What to Think about BEFORE All-Employee Meetings by Alyson Van Hooser

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

Team building can be significantly impacted during all-employee meetings. Usually, leaders have great intentions and hopes when conducting these team meetings. 

They want to make sure everyone feels celebrated, and they want to be transparent in sharing information. 

 However, sometimes the after-effects of the meeting are less than ideal for team building. 

To avoid unnecessary consequences and negative team building results, watch this episode of The Man & The Millennial Show for what to think about BEFORE your next all-employee meeting. 

Alyson Van Hooser is a leadership keynote speaker and trainer on millennials, Gen Z, and women in business. With the grit that comes only from tough experiences, Alyson has learned a thing or two about personal and professional success. From her management experience with Walmart, as an elected city council member, bank manager—all before the age of 30—Alyson has wisdom well beyond her years! Her latest book, coauthored with Phillip Van Hooser, is Accelerate Your Success: 30-Day Journey to Elevate Your Performance & Fuel Your Professional Growth. Connect with Alyson on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Crack the Code on the Biggest Challenge Facing Business Today by Meridith Elliott Powell

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

What if I told you that today’s uncertainty can actually lead to opportunity and growth? What if I told you that disruption, even when negative, can be just what you need to take your company and team to the next level? And what if I told you that when you embrace uncertainty, it can positively drive innovation, employee engagement, and bottom-line results?  

Now, what if I told you that if you don’t address uncertainty; if as a leader, you don’t address the issue, the elephant in the room; if you don’t have a plan and a strategy for turning uncertainty into opportunity, then the three most important areas of your company—innovation, talent, engagement, bottom-line results will actually be negatively impacted? 

Now, what if I told you that inside this ground-breaking research report is the answer to those questions and the key to turning uncertainty into your greatest competitive advantage? 

Click here to download our 2022/2023 original research on The State of Uncertainty and Its Impact On American Business Today. 

In my 2021/2022 report, I presented research and data I commissioned from The Center for Generational Kinetics (CGK) and shared with you:  

• The influence of uncertainty in business, including the resulting emerging challenges  

• How top leaders navigate this uncertainty  

• A proven 9-step formula you and your team can use to leverage uncertainty, creating immediate opportunities and long-term sustainable growth. 

In this new report for 2022/2023, I compare several data points to last year’s data, giving you unique year-over-year insight into whether your competitors are evolving or missing the boat in this time of prolonged uncertainty. With this apples-to-apples comparison, you can identify early trends and patterns your company can leverage to thrive in a constantly changing market.  

I also reveal and analyze our new findings for 2022/2023, including the powerful impact uncertainty has on the biggest challenges facing business today:  

• Sales and marketing 

• Business innovation 

• Talent recruitment, engagement, and retention 

I uncover how your company can transform uncertainty into opportunity in all of these areas. I give you tools for ensuring uncertainty doesn’t negatively impact your organization in these areas, costing you bottom-line results. I also guide you through the three vital phases your company must complete to respond successfully to any crisis.   

As they did in the previous study, CGK gathered data for 2022/2023 from personal interviews, surveys, and focus groups comprised of business leaders across a broad spectrum of industries, tenures, ages, genders, and experience levels. Since the last report, the world has changed even more. Although Covid is still (and probably will always be) a part of our everyday lives, the pandemic is over for all intents and purposes. It’s no longer front and center in the discussion of uncertainty. Inflation, supply chain issues, as well as exhaustion from continued and never-ending uncertainty, and global unrest have taken over. 

The results show how being ready for uncertainty is more vital than ever for businesses and leaders. And they also show a few surprises, like how certain types of leaders have changed their perspective and how that change is impacting their companies.  

Overall, uncertainty remains one of the greatest opportunities for people who know how to use it. It’s a secret weapon for your organization, clients, and team—but only if you shift how you think, feel, and—most importantly—act towards uncertainty.  

In this report, I help you do just that. I analyze uncertainty on a deep level, present ways for you to develop a strong strategy for capitalizing on it, and give you tools for engaging your team in executing that strategy. 

Uncertainty will always be a constant force, but it’s becoming a stronger and more frequent presence year after year. You must be able to use it to your advantage—or risk being passed by in the marketplace. 

Meridith Elliott Powell is a business strategist, keynote speaker, and award-winning author with expertise in business growth, sales, and leadership strategies. She was named One of the Top 15 Business Growth Experts to Watch by Currency Fair and One of the Top 20 Sales Experts To Follow by LinkedIn. Thrive Workbook & Guided Journal—now available from Sound Wisdom—equips businesses, teams, and leaders to leverage uncertainty to drive innovation and organizational growth.

The State of Uncertainty and the Impact on American Business Today by Meridith Elliott Powell

Photo by Charles Forerunner on Unsplash

Groundbreaking research report on turning uncertainty to strategic advantage 

What if I told you that uncertainty doesn’t have to be a bad thing? That we discovered, based on research from our new report, that uncertainty was something that could actually transform your business and take it to the next level? That our extensive qualitative and quantitative study revealed that uncertainty creates new opportunities, stimulates innovation, and can be your greatest competitive advantage? 

We are excited to announce the release of our groundbreaking research “The State of Uncertainty and the Impact on American Business Today.” Click this link to get your copy of the free report: https://meridithelliottpowell.com/state-of-uncertainty-report/. 

Utilizing research and data commissioned from The Center For Generational Kinetics, we have prepared this report in which you will uncover:  

1. The influence of uncertainty in business and new challenges that are emerging as a result 

2. How business leaders think about and navigate uncertainty 

3. The differences between leaders who are proactive about uncertainty and those who are reactive 

4. A 9-step formula that allows you and your team to leverage uncertainty to create immediate opportunities and long-term sustainable growth 

This report guides you through how to leverage uncertainty to your advantage and provides you with current data gathered from personal interviews, surveys, and focus groups with business leaders from a broad spectrum of industries, tenures, ages, genders, and experience levels. The results were profound and proved how vital it is for businesses and leaders to shift their beliefs and actions as they relate to uncertainty.  

Let me share a little background of why I commissioned the study and why I believe that uncertainty can be your greatest competitive advantage. In 2018, I became obsessed with the word uncertainty. I wanted to know everything about it—what we think about it, how we feel about it, and how we react to it. And let me share: it turns out, we do not like it. 

What if uncertainty was actually something we needed in our businesses, and what if disruption was actually something that could fuel growth and transformation? 

In fact, research proves that we would rather know something bad is going to happen instead of living with the unknown. I found that fascinating, and was intrigued that even in good economic times, CEOs and leaders still worried and stressed about what could or might happen. 

That got me thinking, What if uncertainty was actually something we needed in our businesses, and what if disruption was actually something that could fuel growth and transformation? 

I went on a mission to find companies and leaders who had actually done just that: learned to use uncertainty strategically—and not only to expand their companies, but to gain competitive advantage. 

I was able to identify 9 companies that have been in business since the late 1700s and early 1900s and they are still in business, thriving today. That means they have come through world wars, economic depression, and even survived two pandemics.  

From that research, I created my proven 9-step formula for thriving in an uncertain marketplace.  The formula works no matter the size of your business, the industry you are in, the markets you serve, or the depth of your uncertainty you are experiencing.   

To further prove the formula and the concept of uncertainty creating opportunity, we commissioned this study and published this report.  

Uncertainty can be one of the greatest opportunities for your organization, your clients, and your team. But only if you do the work to more deeply understand it, get your team engaged in driving it, and have a strong strategy in place to capitalize on it. Enjoy this report, and please feel free to share, as we want everyone to benefit and capitalize on the opportunity that uncertainty brings.  

Register now for a FREE webinar on May 6 at 12:00 pm EST on “The State of Uncertainty and YOU.” You’ll take a deep dive into the state of uncertainty, its impact on business, how leaders are reacting, the solutions they are discovering, and the 9-step proven formula for turning uncertainty into competitive advantage. Register now at https://meridithelliottpowell.com/webinar-thrive-and-you/. 

Meridith Elliott Powell, CSP, is a business growth expert, keynote speaker, and award-winning author. In her recently released report on “The State of Uncertainty and the Impact on American Business Today,” she shares the results of groundbreaking research on the state of uncertainty and its impact on American business—both small and large organizations. You’ll also learn cutting-edge techniques for turning uncertainty into your competitive advantage. This research informs her latest book, THRIVE: Strategies to Turn Uncertainty into Competitive Advantage, which you can preorder now.

100 Worst Employees by Jim Stovall

This week, I’m enjoying the most recent installment in one of the greatest ongoing privileges of my life as my latest book is released. Well over forty times, I have worked diligently to gather my thoughts, get them down on paper, and wish them well as they find their way around the world to my readers. 

As in any worthwhile venture, I have a lot of people to thank. Dave Wildasin and his team at Sound Wisdom publishing continue to be willing to put their reputation behind my words. With this particular title, I had the honor to work with my longtime friend and colleague, Kristine Sexter. I met Kristine, and came to know and appreciate her, when she was the president of our state chapter of the National Speakers Association. I thought I had seen her at her best in her presidential role, but I was surprised to learn that she was even more valuable as a co-author.   

100 Worst Employees: Learning from the Very Worst How to Be Your Very Best  is a follow-up to a book I had out several years ago entitled, 100 Worst Bosses. In addition to being hilarious, sad, and poignant, the true stories in 100 Worst Employees are extremely instructive. 

You and I might disagree on what makes a great movie, wonderful meal, or a memorable song, but we can virtually all agree when we experience a bad one. The first step in being the best at anything, is to avoid being the worst. Subtle qualities of world class performers are often hard to pick out, but when you observe someone who is the worst at something, their traits scream at you and refuse to be ignored.  

I can hear people all around the world reading this column and saying, “Jim, I don’t have a very good job, and I don’t plan on staying here any longer than I have to, so why should I worry about my performance?”  

For better or for worse, the way we do anything is the way we do everything. If you show me someone who does a poor job mowing the grass, washing the car, or folding the clothes, they will likely do a poor job at everything they touch.  

The road to having a great job, or even owning your own business, begins with doing the job you currently have with pride and excellence.  Endeavor to be the kind of employee that you want to manage or have working in your company someday. 

As you go through your day today, start being the best by learning from the worst.  

Today’s the day!  

Jim Stovall is the president of Narrative Television Network, a columnist, a motivational speaker, as well as a published author of many books, including The Ultimate Gift. His most recent book, co-authored with Kristine Sexter, is 100 Worst Employees: Learning from the Very Worst How to Be Your Very Best, which is available on October 15, 2019, from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Porchlight Books, and other fine retailers.

Always Do Your Best by Shep Hyken

Our mantra at Shepard Presentations is to Always Be Amazing. Those three words are very important. They are totally consistent with what we stand for, what I write about in my books and articles, and how we conduct ourselves at work every day. It’s simple… 

• We want to be amazing for our employees. 

• We want to be amazing for our clients. 

• And we want to teach our clients to be amazing to their customers, clients, guests, members—and anyone else they do business with. 

I’ve written a book titled Be Amazing or Go Home. In it, I discuss the concept of consistency and use acting legend Richard Burton as an example. The focus is on consistently doing your best. Every day Burton tried to perform at his best. When he performed in plays, night after night, as he was walking out on stage, he would say, “I want to be so good tonight that I cheat the audience that was here last night.” In other words, be better today than yesterday. 

That’s a lofty goal, but one worthy of trying to achieve. Maybe you do it. Maybe you don’t. Regardless, you give it your best shot. Often, it’s the effort of trying your best that gives others confidence about you. That’s what brings customers back—when they can say, “I can depend on them to always do what’s best.” And, if for some reason there is a failure, it won’t be for lack of effort.  

That brings me to another example of doing your best. Sometimes you may need a reason. That reason can be your personal motivation. I recently read a quote by another legend, this time in the sports world. It is said that baseball icon and Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio was asked by a reporter, “Why do you play so hard every single day?” DiMaggio replied, “Because in the stands there may be someone who is seeing me for the first time or for the last time, and they expect my best.”

Yes, DiMaggio was a fierce competitor and came to every game to win. And it was his second reason that added fuel to that motivation. Just like Richard Burton, Joe DiMaggio knew people came to see him play. They came to see him do his best. And he never wanted to let them down. 

So, what’s your reason for wanting to do your best? What inspires you to be the best you that you can be? When you find it, and you live it, you’ll come to work to be your best. Your customers will appreciate you. Your colleagues at work will appreciate you. And, you’ll appreciate you! 

Shep Hyken is a customer service expert, keynote speaker, and New York Times bestselling business author. His most recent book from Sound Wisdom, Be Amazing or Go Home, is available now for purchase from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Porchlight Books, and other fine retailers. Get your copy now and discover how Amazement can transform your business culture, improve employee retention, increase sales, and boost customer loyalty.

4 Ways to Grow Your Consulting Business by Jennifer Janechek

The consulting industry has seen considerable growth in the past decade. According to this article in The Wall Street Journal, “U.S. companies increased spending on consulting by 7.1% in 2016,” with the amount of money paid to consultants reaching $58.7 billion.  

With sufficient expertise in a given area, you can easily start a consulting business of your own. If you have mastered a skill such as business management, digital marketing, or fundraising, you can build a multimillion-dollar business around this knowledge. But because there are so many consulting practices out there, you’ll likely have to do some work to grow your company. To do so, consider the following approaches:  

1. Network both locally and nationally—and even globally. 

Not only should you attend the relevant professional conferences and connect with others in your field, discussing how you can support each other’s businesses; you should also network locally, within your community. Contact small businesses in your area to see what services they might be needing—if you can’t help them in their area of need, perhaps you can connect them with someone who can. You could also join a mastermind group that meets virtually and network with other consultants and entrepreneurs around the world. For more on the value of mastermind groups, read Napoleon Hill’s 1937 classic, Think and Grow Rich. 

2. Provide referral discounts and rewards. 

Give your clients business cards with a first-time client discount code to share with their contacts. Once a contact solicits your consulting services, provide the client who referred him or her with a credit or discount for future services. This is an incredibly easy way to turn happy customers into loyal clients and to reach a larger audience. 

3. Get tips from professionals. 

It’s always helpful to refine your methods and expand your knowledge base by receiving help from experts in your area. One way to do this is to take an online course, such as Sound Wisdom Learning Academy’s WOW! Business Advisory Course. Created for small business owners, entrepreneurs, managers, and business consultants, this course educates users in the Five P System of Professional Management—a methodology for streamlining business practices to promote business growth, increase cash flow, ensure happier and more committed employees, and give managers and owners more freedom to spend time on things that matter to them. Licensed by Sandler Training, the world’s largest management and sales training company, the online course contains workbooks, slides, and other materials generated specifically for business management consultants to use with their clients. Check out the WOW! Business Advisory today and see how it might revolutionize the work you do with your clients and help you build a larger client base.  

Another way to receive professional advice is by hiring a coach. Coaches provide invaluable one-on-one support that can help you grow your business by identifying your company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats and by connecting you with the resources you need to succeed. According to author, coach, and certified professional speaker Shawn Doyle, CSP (http://shawndoylemotivates.com/), “If you want to get from where you are to where you want to be, then hire a coach who has already been there. The huge advantage of hiring a coach is getting tools tips and techniques to accelerate your progress and growth. If all world-class athletes have coaches, then you should have a coach if you want to be a world-class business person.”  

4. Get published. 

Another way to boost your company’s exposure is by publishing material on your area of expertise. These publications might take the form of articles in business magazines and trade publications or even a book. Sharing your knowledge and experience in this way will increase the visibility of your company and greatly enhance your credibility. Interested in submitting a manuscript to Sound Wisdom? Learn more here. 

There are many other approaches to growing your consulting business, but these four tactics are a great start to expanding your client base, building your company’s reputation, and enhancing your support system. There are myriad opportunities out there for consultants—make sure that you are taking advantage of all the ones available to you! 

Get Into Position and Excel! By Adrean Turner

There are certain aspects of success that involve chance or luck. For instance, someone you know has a personal relationship with a hiring manager of a company that you want to join. They provide a referral, and you are able to bypass the cumbersome online application process and receive an immediate interview. That’s a benefit of chance. 

But in many cases, success doesn’t just happen. It is dependent on you! You are responsible for setting the stage and positioning yourself for opportunities that can lead to goal achievement. 

Consider this situation. After being frustrated for months with her job, one of my group coaching clients packed up her entire family and moved to the West Coast for a new opportunity. Although it wasn’t her ideal position, she was confident that it provided an environment where she could fully contribute and excel. Just as luck would have it, three months later, her director resigned, creating an opportunity for a promotion. Because of the work ethic she demonstrated and the relationships she built in that short time period, she was offered the role. She made a choice to take a chance to achieve the change she desired in her career, and it paid off. She positioned herself to succeed. 

“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” ~Seneca

No matter what you are trying to accomplish or become successful with—a career transition, a promotion, more time with family, better relationships with others, or a healthier lifestyle—these tips can help. 

1. Pursue Progress and Forget Perfection
   The goal is moving forward, not how fast you go or how well you do it. Small steps forward add up to a lot of mileage over time. As you succeed, you’ll learn and improve along the way. Get your footing and follow through on the tasks you’ve identified that will help you to excel. 

2. Manage Your Time
   If your activities don’t align with your vision or mission, it’s time to make some changes. When you’re bored, how do you amuse yourself? What do you do when you procrastinate? How can you add more time to do the things that are helpful for achieving your objectives? Write them down so you can see the impact of your actions or lack of action. The sooner you’re able to stop yourself from indulging in time-wasting activities, the better the odds of success. 

3. Schedule Time to Get Things Done
   Someday is not a day of the week. Eliminate non-essential tasks that are clogging your calendar. Be purposeful in allocating time to get things accomplished. Begin by starting small (if it’s necessary). Schedule 30 minutes a day for working toward accomplishing your goals. Focus on staying engaged, and record your progress daily to stay motivated. 

4. Meet More People
   You often hear that it’s what you know or who you know that leads to success. Another contributing fact that matters is who knows you. Surveys reveal that personal referrals are the top means of how jobs are filled. One survey conducted in partnership with LinkedIn reveals that up to 85 percent of jobs could be filled that way. Networking helps you connect with mentors, customers, colleagues, and people of influence. Get the word out about who you are and what you are trying to accomplish. Use every opportunity to increase your exposure by sharing valuable information and insights that demonstrate your brand and that supports those who engage with you. 

5. Build a Support System
   Reaching your goals will involve talent, persistence, patience, and other people. According to Nielsen’s Trust In Advertising report, 84 percent of consumers say they either completely or somewhat trust recommendations from family, colleagues, and friends about products and services—making these recommendations the highest-ranked source for trustworthiness. 
   
   In order to sell yourself or a product, create your own advisory board. Surround yourself with people who challenge you, inspire you, make you laugh, add value to your life, and who will vouch for you. The strongest method of success is when others do the work for you, whether that is through encouragement, information, or a recommendation. If you can get others to support you, the chances of your success are multiplied. 

Don’t sit around idling…waiting for success to knock on your door. Move forward and be your best self! Get into position and excel. It’s time! 

Get more information and inspiration in Adrean’s book, F.I.T. for Success: Fearless, Inspired, Transformed for Success, or visit www.coachadrean.com. To receive this e-book, click here and get it now. 

Character vs. Strategy by Simon T. Bailey

In life there are moments that create a cause for a pause. Here’s one that I just had to share with you. 

A while back, I was sitting in a board meeting for one of the non-profit organizations I serve, and the president and founder posed this question: “In business, which one is more important—character or strategy?” 

Everyone around the table chimed in and gave an opinion. It was evenly split down the middle. 

However, the president said that character is more important than strategy. A profound silence swept through the room as we waited to hear his rationale. 

He then said, “Anyone can come up with a strategy, but if they lack character, it is nothing more than a man in an empty suit with a hallowed soul.” I sat there in astonishment doing my best to process the deeper meaning. And then I had an epiphany: 

Character is forged when no one is looking. 

Character is doing the work of work for no prize at all. 

“A person of character is willing to do the right thing and walk alone than to do the wrong thing in order to follow the crowd.” 

I’ve discovered people over the years who talk a good game. They can blow smoke in your ears and do everything they can to see and be seen. They want everyone to know that they are important, smart, and special. 

I was that foolish person once upon a time. 

Then one day, I met a man of impeccable character. He was the type of person who gets personally invited to the White House. As I watched him from afar, he walked into the room and didn’t make a big fuss or a scene. 

His presence spoke volumes, and I learned that when you are “the man,” you don’t have to tell people that you’re the man. Your very essence will speak louder than words. 

Be mindful of a person whose mouth runs faster than their mind. True character speaks less and listens more. 

That man invited me to join this non-profit board, and my life has never been the same. 

The original post appeared here on Simon T. Bailey’s website and has been slightly modified for republication. For more inspiration from the author, pick up a copy of his books Shift Your Brilliance: Harnessing the Power of You, Inc. and Brilliant Living: 31 Insights to Creating an Awesome Life.