Leadership

21 Dec

Authentic Branding Diagram

While revolution must be led from the top, it rarely starts at the top. The spirit of revolution already exists in the hearts and minds of motivated employees and loyal customers. It shows up in the individual stories that employees tell about the work they do. And it shows up in the individual stories that customers tell about the products they love. Often a leader need only act as a kind of managing editor, shaping the stories to align with a shared vision.Marty Neumeier[1. Marty Neumeier, The Designful Company: How to Build a Culture of Nonstop Innovation, 2008.]

Despite what many agencies still claim, brands aren’t logos or taglines and they can’t be made or changed with a single ad campaign.

A brand is a living entity with three elements: vision, culture, and customer. These elements influence each other and collectively create a perception about the company. That perception is the brand.

There’s more than one way to create a brand. But, we think there’s only one way to create a brand that will be relevant now and in the future. And, that’s creating an Authentic Brand.

17:42 / Leadership / Marketing
14 Dec

“The strength of the team is each member. The strength of each member is the team.” Phil Jackson A healthy workplace boosts morale, lowers turnover, decreases absenteeism, and increases productivity. With the holidays upon us on and the finish line in sight, it is important to...

12:04 / Leadership / Personal Development
09 Nov

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juq1UI_Hqfs&feature=youtu.be   In a society that values goals and results, it’s easy to see why play isn’t valued by adults. Play is a state more than it is a thing. Play involves doing something enjoyable for its own sake. There is no goal aside from enjoying the experience. But, play is not a trivial activity: play makes people happier, it helps develop empathy, it reduces stress, and it strengthens resolve.
23:26 / Creativity / Inspiration / Leadership
19 Oct

A brand becomes stronger when you narrow the focus. Al Ries and Laura Ries, The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding. Keeping a brand on course is one of the most critical and difficult challenges executives face. A narrow brand focus will help keep your brand aligned with your...

10:07 / Inspiration / Leadership / Marketing
05 Oct

“I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” Albert Einstein Continuously learning is how you will stay relevant at any level of an organization. Consider stepping outside of your comfort zone, diversifying your areas of knowledge and establishing rituals and habits that support learning. Lifelong...

13:44 / Inspiration / Leadership
28 Sep

“The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.” William James, Philosopher, and Psychologist.
Stress in the workplace can have damaging effects, such as stifling creativity and risk aversion. When we operate under pressure, we shift into survival mode and in this mode of perception, we can have a much harder time thinking creatively and seeing things with a broader, longer-term lens. Similarly, when your associates are stressed, they tend to avoid taking risks and have a hard time thinking creatively, which ultimately affects their potential.
19:36 / Creativity / Leadership
22 Sep

“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?” “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the Cat. “I don’t much care where—“ said Alice. “Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” said the Cat. “—so long as I get somewhere,’”Alice added as an explanation. “Oh, you’re sure to do that,” said the Cat, “if you only walk long enough.” Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
Organizations that last know where they’re going. They know how they want people to perceive their business and they know what they want to achieve.

In short, they have a strong vision.

Creating a strong vision is a key to long-term success: it gives you clarity on what you should and shouldn’t do for the continuing health and prosperity of the company.

The vision, however, is only one of the keys to success, you must also have a purpose that drives the vision; and, you must have missions, strategies, and tactics to achieve your vision.

00:53 / Inspiration / Leadership / Marketing