3 Bold Quotes from Influential Leaders That May Surprise You
“We’re in the Big Reset. The tectonic shifts that are happening under our feet are arguably the most significant since the Industrial Revolution.”
– Gary Burnison, CEO, Korn Ferry, global organizational consulting firm, September 2022
Original Art @lisadiamor: You Are Meant for Great Things
🎉 As we prepare for holiday festivities, reunions, and traditions, my hope is that you have time to reflect on your successes and celebrate wins.
You may be like me in that you believe it’s important to slow down to speed up. During a season where so much is expected, carve out time for yourself. Today, find time to pause. As I reflect on 2022, I simultaneously envision a better, brighter 2023.
📕 In 2022, I completed my personal and professional memoir, You Are Meant for Great Things; My Story of Turning Setbacks into Stepping Stones. It will hit bookstores in February 2023. Special thanks to my book mentors, Nancy Sharp and Sarah Zimmerman, in addition to several friends and family who read the book and provided ideas for improvement.
🎤 In 2023, I will be growing the speaking side of my business and planning Culture CARES™ masterminds to coach mission-driven organizations on the keys to building “Best Place to Work” award-winning cultures.
➡️ The research phase for my second book is nearly completed. The working title is The Strategic Culture Leader; 5 Ways to Level Up Your Impact with a Culture that CARES™. Over the past several months, I interviewed more than two dozen HR industry experts, CEOs, and Chief People Officers in the nonprofit and health sectors. Thank you to each person who generously shared insights on today’s top challenges and solutions.
Here are three quotes that stuck with me from influential leaders I met:
1. 🌎 “Geography doesn’t matter.” - Founder/CEO of a successful digital patient community platform
My take 🎬: Geography is more nuanced than ever before. Many are still grappling with the remote, hybrid, and in-office formula. A cost-benefit analysis should be performed as well as seeking input from employees. For remote, as you save money on office space, you also risk increased loneliness and disconnection. If you decide a 100% remote structure is the best avenue, I recommend clarifying “remote first” – not “remote only.” A former colleague of mine is struggling to get 100% of her 20-person remote team to travel and meet in person quarterly. One woman on her team just refuses to go. This is not fair to leaders wanting to build connection, so employees also need to be flexible. Setting clear expectations of “remote first, not remote only” can be helpful.
2. 👥 “People are our product.” - Chief People Officer of well-known, national cancer nonprofit organization
My take 🎬: If helping, serving, and caring for people is your mission, then your internal culture must reflect this same level of care and service through a healthy culture. Taking a proactive approach is vital, because your culture is on full display and impacts your employer reputation. To help nonprofits and companies focused on health, I created the Culture CARES™ model for leaders to establish a clear, compelling, and strategic framework that aligns your values-based culture with your external mission to care for communities.
3. 🙋🏻♀️ “It doesn’t matter what I want. It matters what THEY want.” - Founder/CEO of Inc. 5000 medical company which has achieved 285% growth in two years and wins multiple “Best Place to Work” awards
My take 🎬: From this very successful entrepreneur, this quote caught me off-guard in a good way. Healthy culture is top of mind every day at this company, and their business results speak for themselves.
These leaders share a service-oriented mentality towards their people, and as a result, all experience strong business results.
🔮 When in doubt about how to tackle today's people challenges, let the science of human psychology inform us how to lead.
At our core, we are wired for connection and belonging.
We have a universal need to feel valued, respected, and appreciated.
We want to learn and grow into the best versions of ourselves both outside and inside the workplace.
💪🏼 When leaders can maximize connection, belonging, and human potential, the sky is the limit on business success.