This blog is part of a series profiling the key attributes of professionals who have elevated their leadership impact.Organizations that want to remain competitive are constantly looking to innovate and evolve. The burden of meeting that necessary yet frustrating goal falls on teams and individuals, so next-level leaders successfully weave innovation into the fabric of everything they do. They constantly think innovatively,...

This is part of a series about the attributes and behaviors of professionals who have elevated their leadership impact and reached the next level of success. To read previous posts about next-level leadership, please click here. Today’s global economy calls for some serious staying power. Consider the diverse obstacles facing corporate employees: cost cutting, downsizing, shorter time-to-market cycles, constantly evolvin...

I love this saying because it conjures up images of a highly charged, “just do it” kind of person who is making things happen. On the other hand, I must admit that sometimes this phrase stops me cold in my tracks. I know the value of giving it your all, and I can intellectualize the idea of pushing through my fears and letting go of my aversion to risk. However, I also have a keen sense of my tolerance for a “burn the ships...

Though I help others craft their value propositions and enhance the way they communicate their personal brands, I recently recognized that I might need my own refresher course. I was at a dinner event last week and faced the inevitable question: “Tell me about what you do.” I found myself in the trap of brushing off the question, assuming it was a polite conversation-starter. You know…mandatory cocktail-party banter. I gave...

As many of you know, social media can lead to some great connections. I learned of Gerardo A. Dada via Twitter in 2012 and we have been following each other ever since. Gerardo has been at the center of web, mobile, social and cloud revolutions for more than 15 years and drives business strategy and product marketing for leading technology companies. Gerardo is the author of the blog www.theAdaptiveMarketer.com where he wri...

As I travel across the country speaking to management groups and meeting with operations leaders, I am consistently seeing a common problem. While companies fully recognize that reaching their goals and being successful is dependent on quality leadership, the vast majority of them struggle to make that a priority. They simply don’t have the time, energy and budget required to grow and develop their leaders in a meaningful w...

I have been privileged to coach some amazing professionals over the last few years, and I am always humbled by their capacity to adapt and master new leadership approaches. Throughout our discussions, I am reminded that effective leadership strategies have evolved significantly since I was an Operations Executive 13 years ago. Financial success still remains the ultimate goal, but the best path to get there has changed. The...

You may often hear the term emotional intelligence (E.I.) in relation to work and productivity, but it's something many people don't fully understand. Some even question it's validity, while others see E.I. as a valuable advantage for those looking to land a new job or advance in their careers. Sara Canaday, an MBA who left the corporate world to work independently as the owner of Sara Canaday and Associates, delivers the i...

Last month, I had the privilege of delivering a keynote speech to 500 incredibly talented professionals at Working Mother Media’s annual Multicultural Women’s National Conference in New York City. As I took the stage on the first morning and began to share my story, I was struck by the remarkable vibe in the room. These women (and a few brave men) weren’t just present; they were fully engaged. I was surrounded by current an...

Just like our personal reputations have an enormous impact on the success of our careers, a company’s reputation ultimately determines its profitability. That concept has never been more critical than it is now in our always-online, über-connected world. Companies today are faced with a competitive playing field that has expanded exponentially. Consumers are no longer limited to product choices in their immediate areas or...