Edinger's Monthly Insights, October 2022

Individual Leadership: Do You Need to Be More Strategic?

The worst of the professional insults these days is to say someone is not strategic. Sometimes, it's coupled with comments about being “too tactical” or “not being creative enough.” But it always foreshadows turbulence for a once-promising career.

Leaders at all levels must continue to develop a strategic perspective, as it is among the most prized skills for promotions and advancement. Do these things daily:

1. Focus on framing problems, not solving them. When leaders get precise about defining the problem to be solved, teams can provide better solutions. 
2. Consider the “what” before the “how.” Diving into the “how” inevitably takes you into the weeds. Stay attentive to the “what” in the form of objectives, goals, milestones of progress, and so forth.
3. Avoid “corporate speak.” When I hear it, I know a leader is not dialed in on strategy or they are equivocating. Use plain and descriptive language, and you’ll be heard more clearly, perceived as more interesting, and become more trusted. 

Organizational Leadership: Help Your Team Communicate More Effectively

Your team members ramble. They take tangents. They add details that are often irrelevant and distract from the main point. Sometimes, they talk for so long you get lost in what they are saying and may even tune them out. 

You can prevent it though. And lead more effective communication within your team with standards and practices for how you share information.

Instead of diving into content, consider asking people to start with a focused sentence or two. Here are some examples:

• What decision needs to be made by you or others?
• What challenge or problem do you want help thinking through?
• What roadblocks require collaboration from others?
• What resources are needed to advance your project and accelerate progress?
• What opportunity do we need to capitalize on?

Avoid all the context and background first. It can be filled in as the discussion unfolds and will have far more relevance than a long introduction. Start with the point and priority of focus. 

Leadership in the World: Evaluating Your International Plans

If you are considering licensing deals, manufacturing goods, or expanding and distributing products globally, Russia and China undoubtedly factor into the equation. This article in The Hill, Putin and Xi: Look to Beijing for the real reason behind the Ukraine invasion, illustrates the overlapping strategic interests of these two countries, as well as their complementary business needs. We have entered a new phase in the age of global power competition. You might not have direct business interests in China, but the world's biggest companies do, and the second and third-order effects will be felt by all businesses from reduced access enforced by the Chinese or forced withdrawal by Western governments. These are important factors to consider as you evaluate global plans.

As an aside: one of the authors of the article is Marc Ross, a colleague and friend who also publishes a fantastic daily newsletter curating world, economic, and cultural news called The Brigadoon Daily. You can find it here.

LinkedIn Live: Why Your CRM Isn't Working and What Leaders Can Do About It

Join me on Tuesday, October 18, at 10 am Eastern to discuss how executives can get the most out of their CRM and leverage technology to drive top and bottom line growth.

In the meantime, click here to watch my latest Linkedin Live Recap on how executives can lead powerful meetings, both in-person and virtually.

Perspective: The Power of Fall

In addition to being the favorite season for many of us, fall may be the most productive stretch of the year. There are around 90 days between Labor Day and Thanksgiving in the U.S. The end of the year is in sight, and there is still time to make course corrections. It’s a chance to sprint and finish the year strong, while simultaneously considering what will be different in the year ahead. There may be disappointments to face, such as “we aren’t going to be able to hit our objectives for the year,” or adjustments to make that help you get the best possible results. Or, there may be opportunities to build on, “we are ahead of schedule, which allows us to invest or push further than we initially thought.” Regardless of where you are, the momentum will build and push you strong into next year.

Now is a great time to figure out how you want to finish this calendar year. Then, get clear on what you want to be different next year. Put your plans for both into place now. 

And, about fall as the “favorite season,” it must be because of football, right?