – but it’s a worthwhile guiding aspiration.

It’s not just what you do and say, though: it’s how you do and say it. Emotional appropriateness is another key ingredient in staying out of the social media hot seat. Simply put, as experts on emotion in the workplace like UVA’s Jim Detert will tell you, conveying a type of and level of emotion that matches the situation you’re in helps put others in the conversation at ease. This doesn’t mean always damping down emotion: if something terrific or something terrible is happening, and you display a fairly flat way of communicating, that can cause further emotional arousal in your audience…just as if you started yelling or crying during an unremarkable meeting. That emotional arousal looks for an outlet – which could be a sympathetic spouse or a social media post seen by millions. You can’t always count on it to be the former. Particularly in trying moments, like layoffs, emotional appropriateness is particularly critical. Think of the number of posts you’ve seen on executives conveying job losses robotically vs empathically; when a leader displays emotions that match the moment, there’s less pithy fodder for a 30 second takedown.

Finally, be smart and measured about your own social media presence. Consider private accounts for political or otherwise sensitive content, as you cannot reasonably know what your co-workers’ most deeply held beliefs are. Be scrupulous about placing content on the right platform – no one on LinkedIn wants to see your bathing suit photos! And when in doubt, less is more. A measured quantity of social media content is far less likely to set someone off – and get them responding in ways that are damaging to you – than a wildly unpruned garden of random thoughts.

Social media at work can feel absolutely impossible to navigate. It’s not completely uncontrollable though – and much of what you can do to manage it, such as being coherent and emotionally appropriate, pays huge dividends far from just the social media realm.

It’s a highly transparent world, but you can show it a leader worth seeing.

Melissa Swift is a leading voice on how organizations, teams, and individuals can succeed in an ever-more challenging world of work. As founder and CEO of Anthrome Insight, she is a practicing consultant and keynote speaker. She has held consulting leadership roles at Capgemini, Mercer, Korn Ferry, and Deloitte. She is also the author of Work Here Now: Think Like a Human and Build a Powerhouse Workplace (Wiley, 2023).

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8 Elements that Differentiate Your Business and Make it Stand Out

April 20, 2026/0 Comments/in Books, Communications, Entrepreneur, Guest Blogger, Sales, Social Media /by Trevor Jones

Differentiating your business and making it stand out isn’t about cosmetic external attributes. It’s about sharing the internal elements that make your business different.

Today’s post is from Winnie Brignac Hart, co-author of Stand Out.

Today, we’re bombarded with marketing messages from every side – the New York Times estimates over 5,000 messages every day. Marketers used to try to reach consumers at home watching TV or reading newspapers and magazines, but now advertisers reach consumers in real time, trying to catch their attention at every turn. It’s absolute sensory overload as companies press harder to make their brands stand out.

My sister, Lorrie, and I are identical twins. Because we are identical twins, we know a lot about the confusion and frustration that comes from a lack of clarity when things look the same. It has taught us a simple truth about differences.

We live in a world that appreciates and expects individual differences in appearance and behavior. So when we encounter two identical individuals, this experience challenges our beliefs about the way that the world works. Of course, identical twins are never exactly alike, and some differ in profound ways. Yet we can’t stop ourselves from comparing them and trying to find the differences that help us to tell them apart. By taking a closer look at twins, we can learn a great deal about the concept of differentiation. When I look at my twin, I can experience how others view me – and actually see myself from outside of myself.

I did not think about it much until I was almost 13. Around that time, I remember clearly that looking and being different from my twin sister was just about the most important thing in my world. I wanted to be seen as a separate and distinct person. I dressed as differently as I could. I cut my hair differently, I hung out with other people who were trying to be different, too – artists, musicians, and other experimental types who for one reason or another were trying to find their own identities. What I found was that most of what I did to be different was external. I was trading being part of one group (the twins) with being part of another, larger group (creative types).

Technology Induced Attention Deficit Disorder

November 11, 2025/1 Comment/in Balanced Lifestyle, Books, Communications, Guest Blogger, Leadership, Social Media /by Trevor Jones

Technology has been an integral part of our lives for years now, but what happens when technology starts to make doing work even more difficult.

Today’s post is by Dr. Brian Smith, author of Individual Advantages. This is an archived guest post originally published in 2019.

Patience is waning in all aspects of human interaction; impatience is being felt throughout the whole of society. Society today—today being defined as the late 1980s to the present—has undergone a rapid evolution in information collection, manipulation, storage, and presentation. Life has been transformed into an environment where information is readily available on demand.

As technology has become the focal point for most of the developed world, costs for said technology have decreased rapidly—making them more readily available for people of all ages. As businesses and humans have started to rely more heavily on technology, our personal expectations have been raised across the board in every aspect of our lives. It is this fundamental change in expectation where I identified the topic for my dissertation (in 2001) long before it became a common human problem: Technology Induced Attention Deficit Disorder (TIADD).

When I argued my dissertation about TIADD, I was designing and implementing ERP systems and working with companies to manage the organizational change being caused by technology’s effect on humans. Internet access rates were increasing, and you could get a 128k baud rate at home and 1,544k baud rate at work.

From 2001 to now, we have seen data speeds increase more than fiftyfold. We have also expanded the influence of technology from the workplace, to home, to our back pocket. This transformation in data delivery has created the constant need for immediate gratification of knowledge; we need answers this instant. This need for immediate gratification has a negative effect on human relationships in all aspects of human interaction: from quality to quantity.

8 Elements that Differentiate Your Business and Make it Stand Out

August 12, 2024/0 Comments/in Books, Communications, Entrepreneur, Guest Blogger, Sales, Social Media /by Trevor Jones

Differentiating your business and making it stand out isn’t about cosmetic external attributes. It’s about sharing the internal elements that make your business different.

Today’s post is from Winnie Brignac Hart, co-author of Stand Out.

Today, we’re bombarded with marketing messages from every side – the New York Times estimates over 5,000 messages every day. Marketers used to try to reach consumers at home watching TV or reading newspapers and magazines, but now advertisers reach consumers in real time, trying to catch their attention at every turn. It’s absolute sensory overload as companies press harder to make their brands stand out.

My sister, Lorrie, and I are identical twins. Because we are identical twins, we know a lot about the confusion and frustration that comes from a lack of clarity when things look the same. It has taught us a simple truth about differences.

We live in a world that appreciates and expects individual differences in appearance and behavior. So when we encounter two identical individuals, this experience challenges our beliefs about the way that the world works. Of course, identical twins are never exactly alike, and some differ in profound ways. Yet we can’t stop ourselves from comparing them and trying to find the differences that help us to tell them apart. By taking a closer look at twins, we can learn a great deal about the concept of differentiation. When I look at my twin, I can experience how others view me – and actually see myself from outside of myself.

I did not think about it much until I was almost 13. Around that time, I remember clearly that looking and being different from my twin sister was just about the most important thing in my world. I wanted to be seen as a separate and distinct person. I dressed as differently as I could. I cut my hair differently, I hung out with other people who were trying to be different, too – artists, musicians, and other experimental types who for one reason or another were trying to find their own identities. What I found was that most of what I did to be different was external. I was trading being part of one group (the twins) with being part of another, larger group (creative types).

The Misinformation Trap: How Not To Derail Your Decisions

June 10, 2024/0 Comments/in Books, Business Toolkit, Career, Communications, Guest Blogger, Leadership, Social Media /by Trevor Jones

By understanding the conditions that trigger misinformation and practicing counter strategies, you not only safeguard your decision outcomes but build more responsible organizations and society.

Today’s guest post is by Nuala Walsh, author of TUNE IN: How To Make Smarter Decisions In A Noisy World.

It’s tempting to share compelling theories about people, companies or products – even in the absence of evidence or validation. Though everyone knows that spreading information hampers careers, reputations and businesses, people can’t resist doing it.

Yet what we hear is rarely all there is. The problem is that uncontrolled sharing fuels a perpetual cycle of misinformation and becomes a type of fake news that distorts reality and promotes poor decision-making – yours or others.

Why do smart people cling to false truths? And why does misinformation spread so easily?

How does misinformation start?

You might entertain far-fetched ideas from colleagues or customers – after all, you’re open minded. But you may be at risk of accepting inaccurate sources of misinformation. In my book, Tune In: How to Make Smarter Decisions in a Noisy World, I argue that we tune out the voice of common sense in exchange for comfort or convenience precisely when we should tune in. Ten misjudgement traps explain why. It’s not surprising in today’s data-saturated age where news spreads like wildfire and social media algorithms shape our perceived truth. Understanding the associated reasons behind unintended misinformation helps us avoid decision damage.

Misinformation persists even with information abundance – or perhaps, because of it. The mind consistently filters messages, deciding what to accept or discard. When this process is disrupted, half-truths penetrate our consciousness. This vulnerability to unfounded rumour or speculation depends on information availability, organisational silos, and our context.

Information Overload: Most of us are bombarded with constant emails, notifications, warnings or adverts, making it hard to distinguish fact from fiction and decode conflicting narratives. Popular narratives thrive on what people hear or don’t hear, amplified by the information superhighway. That’s when organizational, political, social or religious theories find fertile ground. The result is misguided judgement.

Organizational Silos: Echo chambers lead to closed networks where individuals reinforce each other’s beliefs and dismiss dissenting views. People become entrenched in their favourite opinions, resistant to any form of contradiction. Misinformation predictably proliferates and siloed decision-making becomes skewed by information that lacks both empirical support and critical scrutiny.

Contextual Understanding. The busy executive usually accepts what they’re told by peers and team members because it’s easier – even if it’s not necessarily true. Of course, misinterpretation or mishearing is not intentional but a function of the context in which we decide, like a journalist, surgeon, emergency operator or firefighter. Understanding the environment in which a decision is made can often trigger a warning sign that greater attention is needed.

The impulse to share gossip is rooted in the idea that we’re part of a select club and privy to hidden truths. Feeling superior concretises the urge even more. When we subscribe to a certain workplace reality, we’re less likely to engage in constructive dialogue or seek common ground. We tune out and lose perspective. The result is under performance, low morale and polarised teams.

What can you do to curtail misinformation?

As a behavioural scientist with three decades in business, research suggests it’s possible to temper temptation and guard against misinformation by adopting several simple actions:

Firstly, tune in to the right voices. What did you not hear? As fake news proliferates, critical thinking is more important than ever. By questioning sources, evaluating evidence and considering alternative perspectives, we inoculate against risk of error. Make challenge part of the daily fabric. Take time to decode sources, fact-check, and recognize bias.

Secondly, build deliberate empathy. Fostering dialogue can bridge divides and rebuild trust. Ultimately, the leadership challenge is not merely about debunking falsehoods; it’s about empowering teams to think for themselves. Herding followers are also victims of compelling stories. Empathize with why employees, customers and investors fall into power-based or risk-based misjudgement traps.

Thirdly, temper overconfidence. What you hear is rarely all there is. Do you challenge enough or use counterfactuals when debating or disagreeing with others? In a noisy world, we’re more motivated to mishear than ever. We think we’re right – it’s the ego trap. Science suggests that misinformation thrives on what people think they hear. Slow down long enough to tune into contrarian voices for better decision-making.

By understanding the conditions that trigger misinformation and practicing counter strategies, you not only safeguard your decision outcomes but build more responsible organizations and society. It’s time to reinterpret what you hear. It’s time to tune in.

Nuala Walsh, author of TUNE IN: How To Make Smarter Decisions In A Noisy World, is a Non-executive Director, behavioral scientist, and award-winning marketeer with three decades in investment management. Her roles included CMO of Standard Life Aberdeen, and senior positions at Blackrock, Merrill Lynch, and PA Consulting Group. Today, as MindEquity CEO, she advises Fortune 500 leaders globally, among others. Holding multiple first-class Masters’ Degrees, she is a visiting speaker at the Harvard Kennedy School, INSEAD, and the London School of Economics.

For more information, please visit nualagwalsh.com

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Best and Worst Ways Companies Handled Crises in 2023

April 22, 2024/0 Comments/in Business Toolkit, Communications, Guest Blogger, Leadership, Social Media, Strategy /by Trevor Jones

Here’s a rundown of the businesses that flourished (and failed) in 2023 and how companies should plan to face crises in 2024.

Today’s guest post is by Thomas Mustac, Publicist — Otter PR

The way a company handles a crisis can be a defining moment for the organization, either endearing them to their market or destroying the company altogether. In a business landscape where every move or decision is immediately broadcast through the grapevine of social media, companies that are not adequately prepared for a crisis could be left decimated in its wake.

The year 2023 saw some headline-making crises handled very well by the businesses involved — and some that brought the businesses to their knees. Here’s a rundown of the businesses that flourished (and failed) and how companies should plan to face crises as we enter the new year.

The best crisis responses

The companies that provided the best responses to a crisis were those that were prepared and aware of what was going on outside of their organizations.

Amid a burgeoning recession, Google gave voice to Black-owned businesses with its wildly popular Black-owned Friday initiative. By creating a video with Keke Palmer and highly publicizing its desire to see people “search and shop” Black-owned businesses, Google turned recession lemons into lemonade for many minority small-business owners.

Another brand that faced a crisis in 2023 but came out relatively unscathed was Chick-fil-A. Known for its more Christian-aligned, conservative values, fans of the brand accused them of “going woke” when they announced they were dedicated to having a “culture of belonging.” Chik-fil-A was the subject of a handful of scathing social media callouts but remains as popular as ever largely due to its history of credibility and strong brand identity. Though being called “woke” may not seem like a crisis, one only needs to recall the similar trouble that brands such as Bud Light faced in this politically contentious current social climate.

How companies approach the crisis can make all the difference in the court of public opinion. Companies that adeptly navigate crises showcase a blend of resilience, adaptability, and strategic acumen.

The worst crisis responses

Where there are winners, there are losers as well. Quite a few companies ran afoul of one crisis or another in 2023, dropping the ball in terms of response and redemption.

The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank was probably one of the most memorable business crises of the last year. It was the second biggest bank failure in US history, and how it was handled from a public relations perspective contributed to a panic response. Due to rising interest rates, US bonds held by SVB lost some of their value, but the bonds were still worth billions.

However, SVB — perhaps trying to get ahead of a possible crisis — released a statement that talked only about losses and neglected to explain that they were still cash-positive. The negative statement caused a run on withdrawals, knee-capping the bank past the point of recovery.

Another failed response came from the head of Disney. Amid the SAG-AFTRA/WGA strike that took over much of the year — grinding TV shows and movie production to a halt — CEO Bob Iger stated that the demands of the strikers were “not realistic” and that they were “adding to the disruption” of an already difficult moment in time post-Covid. The response from SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher was swift and biting, calling Iger “tone deaf” and “repugnant.”

Iger’s comments came at a time when Disney was already faltering with the public, who had grown tired of rising park prices, movies that were failing to meet expectations, and a drawn-out public feud with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Though Iger later walked back his comments regarding the strike, much of it was too little, too late for the many who supported the actors and writers.

Handling a crisis

Regardless of the size or scope of the crisis, the best response by a business should include some essential components.

Preparation and planning

Crises will eventually happen, and businesses must anticipate potential crises and establish contingency plans to minimize their impact.

Prompt response

Often, fallout from a crisis comes because the response from the business is not swift enough. Companies need to take immediate action to prevent a crisis from escalating. Designating a crisis management team or a point of contact can facilitate this swift decision-making.

Transparency

Businesses should focus on maintaining timely and accurate communication. Stakeholders should remain informed about the crisis and the response, and it is vital that the business manages uncertainty and focuses on fostering trust.

Adaptability and flexibility

A crisis situation can shift on a dime. Businesses should remain open to changing their approach or response based on an evolving situation.

Learning and improvement

After a crisis has died down or been resolved, businesses should analyze the crisis and the response, identifying weaknesses and strengths, enabling them to better prepare for the next crisis.

How not to handle a crisis

Some of the worst crisis responses in 2023 fell victim to many of the ineffective crisis-management approaches:

Ignoring or denying the issue

Disregarding or downplaying a crisis will not make it go away and will likely make it worse.

Poor communication

A lack of open dialogue or transparency can cause confusion and panic.

Delayed response

Procrastination or indecisiveness can make a crisis worse.

Blaming others

Focusing on assigning blame for resolving the issue can create conflicts and impede problem-solving efforts.

Failure to learn

If a business doesn’t learn from the mistakes it made amid a crisis, it is doomed to repeat them.

No one likes to withstand a crisis, but with proper planning and thoughtful management, a crisis needn’t destroy one’s business. By being prepared and keeping the lines of communication open, crises can even be an opportunity for learning and growth.

Thomas Mustac is Otter PR’s medical and health industry PR specialist. He previously held positions at the Dr. Oz Show and New York Medical College. He has his Master’s Degree from Iona University and received an Advanced Certification in Nonprofit Public Relations. He has a diverse background in healthcare, pharmaceutical, telehealth, tech, cosmetics, sports, and interior design public relations.

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Empowering Change: How to Start A Digital Activism Campaign

April 15, 2024/0 Comments/in Communications, Guest Blogger, Innovation, Leadership, Social Media, Strategy /by Trevor Jones

Learn how to start a digital activism campaign by following these 12 steps.

Today’s guest post is by Afolasade Samabeyi, Nigerian Talk Show Host of “Exclusives with Afolasade.”

A digital activism campaign consists of strong knowledge of the topic that you want to support. It can be extremely rewarding and impactful to advocate for social or political change. Here are some steps to help you get started:

Identify the Cause

Clearly define the cause or issue you want to address. It could be social justice, environmental issues, human rights, or any other cause that you are passionate about.

Educate Yourself

Research and gather information about the cause. Understand the key issues, relevant facts, and the current state of affairs. This will help you communicate effectively.

Define Goals

Clearly articulate your goals. What do you want to achieve with your activism? Having specific and achievable goals will guide your efforts.

Build a Platform

Establish a digital presence through social media platforms, a website, or a blog. Choose platforms that are popular among your target audience.

Create Engaging Content

Develop compelling content to raise awareness about your cause. This could include blog posts, videos, infographics, and social media posts. Make sure your content is shareable.

Use Social Media Effectively

Leverage social media platforms to connect with like-minded individuals and organizations. Engage in conversations, share your content, and amplify the voices of others in your community.

Networking

Connect with other activists and organizations working on similar issues. Collaborate, share resources, and learn from each other.

Campaigns and Initiatives

Plan and execute online campaigns or initiatives. This could involve online petitions, virtual events, Twitter campaigns, or any other creative method to raise awareness.

Stay Informed

Stay updated on developments related to your cause. This will help you respond effectively to emerging issues and keep your audience informed.

Encourage Offline Action

While digital activism is powerful, encouraging offline action can enhance the impact. This could include organizing local events, partnering with local organizations, or encouraging community involvement.

Engage Politicians and Decision-Makers

Reach out to policymakers and decision-makers through emails, social media, or other channels. Advocate for the changes you want to see and stay persistent.

Evaluate and Adjust

Regularly assess the impact of your efforts. Analyze what is working and what isn’t, and be willing to adjust your strategies accordingly.

Authentic storytelling lies at the heart of impactful digital activism. Sharing personal experiences and those of others in a genuine manner creates a powerful connection with your audience. These authentic narratives serve as a catalyst for engagement, fostering a sense of empathy and understanding.

In addition, the promotion of diverse perspectives is crucial. Continuously amplify a variety of voices on your platform to ensure inclusivity. Collaborate with thought leaders and experts to bring depth to discussions, offering unique insights that enrich the overall dialogue. Tackling societal issues head-on sets a tone of responsibility and awareness.

Utilizing social media platforms strategically is another key element. Engage actively on platforms like Instagram, Tik Tok,, X to expand your reach and create a broader community. Collaborate with influential figures to leverage their reach for positive change. Ensure consistency in your commitment to digital activism, addressing topical issues regularly, and fostering a sense of community among your audience.

Finally, encourage your audience to take action. Whether through signing petitions, participating in awareness campaigns, or supporting relevant causes, providing clear calls to action translates online discussions into tangible impact. Effective digital activism is an ongoing journey, and your dedication to authentic storytelling, diverse perspectives, and community engagement plays a pivotal role in shaping a positive and impactful online space.

In this vast world of digital activism, where stories and voices intertwine, my journey as a multi-media personality and woman of color has been a collection of powerful conversations. My path of creating digital activism campaigns have been both enlightening and empowering. I have been able to successfully discuss these topics with my audience through careful yet well thought out conversations on my show,”Exclusives with Afolasade.”

In the spirit of impactful conversations, “Exclusives with Afolasade” has become a haven for transformative dialogues. It’s about the power of storytelling and its impact on society. While digital activism might not be explicitly declared, the resonance of these conversations is undeniable. As we continue this journey, let’s acknowledge the strength of dialogue to shape narratives, challenge norms, and contribute to a world that is more inclusive, compassionate, and ready for change. The journey is ongoing, and the stories are far from over.

Afolasade is not just a seasoned multimedia personality; she’s a digital media specialist and the executive producer/host of “Exclusives with Afolasade.” With a mission to leverage media for social impact, she brings over 5 years of experience in content curation, production, and hosting.

Did you enjoy this post? If so, I highly encourage you to take about 30 seconds to become a regular subscriber to this blog. It’s free, fun, practical, and only a few emails a week (I promise!). SIGN UP HERE to get the thoughtLEADERS blog conveniently delivered right to your inbox!

Marketing 101 As We Head Into 2021

January 18, 2021/0 Comments/in Books, Guest Blogger, Leadership, Social Media, Strategy /by Mike Figliuolo

As the world continues to change, organizations can benefit from adapting their marketing strategies. Michael Stahl shares ten ways to make the most of your marketing efforts in 2021.

Today’s post is by Michael Stahl, CMO at SERVPRO (CLICK HERE to learn more).

The year 2020 brought both challenges and opportunities to marketing professionals. In fact, that’s probably an understatement. But the year has come to a close (thank goodness!), and it’s time to look ahead to hopefully brighter, safer, and more profitable days. As we shift our sights to 2021, I’ve put together ten marketing basics that can help you build a strategy to increase engagement, market share, and revenue.

Reposition your product for modern consumer needs

Considering we don’t know when the global pandemic will end, nor fully understand its long-term repercussions, we need to Read more

Best of thoughtLEADERS 2017: Our 9th Year of Badassed Blogging

December 13, 2017/0 Comments/in Balanced Lifestyle, Books, Business Toolkit, Career, Communications, Entrepreneur, Innovation, Leadership, Sales, Social Media, Strategy /by Mike Figliuolo

It’s time again for our annual year in review list of the BEST posts we’ve published over the last 12 months. Welcome to the 2017 edition of The Figgies (our NINTH YEAR of em! Wow!) which are the awards we give ourselves for writing awesome blog content (here are the 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016 editions of those awards).

This is an annual event at the thoughtLEADERS Blog. This list is comprised of our most viewed, most forwarded, quirkiest, most provocative work. Enjoy. Share. We’ve loved writing them. We hope you’ve enjoyed reading them. I don’t ask a lot of you folks so I have two small requests as your holiday gift to me (you are getting me something, right?):

1. Invite all your coworkers, friends, and family to come check out the blog and become readers. The only way we all get better is by raising everyone’s game. I’m not asking a lot here. If you found this blog helpful at all this year, here’s your chance to return the favor for all our hard work. Just email folks and tell ’em to come take a look.

2. Pick up a copy of my books. They make great holiday gifts for the professionals in your life. The titles include:

One Piece of Paper: The Simple Approach to Powerful Personal Leadership. In the words of Roland Smith (former CEO of Wendy’s/Arby’s) “This book could change your life.” To get a sense for what the book is about, read this free ChangeThis Leadership Manifesto which is based on the book. If you like the manifesto, you’ll love the book.

Lead Inside the Box: How Smart Leaders Guide Their Teams to Exceptional Results. “Finally, a leadership book that cuts through all of the noise. This book needs to be on every leader’s desk!” – Andrea Procaccino, Chief Learning Officer, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.

The Elegant Pitch: Create a Compelling Recommendation, Build Broad Support, and Get it Approved. If you’re looking to get to “yes” for your idea, this book will give you the method for doing so in an efficient and effective way.

Thanks for your incredible support in ’17 and best wishes for ’18! We hope to be a part of your future success! Now on to the best of list!

Best of thoughtLEADERS 2016: A Basket of Kickass

December 21, 2016/0 Comments/in Balanced Lifestyle, Books, Business Toolkit, Career, Communications, Entrepreneur, Innovation, Leadership, Sales, Social Media, Strategy /by Mike Figliuolo

It’s time again for our annual year in review list of the BEST posts we’ve published over the last 12 months. Welcome to the 2016 edition of The Figgies (our EIGHTH YEAR of em! Wow!) which are the awards we give ourselves for writing awesome blog content (here are the 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 editions of those awards).

This is an annual event at the thoughtLEADERS Blog. This list is comprised of our most viewed, most forwarded, quirkiest, most provocative work. Enjoy. Share. We’ve loved writing them. We hope you’ve enjoyed reading them. I don’t ask a lot of you folks so I have two small requests as your holiday gift to me (you are getting me something, right?):

1. Invite all your coworkers, friends, and family to come check out the blog and become readers. The only way we all get better is by raising everyone’s game. I’m not asking a lot here. If you found this blog helpful at all this year, here’s your chance to return the favor for all our hard work. Just email folks and tell ’em to come take a look.

2. Pick up a copy of my books. They make great holiday gifts for the professionals in your life. The titles include:

One Piece of Paper: The Simple Approach to Powerful Personal Leadership. In the words of Roland Smith (former CEO of Wendy’s/Arby’s) “This book could change your life.” To get a sense for what the book is about, read this free ChangeThis Leadership Manifesto which is based on the book. If you like the manifesto, you’ll love the book.

Lead Inside the Box: How Smart Leaders Guide Their Teams to Exceptional Results. “Finally, a leadership book that cuts through all of the noise. This book needs to be on every leader’s desk!” – Andrea Procaccino, Chief Learning Officer, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.

The Elegant Pitch: Create a Compelling Recommendation, Build Broad Support, and Get it Approved. If you’re looking to get to “yes” for your idea, this book will give you the method for doing so in an efficient and effective way.

Thanks for your incredible support in ’16 and best wishes for ’17! We hope to be a part of your future success! Now on to the best of list!

8 Elements that Differentiate Your Business and Make it Stand Out

June 20, 2016/0 Comments/in Books, Communications, Entrepreneur, Guest Blogger, Sales, Social Media /by Mike Figliuolo

Differentiating your business and making it stand out isn’t about cosmetic external attributes. It’s about sharing the internal elements that make your business different.

Today’s post is from Winnie Brignac Hart, co-author of Stand Out (CLICK HERE to get your copy).

Today, we’re bombarded with marketing messages from every side – the New York Times estimates over 5,000 messages every day. Marketers used to try to reach consumers at home watching TV or reading newspapers and magazines, but now advertisers reach consumers in real time, trying to catch their attention at every turn. It’s absolute sensory overload as companies press harder to make their brands stand out.

My sister, Lorrie, and I are identical twins. Because we are identical twins, we know a lot about the confusion and frustration that comes from a lack of clarity when things look the same. It has taught us a simple truth about differences.

We live in a world that appreciates and expects individual differences in appearance and behavior. So when we encounter two identical individuals, this experience challenges our beliefs about the way that the world works. Of course, identical twins are never exactly alike, and some differ in profound ways. Yet we can’t stop ourselves from comparing them and trying to find the differences that help us to tell them apart. By taking a closer look at twins, we can learn a great deal about the concept of differentiation. When I look at my twin, I can experience how others view me – and actually see myself from outside of myself.

I did not think about it much until I was almost 13. Around that time, I remember clearly that looking and being different from my twin sister was just about the most important thing in my world. I wanted to be seen as a separate and distinct person. I dressed as differently as I could. I cut my hair differently, I hung out with other people who were trying to be different, too – artists, musicians, and other experimental types who for one reason or another were trying to find their own identities. What I found was that most of what I did to be different was external. I was trading being part of one group (the twins) with being part of another, larger group (creative types).

How effectively do your content marketing efforts drive action?

February 11, 2016/0 Comments/in Communications, Innovation, Leadership, Poll, Sales, Social Media /by Mike Figliuolo

Our reader poll today asks: How effectively do content marketing efforts (blogs, white papers, etc.) drive action by your customers?

– Extremely — our content marketing drives great lead generation: 6.06%

– Generally — our content sometimes sparks new conversations with prospects/clients: 34.55%

– Not at all — our content generates few, if any, comments, feedback or leads: 36.97%

– Not the point — we only publish content because everyone else does: 4.24%

– Not relevant — we have much higher priorities than content marketing: 18.18%

Increase Your Return. “That’s Marketing’s job.” Sorry but if you think content marketing is only the purview of marketers, you’re missing a big opportunity. Thought leadership is your product and the leaders in your organization have plenty of it. If you’re not tapping into it, you’re missing out. First, you should be driving new ideas. Second, share those ideas with the world. Think about all the knowledge your team has to share with the outside world. Give them a platform to do so, have it link to your product/service (both in terms of the content you share as well as with relevant URLs), and be responsive to the ensuing discussion. You’ll be surprised how many leads come from sharing great ideas.

Do you agree with these poll results? Let us know in the comments below!

– Mike Figliuolo at thoughtLEADERS, LLC

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