Strategy – Page 31 – thoughtLEADERS, LLC: Leadership Training for the Real World

When your annual plan goes off the rails, how does your organization react?

May 28, 2020/0 Comments/in Business Toolkit, Career, Communications, Leadership, Poll, Strategy /by Ryan Shaw

Our reader poll today asks: When your annual plan goes off the rails, how does your organization react?

We try desperately and in vain to make the plan happen. 13%
We keep the plan but accept that we’ll fail. 6.3%
We tweak the plan and do the best that we can. 66%
We disregard the plan and write an entirely new one. 14.6%

Are tweaks enough? When bad things happen to good strategic and annual plans, the vast majority of you say you “tweak it and do the best you can.” You might be missing great opportunities or assuming gigantic risks with that approach. Usually when a plan goes off the rails it’s because of a massive external dislocation. Those can be opportunities to reassess everything you’re doing and plot a new course. Your competitors are reeling from those challenges, too, and while they’re taking a “tweak and hope” approach, you have a real opportunity to compete differently in a new market environment.

Press pause on the plan. Do a fundamental reassessment of your strategy given the new realities of the market. Make the changes you need to make today, and do so of your own volition rather than tweaking, hoping and waiting. Because the market will ultimately force you to change, and that’s a lot less pleasant than making the change on your own terms.

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

– Mike Figliuolo at thoughtLEADERS, LLC

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!

Transforming Anger Into Trust

May 27, 2020/0 Comments/in Business Toolkit, Communications, Leadership, Strategy /by Ryan Shaw

Devin Singh, thoughtLEADERS Principal, sat down with Jim and Jan of The Leadership Podcast to discuss his tools for turning anger into trust.

In continuation of our new collaboration with The Leadership Podcast, Devin gives his tips and tricks for turning anger into trust in this short form “chalk talk.” These chalk talk series are bitesize sessions on a common (but challenging) leadership issue.

Devin breaks down some of the natural causes of anger, particularly as a protective strategy or as a way that respond to supposed threats, but also as an energy that can compel us to create change.

Delving into anger further, Devin talks about the effect anger can have on a relationship, of any sort, and that it’s important to be able to manage these feelings: both feeling them in ourselves, as well as reacting to these feelings in other. And then goes further into strategies to really transform these emotions for the better.

Stay tuned for more of these brief Chalk Talks featuring Devin, as well as many more members of the thoughtLEADERS team.

Applying Storytelling to the Modern Workplace

May 20, 2020/0 Comments/in Business Toolkit, Communications, Leadership, Strategy /by Ryan Shaw

Alan Veeck, thoughtLEADERS Principal, sat down with Jim and Jan of The Leadership Podcast to discuss storytelling and what it means for you as a leader.

In continuation of our new collaboration with The Leadership Podcast, Alan talks about the power of storytelling in this short form “chalk talk.” These chalk talk series are bitesize sessions on a common (but challenging) leadership issue.

Jim and Jan ask Alan to explain how storytelling applies in the context of the business world, where Alan delves into how to use storytelling ‘differently’ and to utilize human emotion to accomplish your goals.

Explaining why we are emotional beings and how this has played out, Alan continues to further point out how it’s important that we don’t completely leave emotion out of the work we are doing. And, additionally, how to blend ‘big facts’ and emotions into the modern day workplace.

Stay tuned for more of these brief Chalk Talks featuring Alan, as well as many more members of the thoughtLEADERS team.

What are the biggest mindset challenges you face when leading your team remotely?

May 14, 2020/0 Comments/in Business Toolkit, Career, Communications, Leadership, Poll, Strategy /by Ryan Shaw

Our reader poll today asks: What are the biggest mindset challenges you face when leading your team remotely?

I worry they’re not actually working. 19.5%
I have little control over their deliverables. 8.4%
I worry they feel like I’m not developing them. 22.2%
I worry they feel I’m not necessary or adding value. 16.9%
I don’t worry at all about anything. 12.7%
I worry about something else. 20.3%

It’s not you, it’s me. While 28% of you worry about your team members’ productivity and managing their deliverables because you can’t supervise them closely, the bigger concerns (39%) are with how the team members see you as their leader. You’re worried about not developing them or adding value. These are the true leadership concerns to keep top of mind. To manage them, schedule regular development and 1:1 calls. Don’t let good in-office habits fall by the wayside. Have explicit conversations about their development needs especially in a distanced environment. In terms of adding value, don’t just ask “What can I help with?” because you’ll get a “nothing” response. Make specific offers of assistance like “I’m happy to talk to that one stakeholder who’s giving you trouble and see if I can help remove the barrier.” Specific requests show you’re tuned into what their issues are and are more likely to be met with a response of “that would be really helpful.”

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

– Mike Figliuolo at thoughtLEADERS, LLC

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!

Better Utilizing Structured Thought and Communication

May 13, 2020/0 Comments/in Business Toolkit, Communications, Leadership, Strategy /by Ryan Shaw

Alan Veeck, thoughtLEADERS Principal, sat down with Jim and Jan of The Leadership Podcast to discuss his thoughts on structured thought and communication.

In continuation of our new collaboration with The Leadership Podcast, Alan talks about structured thought and communication in this short form “chalk talk.” These chalk talk series are bitesize sessions on a common (but challenging) leadership issue.

Alan dives into a clear explanation of what structured thought and communications actually means and how it applicable not only in a work/career setting but even with our families and friends in everyday life.

Alan, Jim, and Jan challenge the ideas around “slowing down to speed up” and how structured thought and communication can really just be more about efficiency and a better use of your time as an individual and as a leader, especially when utilized for large groups and organizations.

Stay tuned for more of these brief Chalk Talks featuring Alan, as well as many more members of the thoughtLEADERS team.

Twelve Characteristics of Great Leaders

May 6, 2020/0 Comments/in Business Toolkit, Communications, Leadership, Strategy /by Ryan Shaw

In this episode of Innovating Leadership Maureen Metcalf, thoughtLEADERS Principal, interviews Mike Figliuolo, thoughtLEADERS Managing Director, on the twelve characteristics of a great leader.

As part of the continuing thought leader series at the Innovating Leadership podcast, Mike will discuss with Maureen his insights and thoughts on the twelve characteristics of great leaders and what makes these characteristics so important.

Mike will share some of his personal experiences as well as the work is doing with clients and he will answer the following questions:

Are great leaders made or born?

You write that many if not most of us are good leaders, but few are truly great. Given that accurate self-analysis is very difficult, how do you know how good of a leader you really are?

Of the 12 characteristics of great leaders that you cite, which ones really resonate with you personally? In other words, which one or two do you consider the most important features of top leaders?

Stay tuned for more of these leadership discussions between Maureen and Mike, along with a few other team members from thoughtLEADERS , being featured on the Innovating Leadership podcast.

How to Build Team Resilience

April 29, 2020/0 Comments/in Business Toolkit, Communications, Leadership, Strategy /by Ryan Shaw

Maureen Metcalf, thoughtLEADERS Principal, sat down with Jim and Jan of The Leadership Podcast to discuss her thoughts on building team resilience.

In continuation of our new collaboration with The Leadership Podcast, Maureen talks about developing team resilience in this short form “chalk talk.” These chalk talk series are bitesize sessions on a common (but challenging) leadership issue.

Maureen previously discussed building personal resilience and so she explains the necessity of this building personal resilience and how this is key, and different, from building resilience as a team.

Jim, Jan, and Maureen delve into some of the agreements that need to be made within a team, or group, that allows space for everyone to develop and maintain their own resilience and respect that nature and encourage it within one another.

Stay tuned for more of these brief Chalk Talks featuring Maureen, as well as many more members of the thoughtLEADERS team.

Defining the Factors of Resiliency

April 22, 2020/0 Comments/in Business Toolkit, Communications, Leadership, Strategy /by Ryan Shaw

Maureen Metcalf, thoughtLEADERS Principal, sat down with Jim and Jan of The Leadership Podcast to discuss her thoughts on resilient leadership.

In continuation of our new collaboration with The Leadership Podcast, Maureen talks about developing and being a resilient leader in this short form “chalk talk.” These chalk talk series are bitesize sessions on a common (but challenging) leadership issue.

Maureen defines resiliency, and resilient leadership, in the modern era, why it’s important when leading a team and differentiates resiliency from adaptability.

Jim and Jan ask a few questions about the different “area” or “phases” of resiliency and the importance of balancing everything out and Maureen explains how your mindset and thought process directly effects the rest of your body, your work, and a slew of other aspects of life.

Stay tuned for more of these brief Chalk Talks featuring Maureen, as well as many more members of the thoughtLEADERS team.

How prepared is your organization for a sudden crisis?

April 16, 2020/1 Comment/in Business Toolkit, Career, Communications, Leadership, Poll, Strategy /by Ryan Shaw

Our reader poll today asks: How prepared is your organization for a sudden crisis?

Extremely: 10.01%
Very: 27.81%
Somewhat: 36.82%
Not very: 17.56%
Not at all: 7.80%

Crisis management identifies opportunities. It would have been interesting to take this poll a few months ago and see what the responses were. My guess is the “Extremely” and “Very” categories would have scored much higher. We tend to overestimate our capabilities and underestimate the impact of a crisis. The best thing you can do during a crisis, other than dealing with it, is identify where your organization is falling short and fill those gaps either during the crisis or after it passes. The weaknesses exposed in the midst of the chaos are ways you can harden your business and get it ready for the next inevitable, unforeseen challenge. Start gathering lessons learned as soon as the crisis hits and allocate resources immediately to fix those issues. You’ll be glad you did when the next crisis hits.

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

– Mike Figliuolo at thoughtLEADERS, LLC

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!

Breaking Down Authenticity

April 15, 2020/0 Comments/in Business Toolkit, Communications, Leadership, Strategy /by Ryan Shaw

Rob Salafia, thoughtLEADERS Principal, sat down with Jim and Jan of The Leadership Podcast to discuss his thoughts on authenticity.

In continuation of our new collaboration with The Leadership Podcast, Rob gives his insights and thoughts on authenticity in this short form “chalk talk.” These chalk talk series are bitesize sessions on a common (but challenging) leadership issue.

Authenticity is a commonly used word in the leadership realm, so Rob breaks down the textbook definition about authenticity and how to use that to your advantage with the different needs of a team and being a leader.

Rob further breaks down why exactly people struggle with just being themselves, especially in a work environment, and how it’s tied to being your “best” self, or the best version of you when at work.

Stay tuned for more of these brief Chalk Talks featuring Rob, as well as many more members of the thoughtLEADERS team.

How to See Your Projects to Completion

April 1, 2020/0 Comments/in Books, Leadership, Project Management, Strategy /by Ryan Shaw

Most of the major initiatives we pursue are conducted as projects. What do you do when those projects go up in flames? There are seven common reasons our projects go bad and the ways to avoid them.

Today’s post is by Mike Figliuolo, Managing Director of thoughtLEADERS.

Projects go off the rails all the time. Some statistics I’ve seen say only 1 in 8 projects can truly be declared as successes. Why are we so horrible at executing projects especially when we have all these “tried and true” project management methodologies?

There are seven deadly killers of projects. Any one of them can undermine your project’s success. The good news is we teach people how to avoid these issues as part of our Project Management Reality course (CLICK HERE to learn more). For the benefit of all my readers, I’ve outlined these seven killers below along with ways to overcome them.

Team Disengagement

The team is just checked out. Low morale. Disinterest. Apathy. Their work products are late or low quality.

To mitigate: ensure your project is listed on their personal goals, get their manager to commit them to the project, and show them how the project benefits them personally/professionally.

New Ideas of Executive Presence

March 25, 2020/0 Comments/in Business Toolkit, Communications, Leadership, Strategy /by Ryan Shaw

Rob Salafia, thoughtLEADERS Principal, sat down with Jim and Jan of The Leadership Podcast to discuss his personal philosophy on executive presence.

In continuation of our new collaboration with The Leadership Podcast, Rob explains his personal thoughts on executive presence in this short form “chalk talk.” These chalk talk series are bitesize sessions on a common (but challenging) leadership issue.

Rob dives into his explanation about what executive presence is, further explaining that it comes down to layers of experience, not your personal experience, but rather how others experience you or your impact on others.

The group then discusses whether there are ways to assess progress in development of your executive presence and Rob dives into his personal philosophy on executive presence and how he utilizes different factors to define and frame out the different components of executive presence so people can build upon them and improve.

Stay tuned for more of these brief Chalk Talks featuring Rob, as well as many more members of the thoughtLEADERS team.