Questions to ask before starting a 2024 business plan

Rely on strengths to succeed as an introverted leader | practice | Questions to ask before starting a 2024 business plan Created for {EMAIL} | [{NAME}]( at [{NAME}]( [For more relevant content - Update Your Profile]( | [Web Version]( September 18, 2023 CONNECT WITH SMARTBRIEF  [LinkedIn]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [SmartBrief on Leadership]( Innovative Ideas. Ahead of the Curve. [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [SHARE](  [] Leading the Way [] [Rely on strengths to succeed as an introverted leader]( [Rely on strengths to succeed as an introverted leader]( (FangXiaNuo/Getty Images) Introverted leaders can leverage their strengths of deep listening, careful thinking before taking action and their strong creative and observational skills to create a culture where employees feel valued and engaged, writes Jason Evanish, CEO of Get Lighthouse, Inc. "A calm, attentive presence causes other people to feel comfortable and open up to you in ways that happen less often for talkative extroverts," Evanish writes. Full Story: [Lighthouse]( (9/15) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Introverted leaders should create a psychologically safe environment and hire proactive employees who see conflict and mistakes as a chance to grow and innovate, [Evanish writes](. "In this environment, your employees build confidence to tackle complex projects and propose ideas that will solve complicated problems." [] SmartBrief on Leadership [] [Questions to ask before starting a 2024 business plan]( [Questions to ask before starting a 2024 business plan]( (sesame/Getty Images) Leaders who are tired of their fourth-quarter business plans turning into a nothing more than a first-quarter budget can start instead with a different kind of road map, management consultant Dave Coffaro writes. Centering your goals around a four-part framework of conditions, pivot points, engagement anchors and change leadership cues provides actionable tasks to approach throughout the year and better underpins the business/financial plan. Full Story: [SmartBrief/Leadership]( (9/15) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Examine conditions by asking, "[What are we most uncertain about]( in our organization for next year?" and ponder potential pivot points that would cause you to change aspects of your business. Discuss engagement anchors to pin down strategies, accountability and more, and consider what would prompt change management during the year, Coffaro explains. [] Smarter Communication [] [Kidnap negotiator's communication strategies for CEOs]( Making sure others get their say, being able to evaluate and make decisions faster and projecting and eliciting calm are important parts of today's leadership landscape, says Scott Walker, a kidnap-for-ransom negotiator and former Scotland Yard detective. Getting repeat business is the key for business leaders, so use cooperation and collaboration to gain trust, adds Walker, who has worked for CEOs during high-stakes situations and against cybercriminals and pirates. Full Story: [Management Today (UK) (tiered subscription model)]( (9/14) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Interrupt a tough situation right away and silently "ride the wave of cortisol and stress" for about 90 seconds before letting go of the frustration, Walker says. Encourage colleagues to approach situations with an open mind; use forward thinking to move toward a challenge; and "[[p]ractice when the stakes are relatively low](," so when you do face that high-stakes situation, you've already worked that muscle. 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Business author Greg McKeown says 85% is a sweet spot because trying to achieve 100% all the time is too draining, and exercise physiologist Steve Magness says realizing that a person's entire self-worth does not depend on one action can help people relax and be more likely to complete the task successfully. Full Story: [The Wall Street Journal]( (9/10) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Daily Diversion [] [Kaan the guard dog's nemesis? A fence post]( [Kaan the guard dog's nemesis? A fence post]( Enjoy Kaan's story but note: There's some NSF language at the end. (Crab Orchard Creek/TikTok) A Kentucky guard dog named Kaan attracted 5.6 million views on TikTok for why he's taken a particular dislike to a fence post. It turns out one of the goats in his care got an electric shock from the post two years ago, which Kaan still hasn't forgiven it for. Full Story: [Newsweek (tiered subscription model)]( (9/14) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Most Read by CEOs The most-clicked stories of the past week by SmartBrief on Leadership readers [] - [There are 6 types of employees. Focus on these 2]( McKinsey [] - [How Stoicism pays off in more ways than one in business]( SmartBrief/Leadership [] - [Trust and verify to build a culture of excellence]( Chief Executive [] - [A turtle in lipstick and other photos win prizes]( Atlas Obscura [] - [Meet the lovely lady who bought "The Brady Bunch" house]( The Wall Street Journal [] SmartBreak: Question of the Day [] Bad dad joke alert: Alexander Fleming didn't discover Paul Reubens, he discovered P. rubens, which is what? [Vote]( [Fungus species used in antibiotic treatments]( [Vote]( [Rubella, aka German measles]( [Vote]( [Self-portrait of the Flemish artist at a flea market]( [Vote]( [Pterodactyl skeleton with feathers]( [] Editor's Note [] [OpenAI's Zack Kass to lead off AI Impact Summit]( [OpenAI's Zack Kass to lead off AI Impact Summit]( (SmartBrief) SmartBrief's inaugural virtual [AI Impact Summit](, Sept. 27 to 28, will feature OpenAI's Zack Kass as the opening keynote speaker. The event will explore business, marketing, tech and other topics, such as AI and digital trust, developing a generative AI product, a marketing case study and a talk with AI for the People's Mutale Nkonde, who sits on the TikTok Content Moderation Advisory Board. Full Story: [SmartBrief/Marketing]( (8/15) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] About The Editor [] Candace Chellew Candace Chellew Chellew No one believes me when I tell them I am an introvert. Many people believe the myth that introverts are shy, aloof or anti-social. According to Myers-Briggs, introverts recharge their social and emotional batteries by spending time in solitude. While being around people energizes extroverts, it tires out introverts. People doubt my introverted nature because I stand up and give spiritual talks every Sunday in front of a room full of people. That's the paradox of introverts; we often love to perform or speak to groups. We need some alone downtime afterward to reenergize ourselves. [Get Lighthouse CEO Jason Evanish]( lays out in fine detail what makes introverts good leaders: our ability to listen, our penchant for thinking things through before we jump into action and our attraction to proactive staff members who don't need us hovering over their shoulder. Are you an introverted leader? What strengths do you rely on and how do you recharge when you need it? [Tell me about it](mailto:candace.chellew@futurenet.com). If this newsletter helps you, please tell your colleagues, friends or anyone who can benefit. Forward them this email, or [send this link](. What topics do you see in your daily work that I should know about? Do you have praise? Criticism? [Drop me a note](mailto:candace.chellew@futurenet.com). And don't forget to send me photos of your pets, your office and where you spend your time off. [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( Sharing SmartBrief on Leadership with your network keeps the quality of content high and these newsletters free. Help Spread the Word [SHARE]( Or copy and share your personalized link: smartbrief.com/leadership/?referrerId=japnABMSAp [] [] But absolutely don't ever stop taking risks. There's no reason to stop. [Carmen Gimenez](, poet, writer, editor National Hispanic Heritage Month is Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email](   SmartBrief publishes more than 200 free industry newsletters - [Browse our portfolio]( [Sign Up]( | [Update Profile]( | [Advertise with SmartBrief]( [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy policy]( CONTACT US: [FEEDBACK](mailto:leadership@smartbrief.com) | [ADVERTISE](mailto:lengel@smartbrief.com) SmartBrief, a division of Future US LLC © Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY, 10036