Cut to the Core

ABWA Pensacola Charter Chapter Sponsors Leadership Conversation

Recently, I had the pleasure of sharing an evening with a passionate and diverse group of professional women and women business owners. Their commitment to each other’s personal and professional education and advancement was evident and openly communicated during the meeting.

Invited to be a participant on the panel discussion that took place at the November 16^th meeting of the Pensacola Charter Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA), I was warmly greeted by Cynthia Herman, the chapter President, and treated to dinner by Sally Vickers, a Past President.

Sally, as moderator, led the panel in an open and supportive discussion on women’s leadership challenges and priorities. Other panel members were Julia Dantin, a local business owner and the chapter’s Vice President, and Sharon Hensel, Vice President of Regions Bank and Human Resources Manager for its North Florida Area. I represented Kore Access Incorporated as its President.

It was inspiring to hear how each of the participants was motivated to contribute to her workplace and to her co-workers by honoring her roles both at home and at work. A spirit of solution seeking and sharing permeated the panel discussion and the Q&A session that followed.

Learn more about the national association of ABWA and what it can do to foster leadership skills and to encourage women business owners:

Visit the national site: http://www.abwa.org

Visit the local Pensacola Chapter site: http://www.abwapensacola.org

 

The Heart To Lead - Women as Allies for the Greater Good

I have been deeply touched by the Heart to Lead film (which I had to watch twice!) The feature-length film explores the many ways that women take on leadership roles and in so doing are redefining their roles in the workplace, in their homes and in their communities. By solving the world’s challenges at the local level they are in not only in the process of having a transformative impact on society but also in shaping the function and roles of leadership positions.

This film is inspirational in that so many women are questioning the established leadership models and CHOOSE, instead, to honor our “heart” in our roles. We are in the process of defining our role as leaders in a way that is true to our values –whether leaders in the family unit, our community or in organizations. I think the film’s vision of activating our wisdom as women as a  “ collective for a greater good” is an inspiring principle to keep in mind as we face the challenges that change brings forth.

This film truly meets the companies stated goal “to awaken women to their own transformative power, motivate them and give them the tools to take on greater responsibility for themselves, their communities, and the world at large.“ This is the companies’ first production and I look forward to many more.

Get started in your transformation by buying this DVD and forming your Circle of Friends to work through the accompanying workbook. My recommendation is to share this DVD with all the women in your family, in your workplace and in your community (And make sure to enjoy the bonus sections that include the men’s responses and the insights of the filmmakers Bonnie Kelley and Cheryl Ingram Gould.

To get the DVD, to receive the complementary guidebook, and to view the trailer go to http://www.imaginethegood.com/ 

Leadership Tips From Jack Welch

In his keynote speech at SHRM’s 2009 Annual Conference held in New Orleans in June, Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric, stressed how important it is that employers and managers provide forthcoming and frequent communications to employees at all levels of an organization.

He emphasized that, in these uncertain economic times, employers and leaders will find a great deal of value in offering explanations for almost every move they make.  It is of utmost importance that employees clearly understand the reasons behind the actions their employers take “because everyone is scared.”

In other words, you cannot communicate too much with your employees right now.  Use a variety of media to do so: e-mail messages, company intranets, memos, posters and individual and staff meetings.  Be creative and find a way to empower your employees so that they feel prepared to succeed. 

To learn more about Jack Welch and GE’s performance management practices, read “Performance Management Is Key to Thriving in Tough Times,” a Kore Access case study - Click here.You can then customize some of his ideas to enhance your management and marketing success.

“Self-confident leaders produce simple plans, speak simply, and propose big, clear targets.”

Jack Welch

Outsourcing Best Practices in Four Simple Steps

The practice of business outsourcing—the use of an individual or an organization to perform a function, process or service on your behalf—began about 50 years ago in the manufacturing industry as a means to reduce costs and, therefore, to improve profit margins.

The trend toward outsourcing has continued and has expanded to include entire business processes. Over the years, outsourcing best practices have emerged, been tried and tested. Learn more about the four simple steps of outsourcing, read “Outsourcing to Succeed in Any Economy,” a Kore Access article. Download Collaborative_Outsourcing

Are You on the Path to Successful Outsourcing?

Managers have begun to realize that they can achieve far more with an outsourcing partnership than they can on their own. Successful outsourcing initiatives allow companies to access talent, to take advantage of economies of scale, to accomplish growth goals, or to achieve a myriad of other objectives. In addition, managers are more able to focus on their core competencies and to provide excellent customer service.

 

To learn more about how to create a successful outsourcing plan, and about how to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage not easily duplicated by others, read “Outsourcing to Succeed in Any Economy,” a Kore Access white paper. To access this and other white papers - click here.

 

 

 

*Focus on your core competencies. Work with your Kore Access colleagues in a collaborative partnership to create and execute your next commercially successful project. Utilize our expertise and resources to more effectively and efficiently meet your project goals, timeline and budget. Remember, Kore Access has a cooperative and flexible process that invites client input and collaboration. Our energetic and punctual work habits deliver a quality project on time and on budget.

 

 

To set up your initial, complimentary consultation and to get a customized project quote, contact us today.

 

Do You Utilize The Skills of an Authentic Communicator?

The mastery of oratory skills brings you success in front of an audience of any size. You will find that company and client meetings and one-on-one conversations improve in effectiveness as you develop the ability to present your ideas with more impact.

Imagine ending this year with the skills that make you a confident and compelling spokesperson for your brand. Propel yourself and your brand forward by making a commitment to improve your speaking abilities.

 

Learn about the four skills of an authentic communicator. Read the Kore Access Newsletter, “Brand Loyalties Strengthen With Authentic Communications.”

Are You Viewed as a Leading Thinker by Your Customers?

Are you a subject matter expert (SME), a leading thinker in your field? If you count on customers to value your knowledge, you must position yourself as a thought leader. Doing so may become your best competitive positioning strategy.

Does your marketing planning and strategy execution create and enhance a thought leadership brand for you? Find out by reviewing your organization’s thought leadership branding programs with the “Thought Leadership Program Evaluation and Development Checklist,” an easy-to-use checklist from Kore Access. To get started on your review and evaluation, click here.

The Power of Personal Purpose

Due to her roles as best-selling author, as television correspondent and anchorwoman, and as California’s First Lady, Maria Shriver has the influence to take action and achieve results in any number of ways. In fact, when you also consider her connections to the names Kennedy, Shriver, and Schwarzenegger, she is a person with extensive name brand recognition.

Therefore, Maria Shriver has a unique opportunity to lend the power of her influence and her name to causes she believes to be worthy. The Women’s Conference that takes place once a year in Long Beach, California, is one of those causes. Established in 1985 to support women-owned businesses, the conference has grown substantially under the leadership of First Lady Maria Shriver to become a significant event. For example, the conference has featured world-famous speakers such as Oprah Winfrey; Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York; Barbara Walters; Jane Fonda; Queen Noor of Jordan; Martha Stewart; Tyra Banks and Sandra Day O'Connor, former Supreme Court Justice.

To What Purpose Do You Lend Your Good Name?

Do you act, whenever you lend your influence to some project, on your personal purpose? If you lend your name under the umbrella of your brand, remember your ABC’s:

Assets: Access those in your organization who are best suited to act on behalf of your cause.

Brand: Assess the cultural relevance of your purpose to your niche audience.

Competencies: Act both to further your purpose and to enhance your organization’s core mission and vision.

Surveys Reveal the Importance of Credibility

                          

Surveys that monitor and track a brand’s attributes continue to find that measures of credibility rank high in consumers’ perceptions of brand strength. The surveys reveal that credibility is viewed by customers as a measure of both organizational stability and a commitment to providing future value.

Learn the 3 characteristics to avoid and the 3 characteristic to pursue in your campaign to earn and maintain credibility. Read the Kore Access marketing resources article, Download Establishing Credibility

*Reviewing your organization’s credibility status with the Kore Access marketing resources,Download KA Checklist_credibility