The CTO Journal

Starting New Ventures: Dos and Don'ts Credit to Alan [AJ] Silber. Follow for more insightful content. ------ Original post below 👇🏼 Starting something new? Here’s what you should do... and what you should avoid: 👇 DO’s: ---> Set a Clear Vision ---> Fix Small Problems Early ---> Lead by Example ---> Create a Positive Culture ---> Adapt to Feedback ---> Prioritize Execution ---> Balance Work and Self-Care ---> Keep Stakeholders Happy ---> Encourage Collaboration ---> Embrace the Journey But don’t make these mistakes... 👇 Don’ts: ---> Ignore Feedback ---> Overvalue Ideas, Undervalue Execution ---> Neglect Self-Care ---> Forget Stakeholders ---> Adopt a Lone Wolf Mentality ---> Over Promise ---> Engage in Office Politics ---> Criticize Publicly ---> Resist Change ---> Ignore Company Culture Following these guidelines can mean the difference between success and failure. Are you ready to grow your businesses sales? Join Vantom Group’s 10-Day Mini-Course on Entrepreneurs Sales Playbook. Get it FREE here: https://lnkd.in/gC2bQirx DM for credit or removal request - no copyright intended. All rights and credits reserved to the respective owner. Follow The CTO Journal for top content on Business, Leadership, Management, and Self-improvement.

Leadership is the Key to AI Adoption Credit to Naveen Bhati. Follow for more insightful content. ------ Original post below 👇🏼 Leadership is the Key to AI Adoption AI adoption isn’t just a tech initiative—it’s a leadership challenge. Too many organisations invest in AI without setting the right foundation. The result? ▪️ Scattered efforts ▪️ Resistance from teams ▪️ Missed opportunities Successful AI adoption starts from the top. Here’s how leaders can drive change: 👉🏼 Set a Vision for AI ✓ Define clear goals and long-term benefits. ✓ Align stakeholders on the strategic value of AI. 👉🏼 Champion Innovation ✓ Encourage experimentation and learning from failures. ✓ Foster a culture where teams feel safe to try new ideas. 👉🏼 Prioritise Ethical AI ✓ Lead by example in fairness, transparency, and compliance. ✓ Promote responsible AI practices across the organisation. 👉🏼 Allocate Resources Wisely ✓ Invest in the right talent, technology, and training. ✓ Provide funding for AI research and development. 👉🏼 Break Silos & Collaborate ✓ AI shouldn’t sit in a vacuum—integrate it across departments. ✓ Align cross-functional teams to maximise impact. 👉🏼 Monitor & Improve ✓ AI isn’t a one-time implementation—track success and iterate. ✓ Adapt strategies based on feedback and measurable outcomes. 👉🏼 Upskill Leadership Teams ✓ Leaders must understand AI—both its technical and strategic implications. ✓ Provide AI training and decision-making tools. 👉🏼 Build Employee Trust ✓ Address concerns about AI’s impact on jobs. ✓ Communicate how AI empowers rather than replaces. 👉🏼 Drive Continuous Improvement ✓ Stay informed on AI advancements. ✓ Continuously refine AI strategies to maximise impact. 💡 AI is a leadership challenge before it’s a tech challenge. Get it right at the top, and everything else follows. How is your organisation handling AI adoption? Let’s discuss!👇 For deeper insights: 🔍 Newsletter on AI, Leadership & Tech → https://lnkd.in/ebB9pr_f ⚡︎ AI Consultancy & Strategy → https://lnkd.in/ebkndQPK DM for credit or removal request - no copyright intended. All rights and credits reserved to the respective owner. Follow The CTO Journal for top content on Business, Leadership, Management, and Self-improvement.

Solid Work Habits and Organizational Success Credit to Monte Pedersen. Follow for more insightful content. ------ Original post below 👇🏼 Solid work habits often go unnoticed in many organizations and they shouldn't. Individuals with these habits are the backbone of organizational success. These are the people leadership counts on to deliver critical results, day in and day out. Are you one of these individuals? Would your leaders recognize you as a "crucible" team member—someone whose absence would leave a tangible gap in the team’s performance? As a leader, are you actively supporting and recognizing these key contributors? Do your high performers know how valued and appreciated they are? How can you demonstrate that you're committed to retaining these indispensable team members? What steps are you taking to ensure they stay engaged and inspired? If you haven’t already, it’s time to take proactive steps—both personally and organizationally—to retain these high performers while addressing any gaps in performance from others. This may involve providing more training and development, adjusting roles to better align with team members' strengths, or in some cases, making tough decisions such as demotion, transfer, or separation from the company for those not meeting expectations. Solid work habits form the foundation of flawless execution. As a leader, if you fail to recognize and nurture these behaviors, you risk creating an environment where your top performers become disillusioned, and their respect for you and the organization erodes. The goal is not just to reward those who exceed expectations but to cultivate a team culture where others can develop the same level of excellence. By leading and developing team members with strong work habits and the right skills, you continually elevate your organization’s capacity to execute and succeed. In terms of organizational success, individuals with consistent and repeatable work habits are often entrusted with the most critical tasks. Their reliability ensures that goals and major projects are completed on time and with precision. They are accountable, efficient, and by setting an example, they inspire others to build the same strong work habits. Their contributions are indispensable to moving an organization forward, achieving key objectives, and ensuring its long-term success. So, how are your work habits and those of your highest-performing team members? Do you see the connection? #leadership #workhabits #execution DM for credit or removal request - no copyright intended. All rights and credits reserved to the respective owner. Follow The CTO Journal for top content on Business, Leadership, Management, and Self-improvement.

New CEO Onboarding: Myths vs. Reality Credit to Naveen Bhati. Follow for more insightful content. ------ Original post below 👇🏼 New CEO Onboarding: Myths vs. Reality A new CEO’s first months can define their success—but common myths lead many to stumble. Here’s what actually works: 🚫 Myth: New CEOs must make immediate changes. ✅ Reality: Learning and relationship-building come first—strategic shifts follow. 🚫 Myth: Distancing from predecessors shows leadership. ✅ Reality: Respectful transitions honour the past while enabling necessary evolution. 🚫 Myth: Board expectations are self-evident. ✅ Reality: Explicit alignment on priorities is essential for success. 🚫 Myth: Culture is quickly discernible. ✅ Reality: Understanding culture takes time and multiple data points. 🚫 Myth: Quick team changes demonstrate decisiveness. ✅ Reality: Thoughtful assessment precedes effective leadership adjustments. 🚫 Myth: Listening tours delay action. ✅ Reality: Stakeholder engagement builds trust and knowledge. 🚫 Myth: New CEOs should overhaul strategy. ✅ Reality: Strategic evolution outperforms drastic reinvention. 🚫 Myth: Overcommunication risks commitment. ✅ Reality: Regular, transparent communication builds trust. 🚫 Myth: Seeking support signals weakness. ✅ Reality: Effective CEOs build strong advisory networks. 🚫 Myth: Transitions conclude within months. ✅ Reality: Full CEO effectiveness unfolds over 12-18 months. Great onboarding isn’t about rushing big moves—it’s about learning, building trust, and balancing continuity with change. What’s the best leadership transition you’ve witnessed? Share below. 👇 🔹 Insights at the Intersection of AI, Leadership and Technology: https://lnkd.in/ebB9pr_f 🔹 AI Consultancy: https://lnkd.in/ebkndQPK DM for credit or removal request - no copyright intended. All rights and credits reserved to the respective owner. Follow The CTO Journal for top content on Business, Leadership, Management, and Self-improvement.

GETTING THINGS DONE Credit to Joe Murphy. Follow for more insightful content. ------ Original post below 👇🏼 HOW TO GET THE RIGHT STUFF DONE Years ago, David Allen wrote a book called "Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity." It was a best-selling book that helped millions of people streamline their work and increase their productivity while at the same time reducing stress. The core principle of Allen’s GTD methodology revolves around a simple idea: - Capture everything that requires attention, - Break it into actionable steps, and - Create a trusted external system to manage it. Allen suggests that by clearing the mind of the need to remember every task or deadline, individuals can reduce mental clutter and stay more focused on the task at hand. You are living stress-free when you follow his system because you no longer have to remember everything. Here are several of his most critical concepts. The 5 phases of GTD: - Capture: Collect all tasks, ideas, and commitments in a trusted external system. - Clarify: Break down tasks into actionable steps; determine whether they require action. - Organize: Sort tasks by categories such as context, priority, and deadlines. - Reflect: Regularly review your tasks, projects, and goals to stay on track. - Engage: Focus on executing tasks based on the current situation and priority. Here are another two elements of GTD: - Two-Minute Rule: Immediately complete tasks that take less than two minutes so things don't get bottled up. - Mind Like Water: Achieve mental clarity by offloading tasks into an external system. Here are a few of mine that I will add: - Never start the day without a list prioritized by why you exist on the payroll - Block off time to do the most important tasks first - Urgent doesn't mean fast - it means most pressing - Urgent may also mean you didn't follow the process and dropped something, or someone else dropped something - Never do a task that is not on the list and prioritized - Batch similar tasks and do them one after the other - Do one thing at a time Getting Things Done [GTD] offers a practical system designed to help you organize tasks, commitments, and goals, enabling them to focus more effectively on their work and personal lives. Allen’s approach has been widely embraced not only by business professionals but also by anyone seeking to boost their efficiency and peace of mind. It is a core part of The Leadership Academy training for increased productivity. Your partner in success, Joe Murphy - Leadership Insights video series [5 PM ET Mon-Fri] - Cool to repost - Follow me for more success tips#CHROs#LeadersatAllLevels#TheLeadershipAcademy DM for credit or removal request - no copyright intended. All rights and credits reserved to the respective owner. Follow The CTO Journal for top content on Business, Leadership, Management, and Self-improvement.

The 9 Foundations of Mental Well-being Credit to Naveen Bhati. Follow for more insightful content. ------ Original post below 👇🏼 The 9 Foundations of Mental Well-being Mental well-being isn’t a luxury—it’s a foundation for growth, resilience, and success. Yet, in today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to overlook. Here’s how to cultivate a healthy mindset for a balanced life: 🧘 Enhancing Mental Clarity → Mindfulness & Meditation Practicing present-moment awareness reduces overthinking and calms the mind. ⚖️ Reducing Anxiety & Pressure → Stress Management Adopt strategies to identify and cope with daily stressors effectively. 💪 Strengthening Mental Toughness → Emotional Resilience Learn to bounce back from challenges and grow through adversity. 💙 Fostering Emotional Support → Healthy Relationships Strong social connections provide support, belonging, and understanding. ⏳ Preventing Burnout → Work-Life Balance Setting clear boundaries between work and personal life is essential. 💡 Boosting Self-Esteem → Self-Compassion Treat yourself with kindness instead of harsh self-criticism. 🌱 Encouraging a Growth Mindset → Positive Thinking Optimism and gratitude fuel emotional well-being and personal development. 🆘 Improving Mental Health Proactively → Seeking Support & Therapy Knowing when to ask for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. 📵 Reducing Digital Stress → Digital Detox Limiting screen time improves focus, presence, and mental clarity. Mental well-being isn’t about perfection—it’s about consistent care for your mind and emotions. Which of these do you prioritise? Drop your thoughts below 👇 🔹 Insights at the Intersection of AI, Leadership and Technology: https://lnkd.in/ebB9pr_f 🔹 AI Consultancy: https://lnkd.in/ebkndQPK DM for credit or removal request - no copyright intended. All rights and credits reserved to the respective owner. Follow The CTO Journal for top content on Business, Leadership, Management, and Self-improvement.

Reflecting on Time to Reflect Credit to Tony Gambill. Follow for more insightful content. ------ Original post below 👇🏼 Are You Taking The Time To Reflect? Research shows that a regular practice of reflection is essential for developing new skill sets and behaviors. Reflection is proven to increase our capacity to demonstrate emotional intelligence, social skills, and learning agility. Rolfe et al.’s [2001] reflective model is one of the simplest reflective models because it centers around asking three simple questions: What? So what? Now what? What? • What was the opportunity or challenge? • What happened? • What did I notice [five senses]? So what? • So what worked or did not? • So what was confirmed? • So what do I still not know? Now what? • Now what actions will I do differently or the same next time? • Now what is the best way for me to move forward from this experience? • Now what are my goals moving forward? Reflection is a humbling yet powerful tool that helps us improve our performance. But it is not easy, as it requires us to look honestly at ourselves, our strengths, our weaknesses, and areas that require improvement. This practical approach provides a framework to assess experience, make meaning of it, and decide what the experience means for future action. What approaches do you use to reflect so you can accelerate learning from your experiences? Share your COMMENTS below. ⬇️ To learn more about this post read my LinkedIn newsletter article, A Leadership Framework To Assess Challenges And Adapt For Success: https://lnkd.in/eVWaGkTG Click the 🔔 on my profile to be notified when I post | Tony Gambill DM for credit or removal request - no copyright intended. All rights and credits reserved to the respective owner. Follow The CTO Journal for top content on Business, Leadership, Management, and Self-improvement.

Developing Strong Executive Presence 🎯 Credit to Naveen Bhati. Follow for more insightful content. ------ Original post below 👇🏼 Developing Strong Executive Presence 🎯 I remember the first time I presented to senior executives. I knew my content inside out—but I felt small in the room. Then I watched a leader who owned the space. Not because they spoke the loudest, but because they had executive presence. Here’s what I’ve learned about commanding presence in leadership: 🔹 1. Project Confidence & Authority ✓ Confidence isn’t about volume—it’s about certainty. ✓ Speak with conviction and clarity—people follow leaders who believe in what they say. 🔹 2. Master Non-Verbal Communication ✓ I once saw someone lose the room because their body language didn’t match their words. ✓ Posture, eye contact, and gestures are as powerful as words. 🔹 3. Communicate with Clarity ✓ No one remembers long-winded explanations. ✓ Be concise, direct, and engaging. 🔹 4. Develop Emotional Intelligence ✓ Leadership isn’t just what you say—it’s how you make others feel. ✓ Leaders with high emotional intelligence build stronger teams. 🔹 5. Stay Poised Under Pressure ✓ Ever notice how the best leaders stay calm during chaos? ✓ Stability under stress earns trust. 🔹 6. Think & Speak Strategically ✓ Every message should tie into the bigger picture. ✓ Leaders frame discussions with vision and purpose. 🔹 7. Engage & Inspire Others ✓ Presence isn’t just about commanding a room—it’s about energizing people. ✓ People follow leaders who inspire action. 🔹 8. Be Authentic & Consistent ✓ The biggest mistake? Trying to fake presence. ✓ The best leaders align their words, values, and actions. 💡 Executive presence isn’t about being the loudest person in the room—it’s about being the most impactful. What’s one lesson you’ve learned about leadership presence? Let’s discuss 👇 For more leadership insights: 🔍 Newsletter on AI, Leadership & Tech → https://lnkd.in/ebB9pr_f ⚡︎ AI Consultancy & Strategy → https://lnkd.in/ebkndQPK DM for credit or removal request - no copyright intended. All rights and credits reserved to the respective owner. Follow The CTO Journal for top content on Business, Leadership, Management, and Self-improvement.

Visionary Leadership Credit to Peter Sorgenfrei. Follow for more insightful content. ------ Original post below 👇🏼 A common trait among great leaders is visionary thinking. George Washington led a revolution. Steve Jobs revolutionized technology. Each leader had a clear vision. Consider a captain steering a ship through a storm. Without a clear direction, the ship would drift aimlessly. But with a vision, the captain navigates through challenges. The ability to see beyond the horizon is what sets great leaders apart. As the influential John C. Maxwell once said, "A leader knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way." Key Leadership Qualities to Embrace: 1. Visionary Thinking: Always have a clear vision that guides your actions and decisions. 2. Innovation and Creativity: Embrace new ideas and encourage creativity within your team. 3. Compassionate Leadership: Lead with empathy and understanding, valuing each team member. 4. Ethical Decision-Making: Make choices that are morally sound and beneficial for the collective. 5. Continual Improvement: Constantly seek ways to grow and improve, learning from past leaders. 6. Influence and Inspiration: Motivate and inspire your team to achieve common goals. 7. Adaptability: Be flexible and open to change, ready to tackle new challenges. By embodying these traits, you can inspire your team and drive meaningful change. DM for credit or removal request - no copyright intended. All rights and credits reserved to the respective owner. Follow The CTO Journal for top content on Business, Leadership, Management, and Self-improvement.

Great leaders aren’t bosses—they’re coaches. Credit to Naveen Bhati. Follow for more insightful content. ------ Original post below 👇🏼 Great leaders aren’t bosses—they’re coaches. The best leaders I’ve worked with didn’t just give instructions; they empowered, challenged, and inspired. Here’s how to be a mentor that truly makes an impact: 👂 Listen Actively Understand challenges and aspirations before advising. People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. ❓ Ask Powerful Questions Encourage self-reflection and critical thinking instead of just giving answers. Growth happens in the thinking process. 📢 Give Constructive Feedback Be specific and actionable—vague feedback doesn’t help anyone improve. 🎯 Set Clear Goals Help mentees define achievable personal and professional objectives. A goal without a plan is just a wish. 💡 Lead by Example Your actions speak louder than words. Be the leader you wish you had. ⚖️ Encourage Accountability Support your mentees, but challenge them to take ownership of their growth. 📚 Provide Learning Opportunities Expose them to new experiences that stretch their capabilities. Growth happens outside comfort zones. 🏆 Celebrate Progress Recognise and reinforce wins—even the small ones—to keep motivation high. A strong coaching culture creates better leaders, stronger teams, and higher engagement. Who has been a great mentor in your career? Drop their name below as a thank you! 👇 🔹 Insights at the Intersection of AI, Leadership and Technology: https://lnkd.in/ebB9pr_f 🔹 AI Consultancy: https://lnkd.in/ebkndQPK DM for credit or removal request - no copyright intended. All rights and credits reserved to the respective owner. Follow The CTO Journal for top content on Business, Leadership, Management, and Self-improvement.