Insights on Growth and Change

Quick Perspective: Growth doesn’t stall because people lack ambition. It stalls when they aren’t trusted to take action. Even with the right tools, companies often struggle to gain momentum. Progress accelerates when employees are empowered, teams collaborate openly, and platforms are built to invite participation. 🔶 Make empowerment operational. Your people closest to the customer often have the sharpest insights. 🔶 Look beyond the core. Growth frequently emerges from solving problems just outside your main offering. 🔶 Build for contribution. When employees and customers are set up to participate, ecosystems thrive. Trust fuels scale. And scale follows when we create space for others to help shape what comes next.

What makes your organization stand out in a rapidly changing marketplace? Over the last two decades, marketplaces have transformed significantly. Think about it How often do we pause to truly assess whether our organizations are keeping up? I recently worked with a team that asked some bold questions, not just about their competitors but also about themselves. The insights were eye-opening. They started by identifying their top competitors and asking, What are they doing differently? For example, one competitor launched a new program that doubled their impact within a year. Another built strong relationships with government and business leaders, gaining credibility and influence. These shifts forced my client to reflect: Are we as proactive? Do our partnerships and strategies reflect the needs of today? But it didn’t stop there. They turned their focus inward, looking at their staff and leadership. Were they seen as thought leaders? Were they involved in key networks that shape their industry? Some hard truths emerged, but this clarity became the foundation for growth. Data plays a big role here. For instance, A recent study by Deloitte found that organizations with strong stakeholder relationships are 63% more likely to adapt effectively in volatile markets. Similarly, McKinsey research shows companies focusing on sustainability and community engagement can reduce costs by 20-30% while enhancing profitability. And it’s not just about competitors and donors. The voice of clients and participants matters just as much. One organization I collaborated with learned through feedback surveys that their participants felt disconnected from leadership decisions. Addressing this gap didn’t just improve satisfaction—it strengthened trust and loyalty. As the marketplace keeps shifting, we must regularly ask: -What’s changing in our landscape? -Are we a sought-after partner in our field? -Do we genuinely understand and adapt to the needs of our donors, clients, and staff? These questions don’t just help organizations survive—they pave the way for meaningful, sustainable success. What’s one area of your work you’d like to re-evaluate? Let’s discuss this in the comments below.

Embracing Obstacles: "What Stands in the Way Becomes the Way" In the wisdom of Marcus Aurelius, "What stands in the way becomes the way," we find a profound insight into navigating both personal and professional challenges. This philosophy encourages us to see obstacles not as barriers, but as opportunities for growth and transformation. Turning Challenges into Opportunities In the business world, obstacles are inevitable. Whether it's a market shift, internal resistance, or an unexpected setback, these challenges can become the very path to innovation and improvement. Here's how: 1. Cultivate Resilience: Facing obstacles head-on builds resilience. By embracing challenges, we develop the strength and adaptability needed to thrive in dynamic environments. 2. Spark Innovation: Constraints often lead to creative problem-solving. When traditional paths are blocked, new and innovative solutions emerge, driving progress and differentiation. 3. Enhance Leadership: Leaders who see obstacles as opportunities inspire their teams to do the same. This mindset fosters a culture of growth, where challenges become collective stepping stones to success. 4. Focus on Growth: Rather than avoiding difficulties, focusing on navigating through them helps individuals and organizations grow. Each obstacle becomes a lesson, contributing to long-term development. Examples in Action Market Evolution: A company facing a saturated market might see this as a barrier. However, by exploring unmet needs and adapting offerings, this challenge transforms into a path for expansion and success. Internal Change: Resistance to change within an organization can seem insurmountable. Yet, by engaging with concerns and aligning change with core values, this resistance becomes a way to build a more cohesive and committed team. Takeaway: In every obstacle lies the potential for progress. By embracing the philosophy that "what stands in the way becomes the way," we can turn challenges into catalysts for growth, innovation, and success. #Leadership #GrowthMindset #Innovation #Resilience#BeTheChange How do you transform obstacles into opportunities in your journey? Share your stories and insights with the community!

#MidweekWakeup: Embrace change - it's the only constant in business and life. As a fractional Chief People & Operations Officer, I've learned that adaptability is key to success. Let me share a recent experience: At Kinfolk Tech Foundation, we faced the challenge of evolving needs. Instead of resisting change, we embraced it: We overhauled our 2-year strategic objectives, pivoting mid-year to align with new realities. The result? A 40% increase in project completion rates and 20% improvement in resource allocation. But change isn't just about strategies - it's about people too. We redesigned our entire organizational operating system using Notion, reducing administrative time by 35% and improving information accessibility by 50%. This change empowered our team to work more efficiently and collaboratively. Remember, change can be uncomfortable, but it's also where growth happens. How are you embracing change in your organization? #ChangeManagement #OrganizationalGrowth #PeopleFirst

Your team needs growth conversations. Your calendar says there’s no time. I see this pattern often: • Growth deferred to quarterly reviews • Career planning treated as a separate task • Development frameworks too complex to sustain ---> Here’s the shift to make ---> Embed development into your day-to-day interactions. This is what has worked for me... — The 3-Question Method — 1. “What challenged you here?” ↳ Surfaces learning edges and skill gaps 2. “What would make more doable?” ↳ Sparks process improvements and resource clarity 3. “How can I better support you?” ↳ Builds development partnerships and coaching opportunities 💡 The core insight Growth doesn’t need its own meeting. It needs intention inside the meetings you already have. Try this approach: → Pick one recurring meeting → Reserve 10 minutes at the end → Focus on one team member per week → Track what patterns emerge What's worked for you, formal development programs or integrated conversations?

Why 2025 Could Be Your Best Year for Growth—If You’re Willing to Change Your Mindset As I’ve been talking with clients and leaders heading into 2025, I’ve felt something I haven’t in a while: optimism. For too long, the dominant narrative in boardrooms and C-suites has been focused on cost-cutting, margin protection, and battening down the hatches. While operational efficiency matters, it’s not a strategy for building the future. Growth is. But let me be clear: hope is not a strategy either. Growth doesn’t just happen because you want it to. It happens because you’re intentional about turning aspiration into action. That’s why I’m thrilled to share a new piece from my colleagues. In it, we argue that sustained growth requires shifting from “wanting” to achieving by transforming five critical mindsets into behaviors. Here’s a preview of the questions every CEO and senior leader should be asking themselves—and their teams—to operationalize growth:     1.    What funding have I recently reallocated toward growth? Growth requires investment. Are you putting your resources where your strategy is—or just keeping the status quo?     2.    Am I acting boldly, or just operating in my comfort zone? Growth doesn’t come from incrementalism. Are you making bold moves, or are you playing it safe?     3.    What have I done lately to better integrate customer needs? Customers are your growth engine. Are you building around their pain points and aspirations, or just guessing what they want?     4.    Have I reconstituted my team to focus on growth? The people who got you here may not be the ones who get you there. Have you built a team capable of seeing—and seizing—what’s next?     5.    What targeted interventions have I made recently? Growth is rarely an accident. What specific actions have you taken in the past 90 days to unlock potential in your markets or operations? These aren’t just theoretical musings. In our piece below, we share compelling survey data, actionable insights, and real-world case studies that show how organizations are breaking through stagnation to achieve meaningful, sustainable growth. If 2025 is the year you want to grow—and not just cut costs—I’d encourage you to read the full article here. It’s a roadmap for making growth a reality. Because the difference between surviving and thriving isn’t just mindset. It’s action. #ceoexcellencebook Michael Birshan, Andy West, Greg Kelly, Jill Zucker, Kate Siegel, Louisa Greco, Rebecca Doherty, and Sascha B. Lehmann, Sean Brown

"Change what you do to change where you go" On the journey of growth, it's easy to find yourself stuck in a loop, where days blend into each other, and progress seems like a distant dream. Routine offers comfort, but it's often the graveyard of growth. To foster development, scrutinize your daily habits. What tasks consume disproportionate amounts of time with little return? Identifying and eliminating these inefficiencies can redirect energy to more fruitful endeavors. Embrace Discomfort Growth lies on the other side of comfort. Incorporating new challenges into your routine forces adaptation, learning, and ultimately, improvement. Start with small changes to build resilience and expand your capacity for more significant shifts. Goal Setting and Tracking Define Clear, Achievable Goals Ambiguous aspirations breed inaction. Define clear, achievable goals to provide direction. Break these down into actionable steps to transform daunting tasks into manageable actions. Track Progress What gets measured gets managed. Regularly tracking progress towards your goals not only maintains focus but also provides motivation through visible improvements, no matter how small. Mindset Shift- Cultivate a Growth Mindset Adopt a mindset that views challenges as opportunities to learn rather than insurmountable obstacles. This perspective encourages persistence and resilience, essential qualities for long-term success. Learn from Failure Reframe failure as feedback. Each setback offers valuable insights into what doesn't work, guiding adjustments and innovations in approach. Leveraging Your Environment Create a Conducive Environment Your environment significantly influences behavior. Tailor your surroundings to support your goals. If productivity is the aim, design a distraction-free workspace. If learning, surround yourself with relevant resources and influences. Seek Constructive Feedback Engage with peers, mentors, or coaches who can provide constructive feedback. External perspectives can uncover blind spots and offer insights that propel you forward. Continuous Learning and Adaptation Embrace Lifelong Learning The pursuit of growth is a perpetual journey. Embrace learning as a continuous process. Stay curious, seek new knowledge, and be open to changing your approach based on new insights. Stay Flexible Rigidity is the enemy of growth. The willingness to pivot in response to feedback or changing circumstances is crucial. Flexibility allows for the exploration of new paths and opportunities. In conclusion, changing where you're going starts with a critical assessment and adjustment of what you're doing. Illustration credit: GoLimitless & Shane Parrish #motivation #productivity #work #growthmindsets