Thought Leadership’s Post

In a world inundated with information and diverse perspectives, the ability to debate effectively stands out as a critical skillset for professionals across industries. Far from being confined to the courtroom or the political arena, debating influences our everyday interactions, negotiations, and decision-making processes. It's a multifaceted tool that not only sharpens our ability to argue persuasively but also enhances our capacity to listen, understand, and engage with opposing viewpoints constructively. The Essence of Debate in Professional Growth Debating encompasses much more than the ability to deliver compelling arguments. It fosters a deep understanding of issues from multiple angles, encouraging critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are invaluable in the corporate world. Here's why mastering the art of debate can be a game-changer for your career: 1. Enhanced Communication Skills 2. Critical Thinking and Analytical Skills 3. Empathy and Openness 4. Conflict Resolution 5. Personal and Professional Confidence Mastering debating doesn't happen overnight, but with practice, feedback, and a commitment to continuous learning, you can significantly improve. Consider these strategies to refine your debating skills: Engage in Regular Practice: Seek opportunities to debate on different topics, even those outside your comfort zone. This could be in formal settings, like joining a debate club, or informally, by initiating discussions on contentious issues. Analyze and Reflect: After each debate, reflect on what went well and areas for improvement. Watching recordings of debates and analyzing the techniques used by skilled debaters can provide valuable insights. Read Widely: Broadening your knowledge base strengthens your ability to argue from various perspectives. Stay informed about current affairs, industry trends, and general knowledge topics. Seek Constructive Feedback: Encouraging peers and mentors to critique your debating style can pinpoint specific areas to work on, such as clarity of argument, body language, or the use of evidence. Debating is much more than an academic exercise; it's a fundamental skill that enhances professional effectiveness. By mastering the art of debate, you unlock your voice and gain the tools needed to lead, persuade, and innovate. Whether you're addressing a boardroom, resolving team conflicts, or negotiating a deal, the ability to debate confidently and effectively sets you apart as a thoughtful leader and invaluable asset to any organization. Happy debating! #publicspeaking #publicspeaker #leadership #publicspeakingclass #communication #motivation #publicspeakingtraining #publicspeakingcoach #debate #publicspeakingtips #communicationskills #training #speaker #confidence #speech

Thought Leadership Sharing the Why Behind Your Expertise Let's talk about it for a hot minute, A thought leader isn't only spitting facts, it's also sharing the part BEFORE you spit them out. In a field where controversy, polarisation and untruths grow larger everyday, I think it's incredibly important to share the WHY behind your idea or work. Couple of things for you to keep in mind: 👉🏼 Understand your subject matter deeply with real-world examples and experiences Support your ideas with evidence, statistics, and tangible outcomes. 👉🏼 Avoid vague statements; provide actionable steps 👉🏼 Don't HOARD your expertise; show your methods and share your "secret sauce" openly (with discretion). Implementing this in your content strategy for your business SHOWS. You know what people ACTUALLY mean when they say "3 things to achieve XYZ lists don't work anymore?"? It's recycling old information into your own template. There's no original idea involved and just repeating what is out there. "3/4/5/6 things to" lists can still work in my opinion, it's a matter of how novel your info is and how you present it. ~ Q #contentmarketingtips #marketinginsights #leadershipdevelopment #thoughtleadership101 #brandstrategy #marketingstrategy #beyourownleader #innovativeideas #standoutcontent #authenticthoughts #zigwhenotherszag #unpopularopinions #leadershipjourney #businessgrowthtips #marketingmindset #contentstrategy

My blog ‘Power to influence’ 01.04.2024 In a world driven by connections and interactions, the power to influence holds a significant place in shaping outcomes, opinions, and actions. Whether it's in personal relationships, professional settings, or societal dynamics, influence can wield a profound impact. It's not merely about exerting control but rather about inspiring, persuading, and guiding others towards a common goal or mindset. Those who harness this power effectively understand the art of communication, empathy, and strategic thinking. They recognize the importance of credibility, trust, and authenticity in building lasting influence that transcends fleeting trends or manipulative tactics. However, with great power comes great responsibility. The ability to influence carries ethical implications, requiring individuals to wield it conscientiously and with integrity. Whether it's leaders shaping policies, marketers crafting campaigns, or individuals influencing their peers, ethical considerations must underpin every action. True influence isn't about manipulation but about fostering genuine connections, fostering growth, and driving positive change. Ultimately, the power to influence can be a force for good, shaping a brighter, more collaborative future for all. ~Ayub Siddiqui

#everyday_shortcourse I am grateful to share that I completed the Strategic Thinking course, a short yet highly informative course 💡💫 👩🏻🏫learnt pearls: ▶️why strategic thinking is important? Because it’s the key to change. ▶️ Before getting into taking action and applying a new strategy, we need to ask why we do what we do in that way. Is it the best methodology? This is followed by observing before taking action, and finally reflecting on your observations and current applied strategy. ▶️reflection is crucial to clear your mind and give space for breaking ideas to flourish. ▶️ Leaders need to have a strategy, that applies 3 criteria summarized in CAN (Clear, Aligned, and New information ). ▶️a strategy is the pathway chosen by an individual for his personal/career growth or by a leader, who leads a team and is responsible for a business's success for example. ▶️after defining the pathway, specific goals should be set, together with determining resources of data courses, books experts, etc ▶️after setting goals certain tactics/ methods are required to accomplish the goals. ▶️tips & tricks to have strategic thinking include turning off noise, escaping from your daily busy out loud life, social media, work environment, TED talks, etc., and getting somewhere you’re comfortable and observing, at least weekly or monthly. Another tip that use waste times, times when your energy is drained and you’re less productive, these times are the best to reflect on current strategies. ▶️Also we need to determine our allies(public relations for instance) and assets (knowledge, skills, etc.) These are some points I found invaluable in this course and will be applying them for personal and professional growth. . . . #strategicthinking #goalsetting #skillsdevelopment

If you are a marketer, educator, leader and anyone interested in making your ideas more persuasive and memorable, then Made to Stick can offer some valuable and actionable insights. The book analyzes why some ideas thrive while others fail, emphasizing that the success of an idea is not solely dependent on its inherent value but also on how it’s communicated. The Heath brothers distill their findings into six key principles summarized by the acronym SUCCESs: Simple, Unexpected, Concrete, Credible, Emotional, and Stories. They argue that ideas that embody these traits are more likely to stick in the minds of people and therefore have a greater chance of influencing behavior and spreading. The book draws on various real-world examples from different domains, such as education, business, and social activism, to illustrate these principles in action. https://lnkd.in/daPJuDey #leaders #educators #marketers #leadership #success #concrete #credibility #emotionalwellbeing #stories #organisations

**"You can hear what someone says. Mastery is hearing from where someone says what they say."** When it comes to leadership and its primary function of creating an environment of high performance, one essential quality that supports being a leader is the ability to listen effectively. I recall a conversation with the CEO of a small consultancy firm, who had invited me because he believed there was a need to work on his people's skills. He was convinced he was a great listener, demonstrating this by reflecting back on what I had said. However, it quickly became apparent that he didn't really listen. Here's what I mean by *really* listening: - You can listen just to respond—this is the lowest form of listening where you are preoccupied with your own story. How can you effectively listen if your cup is already full of your own narratives? - Many believe that repeating what was said equates to effective listening. This is a common misconception. Simply remembering is not a powerful way of listening, but it's what most people do. It's akin to how we learned to listen in school but ask yourself, how much of that knowledge did you genuinely absorb? - The third way of listening involves not only hearing what is said but understanding the context from which someone speaks and what is left unsaid. This type of listening involves engaging with our whole being—fully present in the experience. Like the CEO I mentioned, most organizations I've encountered only ever employ the first two levels of listening, then wonder why there isn't true alignment within the organization: - Why don't they follow my instructions? - Why must I continually intervene? - Why do I feel stressed and pressured by what people say? Transforming your way of listening and dissolving what gets in the way of being fully present with your team is what we offer in the third edition of the Being Business Intensive. Being fully expressed starts by being fully present to what is shared and what wants to be shared, and providing a space for your people to communicate powerfully and be understood by you. This event will transform not only your level of listening but also your overall performance as a leader and business owner. Join us for a transformative experience (link in the comments) that will open new avenues for accessing your power and evaporate the barriers preventing your full access to it. #LeadershipDevelopment #EffectiveListening #HighPerformanceCulture

Many executives hide their fear of public speaking. 🗣️ They try to project a positive facade, and I see a pattern. • "It is high stakes" • "Always be Teflon." • "It needs to be perfect." • "They'll think I am weak."    And the list goes on. This creates a few dynamics: 1️⃣ A 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: Most people cannot relate to a perfect image (and won't follow). 2️⃣ 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 and burnout: The constant need to maintain a flawless image eats into your sustainability and leadership effectiveness. 3️⃣ 𝗞𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: creating even more fear about experimenting and making mistakes. Yes there will be critics. Yet authenticity and relatability outweigh the costs of perfection: • Authenticity builds trust • Relatability enhances influence • Role modelling realistic standards Remember, public speaking is not about coming across as perfect. it's about creating a space of connection, inspiration, and mutual growth. credits: Liz Fosslien

"The French philosopher Blaise Pascal once apologised for writing a long letter, explaining that he hadn't had time to write a short one." Extract from HBR article in Dec 2023 issue (link below) I read (and appreciated) this line so many times. It's so meaningful and true. As changes become increasingly complex, it's very easy for change managers to fall into the trap of using jargons and complex terminologies instead of taking time to narrate a short, simple, easy-to-understand story to drive the change. As I have experienced, "The Change Story" might be a short paragraph, a line, a word or a picture. In one of my projects, my change story was "Right Pay at the Right Time". It was powerful yet easy for stakeholders to connect with it. I remember it took a lot of brainstorming and iterations to get to these words. However, once we had the story, the communication became easier. https://lnkd.in/gQkrBCiu

Strategy agreements falling apart during execution? Osmond’s Whole Brain Model categorizes incoming communication into four styles: 1. Facts 2. Ideas 3. Actions 4. Feelings Learn how varying interpretations can lead to complications. https://ow.ly/XNGt50QfcMq

Embrace the one idea that matters most; that’s how you write. The key to writing a piece that resonates and engages is focusing on one idea. It's about delving deep, not wide. This approach positions you as a thought leader who can break down complex topics into digestible insights. Next time you draft a post, ask yourself: Does every word reinforce my central theme? P.S. What's the most challenging aspect of narrowing down your ideas?