Month: December 2023

Corporate CPR Episode 102: How Lack Of Alignment Within Your Organization Might Be Stunting Your Growth

/ Jana

On today’s episode we are talking about how lack of alignment within your organization might be stunting your growth. 

Jim Stevenson, Founder and CEO of Bletchley Group, an International Growth Consultants firm, specializes in Strategy, Transformation, and Growth. Committed to making growth the focus of strategy, he excels in creating customer-centric plans, go-to-market strategies, and aligning capabilities for revenue growth. As the visionary behind Tech Startup Machine, Jim collaborates with global brands and startups, providing digital services, from e-commerce to brand protection. Noteworthy clients include Guardian News, Bacardi, and Hilton Hotels. A Thought Leader and Speaker on Digital Strategies, Marketing, and Business, Jim’s specialties encompass Strategy, Transformation, and Growth. His versatile roles include Interim/Fractional Chair, CEO, Leader, Consultant, or Coach.

Episode Highlights:

Cultural Foundation: A strong, shared culture is foundational for a growing company’s success. Maintaining this culture becomes challenging as organizations expand, but it is crucial to prevent the formation of silos that hinder overall alignment and productivity.

Vision and Leadership Alignment: Continuous emphasis on the North Star or overarching vision is vital for a growing organization. Lack of alignment at the leadership level, including the board, CEO, and C-suite, can lead to divergent objectives and hinder overall progress.

OKRs for Strategic Alignment: Implementing Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) is a powerful strategy for aligning teams with overarching company goals. Focusing on challenging OKRs, cascaded from the top down, ensures a balance between aspiration and achievability.

Testing and Learning: Embracing a mindset of continuous testing and learning is crucial, especially for smaller entrepreneurial companies. Setting a clear time horizon for metrics and accepting the possibility of mistakes are key to the learning process.

Start Small for Big Impact: Initiating change through smaller, impactful projects can have a significant effect when steering a large organization. Proving success on a small scale generates enthusiasm and paves the way for broader and more significant transformations.

Jim’s Top 3 Takeaways for the Audience:

  1. Culture is a big thing.
  2. Alignment at all levels of the organization is critical.
  3. Focus on executive sponsorship. 

How to Connect with Jim:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimstevenson/

Unwrapping Relaxation: A Guide to Stress-Free Work During the Holiday Season

/ Jana

The holiday season is upon us, and while it’s the most wonderful time of the year, it can also be the most stressful—especially when it comes to balancing work commitments and festive celebrations. However, fret not! In the spirit of giving, we’ve wrapped up some tips on how to breeze through the workday without letting stress take the joy out of your holidays.

1. Plan and Prioritize:

Just like planning your holiday shopping, planning your work tasks can make a world of difference. Create a to-do list, prioritize your tasks, and set realistic deadlines. Knowing what needs to be done and when will help you manage your time more effectively, leaving room for some holiday cheer.

2. Set Boundaries:

It’s essential to establish boundaries between work and personal time, especially during the holidays. Communicate your availability to colleagues and clients, and be clear about when you’ll be taking time off. Setting these expectations will allow you to fully enjoy your time away from work without constantly worrying about what’s happening in the office.

3. Embrace Flexibility:

The holidays are a time for joy and spontaneity. Embrace flexibility in your work schedule when possible. If you find yourself with some free time during the day, take a break to enjoy a festive treat or go for a walk to soak in the holiday spirit. A little flexibility can go a long way in reducing stress.

4. Delegate Wisely:

You don’t have to carry the entire workload on your own sleigh. Learn to delegate tasks and trust your team members. Delegating not only lightens your load but also provides others with opportunities to shine. A collaborative effort can make the workload more manageable for everyone.

5. Unplug and Recharge:

Remember that your mental well-being is just as important as your work commitments. Take the time to unplug from work emails and notifications during designated holiday hours. Use this time to recharge, spend quality moments with loved ones, and engage in activities that bring you joy.

6. Celebrate Small Wins:

Acknowledge and celebrate your achievements, no matter how small. Completing a project, meeting a deadline, or successfully wrapping up a challenging task deserves recognition. Celebrating these wins can boost your morale and help you stay motivated during the holiday hustle.

7. Practice Self-Care:

Amidst the holiday rush, don’t forget to take care of yourself. Whether it’s enjoying a cup of hot cocoa, taking a few minutes to meditate, or getting a good night’s sleep, self-care is crucial. A well-rested and rejuvenated you is better equipped to tackle work challenges and enjoy the festivities.

8. Reflect and Reset:

As the year draws to a close, take some time to reflect on your accomplishments and lessons learned. Use this reflection to set positive intentions for the upcoming year. A fresh perspective can provide clarity and motivation as you head into the new year.

By implementing these strategies, you can navigate the holiday season with greater ease, balancing work responsibilities and festive celebrations. After all, the most wonderful time of the year should be enjoyed stress-free! Cheers to a joyful and productive holiday season!

Corporate CPR Episode 101: Why You Might Be Killing Innovation Within Your Organization

/ Jana

On today’s episode we are talking about why you might be killing innovation within your organization. 

Robyn Bolton, Founder of MileZero, collaborates with medium to large businesses, guiding them through uncertainty to drive revenue growth. With a focus on innovation, she transforms deep customer insights into viable businesses, having worked with notable companies such as Medtronic and Teachers Pay Teachers. Formerly a Partner at Innosight, she served Global 1000 firms, including Nike and Nestle, shaping new markets and business models. Robyn, an MBA graduate from Harvard Business School, began her career at Procter & Gamble, leading the North American launch of Swiffer. A respected thought leader, her articles on innovation appear in major publications, and she frequently speaks on topics like Intrapreneurship and Design Thinking. 

Episode Highlights:

Strategic Innovation for Growth: Innovation is pivotal for organizational growth, addressing the “growth gap” and maintaining competitiveness in dynamic markets.

Adapting to Rapid Change: Established companies face the challenge of adapting to accelerated technological change, necessitating quicker innovation cycles for sustained relevance.

Clear Definition Drives Alignment: A shared and clear definition of innovation is essential to align diverse perceptions within organizations, ensuring cohesive efforts.

Diversified Portfolio Approach: Success in innovation requires a balanced portfolio encompassing incremental, adjacent, and transformative approaches, each demanding specific structures for optimal execution.

Leadership’s Dual Mandate: Leaders play a pivotal role in maintaining operational efficiency while fostering the adaptability essential for driving and sustaining innovation initiatives.

Robyn’s Top 3 Takeaways for the Audience:

  1. Leaders, the tension you feel between operating and innovating is real. You goal now is to figure out how to live with that tension and both operate and innovate in the best way for your organization. 
  2. Innovation isn’t an event. It can start with one, but make sure you have a plan for how to keep the momentum going. 
  3. Get really good at incremental innovation and set up a separate team and structure to focus on adjacent innovation.

How to Connect with Robyn:

Website: https://www.milezero.io

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robynmbolton/

Nurturing Success: The Art of Stakeholder Engagement

/ Jana

Let’s discuss a topic that’s often underestimated but plays a crucial role in the success of any project or initiative: Stakeholder Engagement.

Keeping your stakeholders engaged is like tending to a flourishing garden. You need to plant the seeds, water them regularly, and make sure they get enough sunlight. In our corporate world, the seeds are ideas, and the sunlight is effective communication and collaboration. Let’s break it down.

1. Involve Them from the Get-Go: Ever hosted a party without inviting your closest friends? Probably not! Similarly, involving stakeholders from the project’s inception is key. Their insights and perspectives are invaluable, and by including them early on, you set the stage for a collaborative and inclusive environment.

2. Communication is the Glue: Imagine trying to complete a puzzle without the picture on the box. Communication is the picture on the box in our business puzzle. Regular updates, transparent communication, and sharing the big picture help stakeholders understand their role and the project’s progress. Whether it’s good news, challenges, or changes in direction, keeping everyone in the loop is vital.

3. Address Concerns Promptly: Like any relationship, there will be concerns. Addressing them promptly is like putting out a small fire before it turns into a blaze. Whether it’s clarifying misunderstandings, mitigating risks, or adapting to changing circumstances, showing that you’re on top of issues fosters trust and loyalty.

4. Feedback: The Secret Sauce: Ever tried a dish without salt? It lacks flavor! Similarly, a project without stakeholder feedback may miss critical elements. Encourage open and honest feedback. It’s the secret sauce that enhances the quality of your project. Learn, adapt, and evolve based on what your stakeholders are saying.

5. Celebrate Together: Success tastes sweeter when shared. Don’t forget to celebrate milestones and victories, big or small. Acknowledge the contributions of your stakeholders and make them feel like they’re part of something meaningful.

Stakeholder engagement isn’t just a buzzword; it’s the beating heart of successful projects. Like any relationship, it requires effort, communication, and mutual respect. By involving stakeholders, addressing concerns, and valuing their feedback, you not only maintain their support but also pave the way for future collaborations.

Corporate CPR Episode 100: How Communication Might Be Killing Your Organization

/ Jana

On today’s episode we are talking about how communication might be killing your organization.

Pam Hurley, PhD, is the founder and president of Hurley Write, Inc., a certified women-owned small business. Pam’s teaching style has been described as “energetic” and “straightforward.” Indeed, many clients credit Pam with giving them the strategies they needed to start thinking critically about their own writing. 

Episode Highlights:

Impact of Effective Writing: Effective writing plays a critical role in shaping an organization’s reputation, customer relationships, and financial success. Poor writing can lead to confusion, questions, and damage to the company’s image.

Undervaluation of Writing Skills: Many organizations undervalue the importance of writing skills, expressing a need for quality documents while neglecting to invest in the development of their employees’ writing proficiency. There is an assumption that a college education ensures adequate writing skills.

Time and Cost Consequences: Poor writing has not only communication quality implications but also significant time and cost repercussions due to repeated document iterations and reviews. This is especially noticeable when employees, such as project managers, are burdened with excessive reviewing responsibilities that detract from their primary roles.

Equal Rigor for Internal Communication: Internal communication, encompassing emails and other documents, deserves the same level of scrutiny as client-facing communication. Miscommunication internally can lead to problems, impacting relationships and rapport within the organization.

Audience-Centric Writing: Deep understanding of the audience is crucial in effective writing. Knowing the attributes, relationships, and context of the reader aids in tailoring the tone, voice, and content appropriately. This prevents misunderstandings and enhances the overall effectiveness of communication, both internally and externally.

Pam’s Top 3 Takeaways for the Audience:

  1. Think of the organization in terms of the communication. Is there an organizational problem? Do you have a communication standard in place?
  2. Writing should be part of your overall strategic plan for the company. 
  3. Always think about the planning of your documents. 

How to Connect with Pam:

Website: https://www.hurleywrite.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hurleywrite/