Enhancing Leadership Vision

Sustainability = Innovation 🌎 Integrating sustainability into business strategy requires continuous advancements in technology, processes, and resource management. At the same time, sustainability challenges drive research, development, and operational efficiencies that lead to new market opportunities and competitive advantages. Resource constraints drive material and process innovation. The need for alternatives to finite or harmful materials has accelerated the development of advanced composites, circular economy models, and energy-efficient production systems, improving cost efficiency and resilience. Addressing sustainability challenges requires systems-level innovation. Reducing emissions, optimizing resource use, and minimizing waste require advancements in supply chain management, product lifecycle design, and industrial processes, reshaping entire sectors. Cross-functional collaboration is critical. Sustainability initiatives require input from engineering, data science, regulatory compliance, and finance to develop integrated solutions that meet environmental targets while maintaining operational and commercial viability. Data-driven approaches enhance sustainability performance. Measuring environmental impact enables companies to identify inefficiencies, optimize resource allocation, and refine business strategies based on quantifiable sustainability metrics. Long-term sustainability targets drive investment in research and technology. Businesses are accelerating development in areas such as AI-driven resource optimization, carbon capture, and next-generation materials to align with regulatory requirements and market expectations. Nature-based solutions provide scalable innovation opportunities. Biomimicry has led to advancements in self-healing materials, passive cooling systems, and regenerative agricultural techniques, improving efficiency and resilience across industries. Sustainability is reshaping business models. The transition to circular economy principles, service-based models, and regenerative supply chains is driving competitive differentiation and long-term value creation. Innovation is fundamental to achieving sustainability objectives. The convergence of regulatory frameworks, technological advancements, and market shifts is reinforcing the role of sustainability as a driver of industrial transformation and business resilience. #sustainability #sustainable #business #esg #climatechange

✴️ How aligned is your leadership team on the North Star?  I often use this 2x2 model to highlight the central role of an organization’s North Star.   1️⃣ Strategy and Operations are interdependent: Without strategy, operations become chaotic. Without operations, strategy remains wishful thinking.   2️⃣ Strategy and Culture are interdependent: Strategy without culture is all head, no heart. Culture without strategy is just a group of people with no shared direction.   3️⃣ Culture and People are interdependent: Culture binds people together - but without people, there is no culture.   4️⃣ People and Operations are interdependent: At least until the robots take over.      ✴️ What brings all four quadrants into alignment? Leadership.   The leadership team is what connects Strategy, Culture, People, and Operations. But here’s the reality: many leadership teams are not cohesive, high-trust teams. They operate in silos, representing their own business units or functions - rather than acting as a unified executive body.   This doesn’t work anymore.   In the AI era, transformation is systemic. It affects the entire business model and operating model - not just individual teams or departments.      ✴️ That’s why North Star alignment is mission-critical.   Alignment fosters cohesion, trust, and collaboration. But here’s the catch: many leaders confuse their personal North Star with what they think the organizational North Star should be.   That confusion is a risk.   In my work, I help leaders distinguish between their own values and the shared direction of the organization. This distinction is essential. As a leader, your personal values matter - but they should serve the organization, not replace it. The hand can’t act as the whole body.   Leadership means seeing the system - across individuals, teams, business units, and the enterprise.      💡 Interested in deepening strategic alignment and leadership capacity in your organization or coaching practice? Strategy.Inc’s Certified Strategy & Implementation Consultant Program provides a proven foundation for building systemic leadership. Coming soon: the Big 5 of Strategy Coaching Certification, equipping coaches with the tools to foster strategic thinking, adaptability, and enterprise-wide impact in today’s complex environments.     #NorthStar #LeadingWithStrategy #Strategy  

You can’t be a successful leader without having a clear direction. I've witnessed firsthand how a lack of clear direction can leave teams feeling confused and disengaged. In times of change or uncertainty, it's even more crucial to paint a compelling picture of the future. People need to see the end game – the "why" behind the effort – in order to fully commit and contribute their best. Communicating that vision effectively is where many leaders fall short. It's not just about creating a plan, it's about creating a sense of shared purpose. This requires: • Clarity ↳ Paint a vivid picture of the destination, making it tangible and relatable. • Transparency ↳ Be honest about the challenges and obstacles, but also emphasize the potential rewards. • Empathy ↳ Understand your team's concerns and address them directly. Make space for dialogue and feedback. When you invest in effective communication and create a shared sense of purpose, you unleash the power of your team. So, don't just tell your team where you're going – show them the path, light the way. And inspire them to take every step with you.

Stop glorifying aggressive leadership. Start thinking like a farmer. I've coached hundreds of leaders, and here's what I've learned: Pressure kills potential. Force creates resistance. But nurture? It transforms. 7 practices that actually work: 1. Create space for growth 🌱 ↳ Stop shouting. Start listening. ↳ Your team needs oxygen, not pressure. 2. Own the environment 🌍 ↳ Bad results? Look at the soil first. ↳ Culture eats strategy for breakfast. 3. Trust the process 🕐 ↳ Growth happens in silence. ↳ Judge outcomes, not daily progress. 4. Match talent to terrain 🎯 ↳ Right person, wrong role = slow death. ↳ Your job is to spot the fit. 5. Feed what matters 💧 ↳ Recognition builds confidence. ↳ Learning fuels innovation. 6. Address toxicity early ⚠️ ↳ One bad apple spoils the barrel. ↳ Have the tough conversations today. 7. Plan for seasons 🌦️ ↳ High performance isn't linear. ↳ Build resilience before the storm. Real leadership isn't about control. It's about creating conditions for growth. You can force compliance. Or you can nurture commitment. Your choice shapes your harvest. What's one practice you're implementing next?

“Everybody knows the strategy,” said the CEO to the CMO of a public tech company. The CMO said, “I’m not sure you’re right,” and investigated. A survey of 9 execs returned with 9 different answers. The CMO added strategic alignment to her list. I had questions. It is the CMOs job to drive strategic alignment? No. It's the CEO's job. In my over-simplified leadership framework, the CEO has three primary responsibilities: 1) Set the vision; 2) Hire the team (to realize the vision); and 3) Allocate resources (to execute the vision). Implicit in “setting the vision” is strategy.  But what if the CEO doesn’t set the vision? The organization has a major problem. Conflict will arise at every turn. Silos will thrive. If the CEO doesn’t set a clear strategy, the Heads of Sales, Marketing, Product, and Service will go in separate directions, ensuring chaos. No flywheel. Just chaos. If there’s a strategic void, should the CMO step in? Someone has to. Many CMOs are capable strategists. More importantly, they know how to drive consensus. To bring leadership teams together. To help CEOs align the organization around a crystal-clear business strategy. What the hell is a business strategy? Ah, there’s the rub. Defining strategy is like defining water (at least it is for me). I have to refer to experts. Alex H W Smith defines strategy as “The unique value a business provides to the market.” That works for me, at least as a starting point. You’ll need to read Alex’s book “No Bullsh*t Strategy,” to go deeper. Now prepare for blasphemy. Strategies are useless. Unless well executed. As Peter Druker put it, “Strategy is a commodity, execution is an art.” This is why I favor having the CMO help drive strategy. CMOs know how to turn strategy into artful execution that can align an entire organization. Can you stop talking about theory and provide an example? You betcha. My case in point? Case Paper. It’s an 80-year-old family-run business with over 400 employees. Their strategy? Never lose a customer (by providing superior service). Using Alex Smith’s framework, I might rephrase this: “Case Paper is the only paper distributor whose service makes customers smile.” We’re getting closer.  The magic happened in the execution. Six years ago, Case Paper adopted “on the case” as the company’s mantra. Employees are encouraged to demonstrate their “on-the-case-ness” by being reliable, resourceful, and responsive. Every month, an employee is recognized for being “on the case.” Every year, Case’s biggest customers are recognized with wonderfully silly “on the case” awards. Most importantly, all of Case’s communications are infused with dad humor and abundant color. They take customer service seriously but not themselves. Their recruitment ads are actually funny. Even their logo lockup is a pun. The words “on the” sit atop the word Case in their logo. Get it? The CMO of Case Paper did. And now he’s the CEO.  

Strategy or titles don’t set the best leaders apart. Their humanity does. Too many leaders fall into the trap of crushing spirits for quick wins, sacrificing wellbeing for metrics, or trading humanity for efficiency. But leadership can be different. According to Gallup, teams with engaged leaders are 39% more likely to deliver above-average results. When toxic leadership stops: ❌ Creating unnecessary urgency ❌ Avoiding difficult conversations ❌ Making impossible demands ❌ Blaming others for failures ❌ Using fear as motivation ❌ Withholding information ❌ Playing favorites And when they choose instead to: ✅ Lead by example ✅ Trust their people ✅ Set realistic timelines ✅ Invest in team’s growth ✅ Support work-life harmony ✅ Create psychological safety ✅ Listen with genuine interest This isn't just theory - I've lived both sides. I’ll never forget when a senior leader stopped to help me design better spreadsheets early in my career. Instead of dismissing it as “not his problem,” he spent an hour walking me through how to make them clearer for executives. He later became my mentor. His belief in me gave me the courage to apply to an Ivy League MBA program. One hour of his time changed the trajectory of my career. Every interaction is a choice. Whether it’s your next 1:1, team meeting, or email; Choose today and every day to be the leader you wished you had. P.S. What's one human leadership practice you wish was standard in every workplace? 👉 Tag a leader who’s made a difference in your life Follow me, Jill Avey for more leadership insights

To create good policy you need responsible foresight, enabling ethical, sustainble, accountable future design. AI now can massively enable human-centered responsible foresight, in helping address uncertainty, assess risks, and set policies for creating better futures. María Pérez Ortiz's new paper "From Prediction to Foresight: The Role of AI in Designing Responsible Futures" describes responsible foresight in policy and the role of computational foresight tools. Notable approaches to using AI in responsible foresight include: 🤝 Participatory Futures for Inclusive Planning. Engaging diverse stakeholders in foresight practices democratizes the future-planning process. AI tools streamline public participation by analyzing preferences, simulating collective decisions, and creating urban plans that reflect community values, fostering equity and resilience. 🧠 Superforecasting for Precision and Insight. Superforecasting uses disciplined reasoning and probabilistic thinking to predict uncertain events. AI-powered assistants improve human forecasting accuracy by 23%, aggregating data and refining predictions through collective intelligence and advanced analytical models. 🌐 World Simulation for Systemic Insights. Advanced modeling frameworks simulate interconnected global systems, enabling policymakers to test "what-if" scenarios. AI accelerates these simulations, providing precise forecasts and dynamic platforms to visualize the long-term consequences of policy decisions across economic, social, and environmental domains. ⚙️ Simulation Intelligence for Decision Optimization. By integrating AI with high-fidelity simulations, simulation intelligence explores complex systems to uncover optimal strategies. This tool assists in crafting effective policies for urban planning, sustainable agriculture, and climate resilience, offering actionable pathways for addressing systemic challenges. 📜 AI-Assisted Narrative Techniques. Large language models contribute to speculative futures by generating detailed "value scenarios" that integrate ethical, technological, and societal considerations. These AI-driven narratives enable policymakers to visualize desirable outcomes and evaluate potential trade-offs. 🔗 Hybrid Intelligence for Enhanced Foresight. Combining human creativity with AI’s computational strengths creates a robust foresight framework. Intuitive interfaces, explainable AI, and participatory design ensure that tools remain transparent and aligned with ethical considerations, empowering policymakers to navigate complex challenges collaboratively. ♻️ Iterative Foresight with Feedback Loops. Continuous monitoring and real-time adaptation enhance foresight processes. AI’s ability to process evolving data and generate actionable insights ensures policies remain responsive, flexible, and aligned with long-term objectives. The power of AI in assisting foresight is just beginning to come to fruition.

“Another Boeing plane has crashed…” That headline didn’t just inform the world. It shook it. Airlines grounded fleets. Passengers canceled bookings. Families waited in grief. And in those painful moments, everyone turned to Boeing — waiting for reassurance, compassion, and clarity. But what they received instead was silence, technical statements, and corporate coldness. ⸻ 💬 The Dialogue That Never Happened Imagine if Boeing’s CEO had stood before the world and said: 👉 “We are devastated by this tragedy. Our deepest condolences go to the families who lost their loved ones. We take full responsibility to uncover the truth, fix it, and make sure this never happens again. Every passenger’s life matters. We will not rest until trust is restored.” Instead, the company issued vague technical explanations about “software updates” and “pilot procedures.” The difference? One statement speaks to the heart. The other hides behind jargon. 📉 The Fallout of Silence Boeing didn’t just lose billions in market value. They lost something far more precious: trust. • Passengers felt unsafe. • Governments demanded groundings. • Airlines questioned contracts. • Employees lost pride. A global brand that once symbolized safety became a symbol of fear. And the leadership lesson? 👉 In crisis, your communication is your reputation. ⸻ When tragedy strikes, the human brain looks for three things immediately: 1. Reassurance (Pathos): “Do you see my pain? Do you care?” 2. Clarity (Logos): “What exactly happened? Am I safe?” 3. Responsibility (Ethos): “Can I trust you to fix this?” ⸻ Here’s a 3-step Crisis Communication Framework every CEO must remember: 1. Acknowledge Emotion (Pathos): • Show empathy immediately. • Example: “We are heartbroken by this tragedy. Lives were lost. Families are grieving.” 2. Share Facts Clearly (Logos): • State what you know, what you don’t know, and what you’re investigating. • Example: “The incident involves [details]. Investigations are ongoing. Safety checks are underway globally.” 3. Commit to Responsibility (Ethos): • Show accountability and promise change. • Example: “We take full responsibility. Here’s how we are fixing it: [specific steps].” ⸻ ✅ Do’s & ❌ Don’ts of Crisis Communication ✅ Do’s • Respond quickly. Speed signals responsibility. • Lead with humanity. Speak to emotions first, facts second. • Be transparent. Say what you know and admit what you don’t. • Take responsibility. Even partial acknowledgment builds trust. • Be consistent. Updates must be regular, not one-time. ❌ Don’ts • Stay silent. Silence is filled with rumors. • Use jargon. “Software anomaly” means nothing to grieving families. • Deflect blame. Saying “pilot error” erodes credibility. • Downplay loss. Even one life lost must be honored. • Overpromise. “It will never happen again” sounds hollow if unproven. ⸻ 💡 The Bigger Leadership Lesson Crisis doesn’t just test your company. It tests your character.

Imagine this: You, the visionary founder, see the big picture— Because it comes from you. It probably originated from a deep personal conviction. To you, it’s clear as day. But there’s just one problem: This vision, as vibrant as it is in your mind, isn’t understood by everyone in your organization. Not yet, anyway— It feels like you’re pointing at a giant cloud saying, “Do you see it? It’s there.” And your people don’t. Why? Because the vision can’t only live in you. Your challenge and opportunity is to embed the vision into the very fabric of the company. From the C-suite to the front lines. And that’s way harder than it sounds. I call it “vision adoption.” It's a big part of what we do for organizations. We lead the inception of your vision to its fullest understanding, acceptance, and integration into your operations, culture, and brand. It’s necessary for turning aspirations into reality. So what do you do? 1️⃣ Consistently Vision-Cast Clear, consistent messaging from you ensures that the vision is not only understood at all levels, but embraced too. Articulate the vision's relevance to each department and role. Make it part of your daily conversations. 2️⃣ Cultural Integration Work your vision into company culture through intention — it has to echo daily through your core values, behaviors, and rituals. The vision must be more than a dream. Employees have to experience it through your SOPs, decisions, and strategies down to the tiniest detail. It guides everything you do. 3️⃣ Leadership Engagement The only acceptable leadership style for a visionary company is leading by example — nothing else will ensure buy-in from your workforce. Every vision decision a CEO or executive team makes that isn't aligned with the vision will reflect 10x more intensely in the diminishing commitment of the regular employee. 4️⃣ Empowerment and Ownership Every team member — regardless of title — must see themselves as indispensable to the success of the vision. This is empowerment. That empowerment leads to innovation. And that innovation translates to proactive, self-initiated problem-solving aligned with the vision. And that’s pure vision adoption in action. It’s the difference between a vision only you can see... …and a vision that your whole company actively participates in realizing. Motto® 🏴

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐑𝐎𝐈 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝟓 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 👨🏼💻 Why I Keep Showing Up When Others See No Value Have you ever been asked, Why waste time on communities when there's no immediate return? After 5 years of community building, I've discovered the secret most people miss... "जैसे दीपक से दीपक जलता है, वैसे ही एक समुदाय दूसरे को प्रकाशित करता है।" 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐑𝐎𝐈 💰 • Immediate benefits are rare – and that's exactly the point • The most valuable connections often appear years after planting the seeds • Those seeking instant gratification miss the profound transformation happening beneath the surface • Community impact compounds like interest – small, consistent investments create exponential returns 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐖𝐢𝐬𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐌𝐲 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 👀 The story of 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐤𝐚 provides a powerful parallel to community building. Initially driven by conquest and immediate power, he transformed after witnessing the devastation of war. His greatest legacy came not from quick victories but from the patient cultivation of a compassionate society – a journey that required years of consistent effort without immediate validation. "धैर्य रखने वाला व्यक्ति अंततः महान बनता है, जैसे पानी की बूंद पत्थर में छेद कर देती है।" 𝟓 𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐓𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞 🎯 • 𝐃𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 – Create content from your experiences to multiply your impact • 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 – Choose quality engagements over quantity • 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐥𝐞 – Identify 5-7 key relationships to nurture deeply • 𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐬 – Track lives impacted, not just immediate business gains • 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 – Design frameworks that scale your community impact 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐱 😎 The most effective community leaders aren't those constantly in the spotlight. They're the ones creating spaces for others to shine – often without recognition. This path isn't for everyone. There are easier routes to professional advancement. But true community architects understand what others miss 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬 🤔 • You develop rare leadership skills impossible to learn elsewhere • You build an authentic network that supports you through any crisis • You gain perspective that makes you invaluable in any organization • You create impact that outlasts any career achievement Are you building communities for quick wins, or are you cultivating a legacy that will flourish long after you've moved on?