United Way of Greater New Haven’s Post

Spending the day supporting an Ops org in a strategic session where we’re zooming out to collaboratively creative standard operating procedures for connection, communication and collaboration. I love working with Ops folks. They know everything that goes into the depths of detail of the day to day. And they have to report up out across and down to find that cohesive alignment with concise clarity. We’re developing processes for shared leadership and decision-making, personal introductions and language to describe the work they do, and getting clear on each person’s unique purpose so there’s more clarity and less effort every single day. This is the work I love to do the most. It’s challenging. It’s exhausting. It takes hours of preparation and consultation and personalization. It’s rewarding as hell. And it’s designed to cultivate more EASE and to minimize effort. It’s only effective when it’s inclusive and activates every single team member to use their voices and bring their best fullest selves. Every single day. It’s an honor and a privilege. Now back to work.

You HAVE to preserve and integrate the culture of the companies you acquire. It's just good business. When Anteriad started expanding globally, I learned a valuable lesson from our new recruits: they were tired of corporate bosses unfamiliar with local and regional business telling them what to do. I don’t blame them. People just can’t relate to a way of doing things that’s 4,000 miles away. We like to say: think global, act local. So when we made our first big acquisition in EMEA, a company in Spain with a unique culture and an interesting founder, we made sure not to mess with what they’d built. They had stellar local leadership who had developed a unique offering, but they also understood their team and their customers WAY better than we ever could from over here in the US. When you’re buying a company, your job is to show up, give people the support and resources they need to keep growing, and then empower those local leaders to do their thing. That’s it. Agree?

We've all thought "I wish I could find a superstar like Alex to join my team." But here's the truth: You probably hired one...and drove them away because YOU weren't ready to lead at that level yet. You don't attract what you want, you attract what you ARE. Painful but true. The real aim isn't finding lions and killers - it's becoming the type of leader that world-class talent willingly follows. Who's ready to level up? #AttractWhatYouAre #BecomeALeaderWorthFollowing #NextLevelRecruiting

🤔 So you're looking for a unicorn to join your team? PRO TIP: Unicorns aren't always white. Talent comes in all forms and backgrounds. So, isn't it about time for those in leadership to recognize that? 👉🏽 Drop a comment below and hit "Repost" to spread the word. Hit "Follow" ️️️️☝🏽️ on this post to see more from me, Fahad Khawaja *****

I'm a passionate Boston Celtics fan and watching them play this year has me FIRED UP and really learning a lot about team work. Not only do I love watching my team dominate, I love understanding why they're dominating. Of course, they have talented players, but it's not just about individual skills. It's about how they work together. Boston are now 3-0 in the finals series against the Dallas Mavericks, with 1 win away from the championship. Dallas have two all-star players who consistently score more than 50% of the team's points, in every game. In contrast, the Celtics have two all-star players as well, but have seven different players who could lead the scoring on any given night. They adapt to their opponents, and if one player is having an off night, they focus on rebounding and assisting, allowing others to step up. Building amazing business teams works the same way. It's not just about finding the most skilled new hire to plug in and profit from. It's about hiring the right fit, so the entire team excels. It's about understanding the culture you have, the strengths already present in your team, identifying gaps that need filling, and knowing how each team member will interact and work together. We all want elite business teams, but many struggle to understand what that actually means and how to do it. Your hiring approach must focus on understanding the full picture of each candidate and how they will contribute to the team's success. Stop hiring "the best" and start hiring "the best fit". That's how you build a championship-worthy team, whether it's in basketball or business.

Helping great founders learn how to leverage government opportunities to grow their businesses and startups is a great way to end your day.

𝐬 𝐨 𝐭 𝐫 𝐮 𝐞 !!! Every time I watch this video, I am struck by its symbolism regarding our business and social interactions. Despite being an older video that has circulated the web for long time, its message remains important and relevant. It underscores the importance of authenticity, empathy, and effective communication in building strong relationships. In both professional and social life, these qualities highlight trust and collaboration, leading to more meaningful and successful connections. How easily someone without these values can destroy the team and its results? https://lnkd.in/gDuCtJcW #Leadership #Communication #BusinessGrowth #PersonalDevelopment

Do you argue as enemies or allies? We are working with an iconic tech company with big goals and vision for the future that is going to take some doing. One of my favorite things about the project is that the new director is taking the view that everyone on the team is there because they smart, capable and committed. As with any creative venture, the team has a lot of personalities, perspectives and human quirks, but the leadership approach is to see the positive intent of the people on the group and tap into that. It's easy to label people as "difficult" or "hard to work with." What I've found in my travels is that the time to worry about your team is not when they are arguing but when they are resigned and defeated. Arguing means they are passionate, and you can tap into that. On a film or TV set, it's a total team sport. A giant group of people are all working together to create a piece of art that none of them will see completed for months to come. Sure, there are conflicts, but if you take each issue seriously and work to bring the team together to create that shared vision, the result is magic that almost cannot be explained. As you go about your day today, do you see your collaborators as enemies or allies?

We've all thought "I wish I could find a superstar like Alex to join my team." But here's the truth: You probably hired one...and drove them away because YOU weren't ready to lead at that level yet. You don't attract what you want, you attract what you ARE. Painful but true. The real aim isn't finding lions and killers - it's becoming the type of leader that world-class talent willingly follows. Who's ready to level up? #AttractWhatYouAre #BecomeALeaderWorthFollowing #NextLevelRecruiting

Would you rehire your team tomorrow? Your job as a leader isn't just to guide, inspire, and strategize. It's also to continually evaluate and ensure that every member of your team is someone you'd enthusiastically hire again tomorrow. Why is this important? Because the people who make up your team are the lifeblood of your business. They're the ones turning visions into reality, tackling the day-to-day challenges, and driving your collective success. If there's someone on your team who you hesitate to rehire, it's a signal. Maybe their skills no longer align with your direction, or perhaps their passion has faded. It's a tough realisation but a necessary one. And on the flip side, if a team member decides to leave, and you find yourself arguing with them to make them stay, it's a good sign to their value. It means they've been integral, not just in their tasks, but in the spirit and growth of your team. So, tell me: Is your team today the team you'd choose again tomorrow? Would you fight to keep each member on board?