Leadership Insights from Senior Executives

Companies pushing their people to “execute” will increasingly fall on tougher times As both customers and employees leave for better experiences Why? Because the accepted legacy management model looks at senior leadership as "the brain." And look at people farther down in the org as the “hands,” not paid to "think" but to "do," AKA, stay “heads-down,” and "execute." But this is what makes for bad “execution,” bad working environments, and ultimately, bad experiences for customers There’s a simple yet far more powerful mental model via Jennifer Riel and Roger Martin Great companies understand that strategy means making choices under constraints And the best way to have great “execution” is to start with a clear & simple company strategy Designed by senior leadership who see how the different parts of the business come together to create value. And every layer down in the hierarchy isn’t reduced to a group of automatons blindly “executing” what they’re told to do But instead encouraging them to use their wisdom, intelligence, experience, knowledge, and increasing closeness to customers on the front lines To make their own set of "nested" strategy choices that support and reinforce the choices of the layer above. This is not only how you create great working environments It’s also key to industry-leading client experiences

When you move into senior executive roles, your value isn’t in solving problems, it’s in recognizing patterns. At this level, most challenges aren’t new. What’s new is the scale of consequences when they go unaddressed, and your ability to spot them early. What I’ve learned: Great operators solve problems. Great executives prevent them by noticing themes others miss. Exceptional leaders redesign the system so those problems stop recurring. Enterprise leadership requires stepping back far enough to see the invisible threads, the repeated breakdowns, the cultural cues, the blind spots baked into your processes. And it demands a very different type of attention. What pattern have you noticed lately that might deserve deeper leadership attention? #EnterpriseLeadership #PatternRecognition #StrategicThinking #ExecutiveWisdom

Leadership Lessons I'm Learning: From Feedback to Tough Decisions In my leadership journey, I've discovered that excellence is rooted in ongoing learning, particularly in mastering feedback and tough decision-making. Let me share some key insights I've gathered along the way, enriched with personal experiences: 1. Feedback is a two-way street: Early in my leadership career, I learned to shift from a 'tell-and-go' method to a collaborative feedback approach. During a project review, I asked my team for their input on improvements, which not only offered valuable insights but also fostered a sense of ownership. This inclusive approach significantly contributed to the project's success. 2. Know your Weaknesses: In my first managerial role, public speaking was a challenge for me. By acknowledging this and actively working to improve – through courses and practice – I was able to transform this weakness into one of my strengths, significantly enhancing my leadership effectiveness. 3. Hire for fit, not just skills: Once, I interviewed a candidate whose resume wasn't perfect, but his leadership potential was clear. I asked, 'Who will follow you?' His answer about inspiring teamwork and leading by example was impressive. His subsequent success in our team proved that fit and potential are just as vital as skills. 4. Pay attention to the warning signs: I recall a time when our senior leadership became quiet and budgets tightened. Proactively engaging with upper management revealed we were approaching a major strategic shift, allowing our team to adapt smoothly. This experience taught me the value of being attentive to subtle changes in the business environment. 5.  Be deliberate and decisive, even when it's tough: The tough decision to let a long-time team member go was a challenging moment. Approaching it with empathy and clear communication not only helped maintain trust within the team but also reinforced the importance of compassionate leadership in difficult times. Remember, everyone else is watching how you handle it. These lessons have been invaluable to me. What leadership lesson has been most impactful for you? Share your experiences below. Let's keep learning and growing together. #leadership #growth #learning #feedback #decisionmaking PC - DALL·E

🌟 Leadership Insight: The Power of Deep Care in Leadership 🌟 As leaders, our role extends beyond managing projects to truly caring for our people. Throughout my career, I've observed that while projects will come and go, the lasting impact we have on our team members remains vivid in our memories. This realization underscores the importance of showing deep care in leadership, a concept that resonates deeply with me. Leadership is not just about guiding projects but nurturing people. Here are practical ways leaders can show deep care: 1) Quality Time: Invest in one-on-one time with team members. This can be as simple as regular check-ins or casual coffee meetings where the focus is on listening and understanding their personal and professional goals. 2) Empathy: Show genuine empathy. Acknowledge the challenges they face and be there to support them. This means being approachable and available when they need guidance or simply someone to listen. 3) Personal Attention: Pay attention to the small details that matter to them. Celebrate their birthdays, acknowledge their work anniversaries, and be present in moments of personal significance. 4) Open Communication: Foster an environment where open communication is encouraged. Let your team know that their ideas and opinions are valued and that it’s safe to express themselves without fear of judgment. 5) Supportive Feedback: Provide constructive feedback in a way that encourages growth and improvement, not fear or resentment. Recognize their efforts publicly and offer guidance discreetly. Each interaction is an opportunity to reinforce how much you care. The true essence of leadership lies in building trust and fostering a safe environment where team members feel seen, heard, and valued. I encourage every leader to reflect on this: "Did you remember to show deep care for your team? How can you make your team members feel truly valued today?" The best leaders focus on leaving a lasting positive impact on our people. After all, at the end of the day, it’s the people and our relationships with them that we’ll remember most. #TechLeadership #Leadership #Teamwork #ShowDeepCare

The Tail Wagging the Dog? Leaders start companies with visions of freedom, yet often become entangled in their own creations. In this dance of entrepreneurship, the company often ends up leading the leader. It’s a tale as old as business itself – the tail wagging the dog. As executives and CEOs, our true north should not be lost in the busyness of business. We must ask ourselves: Are we adding value commensurate with our unique skills? Hard work, when not strategically directed, can be a misguided endeavor. Leadership is not about the hours logged, but the value generated within those hours. The CEO role is straightforward yet profound – to manage resources to support operational roles, not to become the highest-performing employee. In my work, including insights from legends like Marshall Goldsmith, it's clear that the best leaders create space for reflection and strategic thinking. The misconception that more hours equals more success leads to a paradox: the more you work, the less effective you may become. Leadership effectiveness is not proportional to hours worked. It’s not about working less, but about creating mental space to focus on what truly matters. Your company should reflect your vision, not command your life. It’s about living a balanced life that aligns with your personal values and aspirations. Great leaders model the behavior they wish to see, ensuring a life rich in personal and professional fulfillment. As we lead, let’s embrace this: Our top priority is life, and companies are built to enhance it, not the other way around. Be the architect, not the servant of your creation.

In my role as CEO, I've come to understand that the essence of achievement lies in a relentless drive to align what is with what could be. The future we dream about isn't just a distant possibility; it's a destination we can actively move towards. This doesn't happen by chance or overnight. It's the result of deliberate actions and strategic shifts that bridge the divide between our current state and our goals. Here's my take on how to make this happen: Visionary Clarity: Start with a crystal-clear picture of your desired outcome. Know your goals inside out, both immediate and distant. Lifelong Learning: The journey to your aspirations is paved with knowledge and skills yet to be acquired. Embrace a culture of continuous learning for yourself and your team. Unwavering Resilience: Roadblocks are inevitable. View each challenge as a stepping stone rather than a stumbling block. Collective Effort: Achievements are rarely the work of a lone genius. Cultivate a team that shares your passion and vision. Flexibility in Strategy: The ability to adapt is invaluable. Your envisioned path may need adjustments as circumstances change. Be open to altering your course to stay aligned with your ultimate objectives. Let's motivate one another to transform the path to our dreams into a tangible reality! #CEOInsights #LeadershipJourney #GrowthMindset #TeamworkMakesTheDreamWork

🌟 Embracing Leadership in Prosperity and Adversity 🌟 In the past two years, I've observed the profound impact of layoffs on individuals I know. Navigating through challenging times isn't straightforward, yet it reveals the essence of effective leadership. Drawing from my 30 years of experience and ascending into senior leadership roles, I've encountered both remarkable and less-than-ideal leaders. Here's a synthesis of my insights: During Prosperity: 🙌 Leaders communicate openly with teams. 🙌 They offer bonuses, training, and additional perks. 🙌 Innovation is fostered. 🙌 Team offsites and building activities are organized. In Tougher Times Distinguished Leaders: 🌟 Communicate early and transparently about the company's status. 🌟Willingly sacrifice some of their rewards before layoffs become necessary. 🌟Treat Laid-off employees with respect and genuine concern. 🌟Take responsibility for decisions made, with a clear path forward. 🌟Continuously communicate plans to move ahead as well as to listen to concerns and ideas from the team(s) Conversely, Poor Leaders: 😕 Fail in honesty and transparency during tough times, fearing uncomfortable conversations. 😕Prioritize short-term bottom line at the expense of the long term. 😕Let go of valuable employees without warnings or safety nets. 😕Shift blame to external factors for the company's challenges. Leaders must realize that their reputation and the company's reputation endure. In today's interconnected world, platforms like Glassdoor empower everyone to scrutinize a company's ethos. Those leaders maintaining quality values in both good and challenging times end up with: 🌟 Trust from their people, forming the bedrock of a positive organizational culture. 🌟Increased employee engagement, creating a sense of connection to goals and strategies, enhancing productivity and commitment. 🌟A culture of transparency, positively impacting the organization’s performance, leading to higher profits and improved outcomes. I extend my gratitude to some of the finest leaders I've had the privilege to work with, who exemplified exceptional leadership: john Fleming, Pat Gelsinger, Dino Cicciarelli, Raghvender Arni, and Joe Fitzgerald. Their influence has shaped my understanding of what true leadership entails. #Leadership #Gratitude #techleadership #peoplemanagement #womenintech 🚀

Are you, as a leader, seeking to understand how your role as a leader is evolving in the growing impact of AI? How do we understand the past but progress to a brighter future for everyone? And considering all that, how can we lead your teams and organizations when our world is constantly changing and evolving? A couple of weeks ago, I had the honor of sitting down to chat with Rob Kamranpoor P.Eng, MBA, LL.M ✭ on the RK Leadership Inc. podcast. It was a deep dive into my experience and my unique use of design thinking as a leadership practice (which I call leading by design). Leading by design is the future of leadership and we dive into what it is, why it works, and more. Here's some of the things we discussed (see time stamps in the description on YouTube to catch a specific topic) 📖 My background and entry into leadership. 📈 to 🧶 Evolution from linear to nonlinear leadership and the importance of impact. 🏆 The role of design thinking in Karen's early leadership success. 🪜 Experiences climbing the corporate ladder, having the ladder on the wrong wall (more than once!) and embracing change. ▵ Advice on leadership and managing change effectively. 🤝 Creating team engagement and Karen's inclusive leadership style. ♥️ Reflections on leaving management and the shift towards volunteering and purpose. 🧑🏼🎨 🎨 Advice for those considering leaving their 9-to-5 jobs. 🔌 Finding purpose in life and the connection to design thinking. 🔮 Design thinking as the future of leadership and its principles. 🤖 The impact of AI on leadership and the importance of human elements. 🫶🏼 The significance of authenticity and vulnerability in leadership. 👧🏼 Final thoughts, advice for young leaders #designthinking #leadership #leadingbydesign #innovation #inclusivity #changemanagement #leadershipstyle #leadershipcommunication #leadershipdevelopment #purpose #AI #nonlinear https://lnkd.in/eV-pHchD

The leadership landscape is evolving, are you keeping pace? 🤔 While traditional top-down leadership models are slowly getting outdated, a new era of collaboration rises, reshaping the role of CEOs. We're focusing more on aligning our teams behind a shared vision and empowering them to contribute to organizational wins. Yet, recent studies highlight that our journey toward effective leadership still has a long way to go. The challenge is clear - we need to keep up with these shifting employee expectations and grow alongside. In my capacity as a founder and CEO, I've witnessed the powerful impact of leadership adaptation on our venture's growth trajectory. Here, I distilled eight key insights from my journey that could illuminate yours. 1️⃣  Identify Your Leadership Style - Every leader is unique; knowing what distinguishes your style paves the way for more efficient, tailor-fit strategies. 2️⃣  Follow Your Passion - Leadership is not just about power. It’s about steering the ship in a direction that aligns with your strengths and values. 3️⃣  Embrace Visibility - As a CEO, you are a beacon guiding your team. Be aware of your actions and words; your team's morale depends on it. 4️⃣  Know When to Step Back - Empower your team to make decisions. Sometimes, the best leadership is about releasing control. 5️⃣  Set Goals & Guardrails - Clear, measurable objectives and well-defined scope enable your team to navigate the path to success. 6️⃣  Stick to Your Values - Your core beliefs guide your actions, decisions, and priorities. Make them visible within your organization. 7️⃣  Show Genuine Care - Make your employees feel valued. Respect, care, and empathy foster a positive, productive work culture. 8️⃣  Celebrate the Journey - Promote a positive atmosphere by acknowledging achievements and celebrating milestones, big and small. The hallmark of a successful CEO is the constant ambition to evolve. With deliberate effort, intent, and a humble attitude, you can elevate not just yourself but your entire organization, offering leadership that truly engages and inspires. What's your takeaway for today's leaders in their quest to become better? 💡

What better time than vacation to reflect on leadership—especially after an inspiring Leadership Immersion with McKinsey & Company and the World Economic Forum (WEF) in New York. One of the most impactful resources from the experience was the book "The Journey of Leadership", written by McKinsey partners Dana Maor, Hans-Werner Kaas, Kurt Strovink, and Ramesh Srinivasan. Based on their work with over 500 of the world’s top CEOs and business leaders, the book explores what it means to lead from the inside out. Here are some powerful insights: 1. Humility – You’re not the smartest person in the room. The best leaders know they don’t have all the answers. Listening—truly listening—is one of the most challenging skills at senior levels. Real value comes from the ability to connect the dots and integrate diverse perspectives. 2. Confidence – You belong here. Belonging is a birthright. Leaders with a strong sense of identity are more likely to take risks, admit mistakes, ask for help, and make bold decisions. A healthy sense of self creates the foundation for courageous leadership. 3. Selflessness – Stop trying to prove yourself. Effective leaders make decisions for the good of the organization—not to serve their own ego. Putting purpose above personal ambition allows them to act in the best interest of the team, the company, and the broader ecosystem. 4. Vulnerability – It’s okay to be yourself. Vulnerable leaders are aware of what triggers their emotions and know how to channel those feelings into constructive action. Emotional awareness strengthens authenticity and trust. 5. Resilience – So you failed. Now what? Those who manage failure well are honest about their own shortcomings, learn from mistakes, and bounce forward. Resilience isn't about avoiding failure—it's about using it as fuel for growth. 6. Versatility – Learn to be agile. In a world of rapid and unpredictable change, adaptability is essential. Strong leaders focus on what matters most and develop the depth and flexibility to shift direction without losing sight of purpose. Taking time to pause and reflect has been a gift—a reminder that the journey of leadership never ends, and of the kind of leadership the world needs more than ever. BH Compliance #Leadership #YGL #Purpose