How COVID-19 can change leadership for the better | 7 practices for becoming a collaborative leader | How can companies make better decisions -- and faster?
Created for {EMAIL} | [Web Version]( November 18, 2020
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[] Leading Edge
[] [How COVID-19 can change leadership for the better](
The pandemic has forced leaders to be more accessible, bureaucracies to become more flexible and decisions to be made - and reversed - more quickly, write medical professionals who oversaw COVID-19 field hospitals in the UK and US. Even after the pandemic, leaders should recognize how much knowledge is untapped among junior staff, especially if there's structure and clear goals. Full Story: [Harvard Business Review online (tiered subscription model)]( (11/16)
[LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [7 practices for becoming a collaborative leader](
"Leading from your heart" is described by Anne Taylor as the people skills, communication and behavior that, along with business acumen, can improve relationships and organizational outcomes. She offers seven steps for implementing such leadership for yourself and for others. Full Story: [Business Matters (UK)]( (11/17)
[LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( 5 Culture Trends HR Leaders Must Know
As companies enter 2021, how can organizations prepare for the new normal? [Read O.C. Tanner's 5 Culture Trends for 2021]( to see how you can be prepared to help your employees thrive, no matter what new challenges may come their way. ADVERTISEMENT: [] Strategic Management
[] [How can companies make better decisions -- and faster?](
Your company can improve decision-making processes during a crisis by following the data, partnering with influencers or other types of partners, and clarifying which teams or people make which decisions, according to this Bain analysis. "In any crisis, decision-making must accelerate and sharpen in focus," the authors write. Full Story: [Bain & Co.]( (11/17)
[LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Need to learn Strategy 101? Start here](
Business professor John Kim walks through the basics of strategy and strategy planning, including what questions you need to ask at each stage. "A good part of strategy is thinking through: 1) What do we need to be uniquely awesome at? 2) What do we want to be 'good enough?' he writes. Full Story: [Consultant's Mind]( (11/16)
[LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( Is your business accurately paying Consumer Use Tax?
Most businesses know to account for sales tax, but often overlook its more complicated cousin: use tax. While sales tax is charged at the point of purchase, use tax can be assessed at multiple points after purchase and in a variety of circumstances. [Download this infographic]( to ensure you don't overlook use tax. ADVERTISEMENT: [] Smarter Communication
[] [4 differences between public speaking and performing](
Don't get caught up in making your presentation a performance, instead focusing on your intention, being authentic and staying on point while leaving room for spontaneity, writes Stephanie Scotti. "Remember: If you appear phony in any way, you'll lose credibility in the eyes of your audience," she writes. Full Story: [SmartBrief/Leadership]( (11/17)
[LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Read more]( from Stephanie Scotti on SmartBrief on Leadership Featured Content Sponsored content from Adobe - [Future-proof with a skills framework]( - [Skill maps and skill gaps: Improved transparency for workforce talent]( - [Transitioning to a skills-first mindset]( - [How the pandemic will permanently change workplaces]( - [Decoding the âhalf-life of skillsâ]( [] SmartPulse
[] How would you characterize your organization's attitude toward customer service? We go out of our way to exceed expectations
60.96%
We do our best to meet expectations
32.25%
We try to meet expectations but don't worry too much if we don't
5.79%
We do the bare minimum to get by
1.00% [] Is meeting expectations good enough? In a hyper-competitive world, a clear majority of you are going out of your way to exceed your customers' expectations. It doesn't take much and it goes a long way. For those of you satisfied with meeting customer expectations, recognize that your competitors are trying to push beyond those expectations. Fall short enough times and you'll find those customers are no longer yours. We all know it's less expensive to keep an existing customer than it is to acquire a new one. If you're one of those "meeting expectations" firms (or even the ones who don't really care too much about meeting expectations) just recognize your marketing team will be very busy and very expensive but your finance team might not have a lot of work to do when it comes time to count your profits. Ignore customer service at your own risk! -- Mike Figliuolo is managing director of [thoughtLEADERS](, which includes [TITAN]( -- the firm's e-learning platform. Previously, he worked at McKinsey & Co., Capital One and Scotts Miracle-Gro. He is a West Point graduate and author of three leadership books: ["One Piece of Paper,"]( ["Lead Inside the Box"]( and ["The Elegant Pitch."](
[LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] POLL QUESTION:
How willing is your organization to walk away from low-margin business? [Vote]( [Very -- we do it all the time]( [Vote]( [Somewhat -- it has to be really low margin before we consider walking]( [Vote]( [Rarely -- we only walk away in extreme situations]( [Vote]( [Never ? if they're buying, we're selling!](
[] In Their Own Words
[] [Former prime minister offers advice on gender equity](
Former prime minister offers advice on gender equity Gillard (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
Former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard says it's the role of everyone to end sexism and discrimination, even as women should take the lead when they can. "I know life's complicated, can be pressurized and not every woman can do this all of the time, but over your years of leadership, to whatever extent you can, use that knowledge and that voice to make a difference and make more space for women," she says. Full Story: [Harpers magazine (U.K.)]( (11/16)
[LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Daily Diversion
[] [$1.9M for a pigeon? One racing fan takes the bet](
$1.9M for a pigeon? One racing fan takes the bet Racing pigeon in 2019 (Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP via Getty Images)
A Belgian-bred racing pigeon named New Kim sold at auction for a record $1.9 million to a pseudonymous buyer from China. Interest from that country has revitalized the sport, with breeding dominated by Belgium. Full Story: [The Associated Press]( (11/15)
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smartbrief.com/leadership/?referrerId=japnABMSAp [] [] The day you settle for less is the day you will get less.
Iman Abdulmajid,
model, entrepreneur [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email](
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