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Business Leadership: Key Words for Effective Leadership

In the world of business, leadership is a crucial component of success. Effective leaders possess certain qualities that enable them to inspire, motivate, and guide their teams toward achieving their goals. One way to become a successful business leader is to master keywords and phrases that communicate your vision, values, and expectations to your team.

Will explore some of the most important words for effective business leadership.

Vision

A strong leader is defined by their vision. It is the driving force that sets the direction for the entire organization. To communicate your vision effectively, you need to use inspiring, clear, and concise words. Some examples include “innovation,” “excellence,” “growth,” “customer-centric,” “diversity,” and “sustainability.” Using these words consistently in your messaging can motivate your team to work towards a common goal.

Accountability

Accountability is a critical component of leadership. It involves taking ownership of your actions and holding your team accountable for their performance. As a leader, you need to use words that emphasize the importance of accountability, such as “responsibility,” “transparency,” “integrity,” “discipline,” and “consequence.” Using these words in your communication can create a culture of accountability that promotes high performance and ethical behaviour.

Communication Effective

Communication is key to successful leadership. It involves listening to your team, giving feedback, and providing clear instructions. As a leader, you need to use words that facilitate communication, such as “listen,” “clarify,” “feedback,” “empower,” “collaborate,” and “trust.” By using these words in your communication, you can establish open channels of communication that foster collaboration and innovation.

Adaptability

In today’s fast-paced business environment, adaptability is critical for success. It involves being flexible, agile, and responsive to change. As a leader, you need to use words that encourage adaptability, such as “flexibility,” “agility,” “innovation,” “resilience,” “risk-taking,” and “experimentation.” Using these words in your messaging can create a culture that embraces change and encourages your team to adapt to new circumstances.

Empathy

Empathy is an essential quality of effective leadership. It involves understanding and caring for your team members’ needs and perspectives. As a leader, you need to use words that demonstrate empathy, such as “compassion,” “understanding,” “emotional intelligence,” “support,” “inclusivity,” and “humility.” Using these words in your communication can create a culture that values diversity and promotes psychological safety.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, effective business leadership requires using keywords and phrases to communicate your team’s vision, values, and expectations. You can become a successful business leader who drives your organisation towards success by mastering words that inspire, hold accountable, facilitate communication, encourage adaptability, and demonstrate empathy. Remember, words have the power to motivate, inspire, and transform. Use them wisely.

Leadership Words: How to Communicate Effectively as a Leader

Leadership is a vital skill in today’s world. Successful leaders’ ability to inspire, motivate and guide others towards a common goal is an essential characteristic. Effective communication is a key component of leadership, and the words we choose to use as leaders can significantly impact how our message is received. In this blog, we will explore some key leadership words and how they can be used to communicate effectively.

Vision

A leader must have a clear vision of where they want to go and be able to communicate this vision effectively to their team. The word “vision” is powerful, as it conveys a sense of direction and purpose. When communicating your vision to your team, use inspiring and motivating language. Paint a picture of the future that is both compelling and achievable, and use language that creates a sense of excitement and energy.

Empower

Empowering your team is an essential aspect of effective leadership. When you empower your team, you give them the tools and resources they need to succeed. The word “empower” conveys a sense of trust and confidence in your team. When communicating with your team, use language demonstrating your belief in their abilities and your willingness to give them the autonomy to make decisions and take action.

Accountability

As a leader, it is important to hold yourself and your team accountable for achieving results. The word “accountability” conveys a sense of responsibility and ownership. When communicating with your team, use language emphasising the importance of taking ownership of their work and being accountable for the outcomes. Use language that encourages your team to take responsibility for their actions and to work together to achieve their goals.

Collaboration

Collaboration is an essential component of effective leadership. When you collaborate with your team, you create a sense of shared ownership and vision. The word “collaboration” conveys a sense of teamwork and cooperation. When communicating with your team, use language emphasising the importance of working together towards a common goal. Encourage your team to share ideas, support each other, and work together to achieve success.

Integrity

Integrity is a core value of effective leadership. You demonstrate a commitment to honesty, fairness, and transparency when you act with integrity. The word “integrity” conveys a sense of trust and respect. When communicating with your team, use language that emphasizes the importance of acting with integrity in all aspects of your work. Encourage your team to be honest, fair, and transparent in their interactions with others.

Innovation

Innovation is an essential aspect of effective leadership. When you innovate, you create new opportunities for growth and success. The word “innovation” conveys a sense of creativity and forward thinking. When communicating with your team, use language emphasising innovation’s importance in achieving success. Encourage your team to think creatively and explore new ideas and approaches.

Resilience

Resilience is an important characteristic of effective leaders. Leaders must bounce back and keep moving forward when faced with challenges and obstacles. The word “resilience” conveys a sense of strength and perseverance. When communicating with your team, use language that emphasizes the importance of resilience in overcoming challenges and achieving success. Encourage your team to stay positive and to keep pushing forward, even in the face of adversity.

Trust

Trust is a fundamental component of effective leadership. When your team trusts you, they are likelier to follow your lead and work towards your shared goals. The word “trust” conveys a sense of reliability and dependability. When communicating with your team, use language emphasising trust’s importance in building strong relationships. Encourage your team to trust each other and the vision and direction you provide.

Authenticity

Authenticity is a critical aspect of effective leadership. When you are authentic, you are true to yourself and your values, creating a sense of trust and respect from your team. The word “authenticity” conveys a sense of honesty and transparency. When communicating with your team, use language emphasising the importance of authenticity. Encourage your team to be themselves and to communicate honestly and openly with each other.

Listening

Effective communication is a two-way street, and listening is a key component. When you listen to your team, you demonstrate that you value their input and that their opinions matter. The word “listening” conveys a sense of respect and consideration. When communicating with your team, use language that emphasizes the importance of active listening. Encourage your team to share their ideas and perspectives and to listen actively to each other. Doing so can create a culture of open communication and collaboration, which is essential for effective leadership

In conclusion, effective leadership requires a clear vision and strong communication skills and the ability to use words that inspire, empower, hold accountable, collaborate, demonstrate integrity, innovate, show resilience, build trust, be authentic, and actively listen. Choosing the right words can significantly affect how your team receives your message and follows your lead. By using language that emphasizes these key aspects of leadership, you can build a team that is motivated, engaged, and committed to achieving your shared goals. So, choose your words wisely and lead your team towards success.

Bet On Yourself.

Let’s kick things off with a question, shall we? Would you consider yourself to be someone who likes to gamble? Who likes to take risks? Who is comfortable putting most if not all your eggs in one basket with the hope that the outcome will work in your favor? I can tell you with complete confidence that I am not! So much so that I’m the kind of person, who, if I do find myself in a casino to gamble (which is beyond rare) I’m most likely going to be found at the five-cent slot machine hoping for that million-dollar win!

The idea of taking a risk used to cause such a level of stress for me, that I took none. And when I say none, I meant none. Even when I could sense that the outcome of me doing something a little differently would result in a positive outcome – I still wouldn’t chance it, and in fact would double down on the act, action or behavior that I was convinced was the only avenue to take.

I’d love to say that this fear of stepping out of my comfort zone was something that was new, but if I take a moment to reflect on the way I have operated for a good portion of my life, I can say that taking minimal risk, sticking within status quo and not going too far out of my safety zone was a badge I wore with confidence – that is until I dove into the world of entrepreneurship.

Sidenote: Isn’t interesting how we can be so committed to a particular pattern or behavior in our life, but with one decision (whether planned or irrational) pivot in a whole other direction.

I can’t tell you the exact moment that I decided that I was going to become an entrepreneur, but I can pinpoint the very moment I decided that it was time for me to start betting on myself!

Let me give you a bit of context. For as long as I can remember I was a rule follower. Growing up in a West Indian household in Montreal, with two professional parents, the expectations were clear. Go to school, get good grades to afford you choice and opportunity in your professional life, stay out of trouble, and conduct yourself with self-respect and pride. My parents were not strict by any means, but their expectations for my brother and I were clear – we understood the assignment! And so, like a good and obedient daughter, I did what was expected of me. I went to school, graduated from university, moved to Toronto where I landed a secure job, bought a nice house, got married, had kids (3 to be exact), went back to school (whilst pregnant with my third, which is a whole other article topic) to get my master’s degree. By all accords I was what we here in North America would deem successful. While I wasn’t dancing in money, the life that my husband and I created was one of comfort and happiness.

Never one who lived on the edge in search of a ‘different life’ I would be lying if there wasn’t a point where I felt myself becoming complacent with what life had become. This by no means is to imply that I wasn’t happy – because I was – but what I meant was something felt off, felt stagnant. At the time of this feeling, I couldn’t quit pinpoint what it was until a job opportunity that I knew I was PERFECT for was about to be posted. That was it! That unsettled feeling that was causing a bit of an itch was because prior to this opportunity I had been in my position for nine years. While I enjoyed what I did, I was ready for more. And clearly because I had been doing the job (but at a lower level) for nine years, how could I not get it. Well guess what… I didn’t get the job. Now let me say this right now – not getting the job, though at the time, felt like the greatest injustice of life, I would come to realize that it would be the greatest gift to self and the birth of the world of entrepreneurship for me.

You see up until that moment, I operated in the mindset that my professional growth and success was contingent on other people seeing and deeming me “ready” for a particular job or position. That their opinion and recognition of my skills and qualifications held greater worth and value than my personal recognition of my greatness. The facts are, I am where I am today not because someone invited me to the table. I am where I am today (and please note there is more for me to learn and do) because I decided that the table, they were sitting at was too small for me…so I built my own.

I was once the woman who believed that my readiness for greatness was based on other people’s perception and confirmation as such. But you know what happened. Nothing. And you know why…because their maximum view of me was based on their limited belief about themselves. I placed their opinion at such a higher value that when I finally decided to emancipate myself from that mindset, I became certified as a change management practitioner, became a certified health coach, started my own business, became a leadership coach for the Canadian Olympic Committee and published my first book.

I share this not to gloat…but to affirm and remind you all that your passion, purpose and power is for you to tap into and release. What lies ahead for each one of us is only limited by the limitations we set – so don’t set any. Set goals and milestones.

As scary as it may feel to put full faith, time and commitment into yourself, remember that no one will ever be as invested in your success as you will be. This doesn’t mean that you move in isolation. Seek counsel, embrace feedback, receive constructive criticism, but then formulate your own conclusion and move accordingly. Because remember this – their assessment of your maximum capacity may be your baseline!

Believe in yourself. Stay committed to the process and always bet on yourself!

From Adversity to Empowerment: Dr Belynder Walia’s Self-Healing Journey to Mental Health Advocacy

In today’s world, anxiety and mental health issues are on the rise, affecting people of all ages and backgrounds. It takes courage, empathy, and resilience to battle these challenges and emerge victorious. Dr Belynder Walia is one such individual who has overcome anxiety and made it her life’s mission to help others do the same. Her journey is a remarkable story of hope, determination, and inspiration, serving as a testament to the power of one person’s impact on the lives of many others.

The Struggle

Belynder’s path to becoming a celebrated psychotherapist was not easy. She struggled with anxiety and grief. She lost her father as a young child she was nine, battled with poor health and a tumour in her youth and suffered perinatal anxiety compounded by the trauma of going through IVF and miscarriages. This led to the early loss of twins, sixteen procedures, life-threatening surgery, divorce, loss of her job and home, and financial hardship. Her experiences left her feeling isolated and alone, with no professional support to turn to. But Belynder did not let her struggles define her. Through the loving support of her family, she pulled through. Instead, whilst having the academic qualifications, she learned how to heal herself and became her own therapist by turning to books on self-healing and finding solace in the words of authors like Louise Hay, Sadhguru, and Wayne Dyer.

The Approach

Through her healing journey, Belynder discovered the power of psychotherapy and the importance of empowering people to take control of their mental and emotional health. As an award-winning psychotherapist, she uses her knowledge, understanding, and empathy to help her clients transform their lives. Her collaborative approach combines modalities like mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy, hypnosis, self-reflective psychology, self-relationship therapy, and neuroplasticity. She helps her clients align their head, heart, and gut to regain their power of positive self-talk, regulate chemical releases in the body, and manage emotions through intuitive guidance.

The Impact

Belynder’s experience with anxiety has made her compassionate and empathetic towards those suffering from mental and emotional distress. Her work extends beyond her online and on-set psychotherapy practice, where she helps those in need. She volunteers for suicide prevention and has extensive experience in the field of helping those who self-harm. In addition, she worked with emergency services during the Covid pandemic, supporting those in need. Belynder plans to start a charity to help children break free from the chains of abuse and raise awareness of modern-day slavery. She aims to help as many children receive the mental and emotional care they need and support people to understand that they don’t have to suffer alone.

The Accomplishments

Belynder’s contributions have been featured in several renowned publications, including Forbes, Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar, The Moment, Planet Mindful, and Thrive Global. She founded Serene Lifestyles, an online and on-set therapy practice, and her work has touched the lives of many, from stay-at-home carers to experts and even celebrities in the public eye. Her innovative therapy approach, combining psychotherapy and neuroplasticity, has yielded impressive results for her clients, providing countless individuals with hope, healing, and inner peace.

The Vision

Belynder is more than a psychotherapist; she is a humanitarian. Her passion for giving back to her community is a testament to her kind and compassionate spirit. She plans to start an online academy in collaboration with other mental health and well-being specialists, so they can provide resources to help people gain strength and radicalise the healing process. The academy aims to offer courses and resources on various topics related to mental health, including self-healing techniques and therapy modalities. It will be a platform for people to access information to help them lead happy and fulfilling lives. Belynder plans to collaborate with mental health professionals from different specialities and provide online courses that will cater to other people’s needs. This will include courses for individuals, couples, and families and practices focused on specific mental health challenges like anxiety, depression, stress and trauma.

The Book

In addition to her many accomplishments as a psychotherapist and humanitarian, Belynder is also an accomplished writer. Her upcoming book, with the working title “Fix Me,” is a testament to her dedication to helping others manage anxiety and safely address mental and emotional distress. Based on her own healing journey, the book shares personal experiences and techniques she has used with her clients to manage anxiety. Belynder’s goal is to help others overcome their anxiety and mental health issues, providing them with the tools they need to lead fulfilling lives. With “Fix Me,” Belynder is poised to impact countless individuals’ lives significantly, helping them find the hope, healing, and inner peace they deserve. She also stresses the importance of seeking professional help when needed. While self-awareness, self-acceptance and self-compassion are valuable parts of the healing techniques, they are not substitutes for therapy or other forms of mental health treatment.

Conclusion

Dr Belynder Walia’s journey is a testament to the power of turning adversity into an opportunity to help others. Her personal struggles with anxiety and grief have fueled her passion for mental health advocacy, and her innovative therapy approach has provided countless individuals with hope, healing, and inner peace. She has dedicated her life to empowering individuals to take control of their emotional well-being and has made significant contributions to the mental health community through her therapy practice, volunteer work, and upcoming online charity, academy and book.

In a world where mental health is of utmost importance, Dr Belynder Walia is a shining example of what we can achieve with determination, empathy, and resilience. Her work serves as a reminder that seeking help is not a sign of weakness but rather a step towards recovery and empowerment. Her vision and passion for helping humanity pave the way for a brighter future for those struggling with mental and emotional distress and her commitment to mental health advocacy inspire many to follow in her footsteps.

Chaos: Changes in business strategies

The two words you have not stopped hearing in 2023 are recession and layoffs. 2022 was a year of recovery, post covid many businesses started doing better then the previous 2 years and recovered their losses apart from raising prices and improved profits. But this recovery was short-lived.

In the past 3 years of Covid and the recovery year, we have seen disrupted demand and supply chain connectivity affecting established manufacturing and delivery cycle time for every industry. Just an example was the pharma industry which was in demand overdrive for vaccine and certain drugs while and the China sourcing strategy came under pressure due to restricted supplies of API and containers being stuck in China. These challenges led to chaos as there were no quick solution in sight when dealing with such global issues.

Organisations had to get ready to tackle their challenges, that too while sitting at home. As no situation is permanent – good or bad – the challenges reduced with industries and government jointly tackling these issues. Many existing businesses did come under huge risk of closure: hotel, tours and tourism, airlines etc. What also changed for the better was adoption of ecommerce and many businesses which were online. However once the covid threat was over many of these opportunities changed into risk as startups in edutech, telemedicine or remote working became unnecessary. The software industry which was happy to work from home with reduced overheads faced new challenges like moonlighting.

Post covid, the war in Ukraine has now lasted for over a year. Leading to oil and gas supply crunch followed by higher fuel prices due to sanctions and Europe is now forcibly investing in building new energy source and resourcing alternate energy.

If this was not enough, recession clouds have started gathering and businesses are already acting to reduce expenses, cut jobs and stop new investments. A new blow from technology has been the AI based AI tools like CHATGPT which are challenging many professions to do a lot better or be redundant.

One thing is certain, business stability is a luxury of the past. This has challenged most businesses to create new opportunities to de-risk the future by developing alternatives strategies to grow their existing business or expand into new areas. No board is comfortable with the “As Is”, as mortality rate of businesses has increased.

Considering the above challenges it would be crazy to lead an organisation. One could say the situation is chaotic and the businesses are in chaos.

Chaos doesn’t mean the existing business doesn’t work but only requires constant attention and quick reaction to changes. One has to be fast to control the damage if caused by any situation and make gains with what works. But that’s living in the present, how do we deal with chaos for the future.

Dealing with Chaos

Reskilling to beat redundancy. What you learned in college you hardly applied in your job and mostly what you have learned on the job is not relevant for the future. Managers have to learn new skills, this was earlier required only in the case of IT companies when new languages, software and hardwares were launched. But today simple coding and design can be done on AI based software. Marketing as a function is moving from conventional to digital, sales is now being challenged with data analytics and customer buying patterns. Logistics & supply chain is evaluating moving continents to source along with last mile connectivity. HR which was busy with payroll and industrial relation is realising how important is it for them to influence business productivity with learning and development, and driving cultural & performance changes through mentoring.
Short planning cycle and risk taking. A lot of new projects will need to be done startup style, a company will need to take risks without committing huge funds at the start while it gets the proof of concept verified. Large organisation will need to be nimble on their feet and respond in real time. Needless to say companies need to be nimble on it feet and develop start up teams with a culture to perform. As today they are losing large business to startup. With advent of online buying and it meteoric rise, D2C companies have challenged the extensive distribution structure of large corporates and taking away their business. Size doesn’t matter any longer. The large corporates have to now relook at their business as entrepreneurs.
Identifying blind spots in current business. Many businesses have been done conventionally and whether its competitor ‘A’ or ’B’ they all work on the same systems, customer feedback and application and have the same assumptions thus the products look similar as they are aping each other. When you work with a set of un questionable assumptions you are probably missing a blind spot. These blind spots can be revealed by getting a new perspective with business diagnostic techniques else get in people from different industries to run or evaluate your business. A common change use to be getting in people from B2C industries but today even the B2C industries have become staid and commoditized.
Investing provided you have a lot of cash, this could be a good time to buy out companies which could compete with you in the future or those who would define the future of your business. A buyout at a good price is another way to grow exponentially. However, there would be cultural challenges which may need to be managed.
“Jugaad”, an Indian term for a quickfix or frugal innovation or hack. This is suggested for situations, a challenge which exist in the short term, but may not persist long. Or for symptomatic challenges. One needs to be innovative while solving temporary issues or issues which may not require a lot of changes in systems and approvals. As some of the issues may not arise again.
Cut costs on projects which do not a have a definite return expectation or exist low profit products which are not reengineer able by hiving them off.
Transform your business re look at the business on what segments are we missing out and what opportunities are we failing to address. Are there opportunities in B2B or B2C, or new markets or un-addressed price segments. This is a way of redesigning your organisation to cater to customer satisfaction. How can we deliver customer delight through mapped customer journey and monitor each and every interaction with the company, its products, people, intermediaries and service.
Digitisation is a process of enabling your business to be data driven rather than work on gut feel. Every decision is based on data for which one needs a robust system on which will reside an ERP, sales automation, logistics, digital advertising, lead management modules as may be required and all these should talk to one another i.e. be compatible. It’s a long process starting with cleaning the data followed by data analytics. This can help identify internal challenges before they happen as well as gain customer feedback for a changing future.

These are just a few ways of managing chaos, of course, depending on the industry and product life cycle there could be more ways to manage chaos. While for the unforeseen.

– By Vineet Trakroo

CEO and Chief Evolution Officer

Evolution Strategy Advisors LLP

Ms. Lubna Naeem: Director of Operations – Gargash Hospital

Ms. Lubna Naeem got her degree in Pharmacy from Jamia Hamdard University. Topped In both years and awarded for the same on state level by Delhi Pharmacy Council and has training from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (A.I.I.M.S); one of the biggest semi-government hospitals in India.

She is skilled in hospital operations, strategic planning, partnerships, business development, customer/patient care management, facilities management, crisis management, team development & leadership, and cost reduction management.

Ms. Lubna is a highly motivated individual with a positive and goal-oriented outlook. She has an analytical approach and is quite experienced in conceptualization. She has a proven ability to build and lead effective teams.

She is known with her excellent communication and presentation skills. Proficiency in listening and counselling ability as well. She also has the capability to prioritize and plan effectively within a hospital/clinical setting.

A true leader and recognized for her own merits by the management and patients for her sincerity in work and services provided (google reviews, emails, written and verbal feedbacks).

She has a demonstrated capability to bring out the best in others while creating a healthy and friendly work environment. Thus, enhancing operational efficiency and optimizing resource utilization and in-depth exposure across Hospital Management, Sales & Marketing Management, Projects Management, Customer Relationship Management, and General Management.

Moreover, she is known as a hands-on results-oriented professional who can identify problems, formulate tactical plans, and initiate change.

Here are some of Ms. Lubna Naeem’s honors, awards, and acclamations to name a few:

WOMAN AWARD WTF (Wellness, Technology, Fashion)

Awarded for Excellence and being Champion in corporate Non – Clinical Leadership role

MEDGATE TODAY

Received Certificate of appreciation and featured as one of the “Top Influential & Inspiring Women Leaders” in healthcare

HEALTH AWARDS

Nominated twice 2018 & 2019 in the category of “Distinguish women in healthcare” for health award supported by Dubai Health Authority

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Invited as a keynote speaker in Global women empowernment summit 2020 UAE. Topic- Journey of a courageous women leader

SHE AWARDS U.A.E

Theme: “The Made Woman” awarded in the category of “Top ladies in business category”

THE CHANGEMAKERS

Featured in The Changemaker magzine’s first edition under inspirational story- magzine is about those indians who are making their mark and achieveing success in different industries outside India.

WEHEIS AWARDS

Awarded for the unwavering commitment to outstanding leadership 2021

HEALTH Magazine Interview

Interviewed by HEALTH magazine- ranked among top 10 health magazine worldwide by feedspot’s survey and was Asia’s first health magazine to enter the league

WeTel Corporate Leadership Award

Awarded for excellent leadership and outstanding force in the corporate and healthcare landscape of the region.

EXPO 2022 Pakistan Pavillion Guest Speaker Panel Discussion

Guest speaker about the growth and progress of sustainability and business for a greener future.

Growth and Abundance Mentality in The Current World

Are we competing or collaborating? This a question that has been lingering on my mind a lot lately. What do you think? Look at yourselves on a personal and professional level. It came to my attention that we are faced with so many opportunities, that pass under our noses simply because we are looking in the wrong direction. Life is abundant as it is. Look at the grass, trees, forests, flowers, or anything surrendering to nature. They are all abundant. So, maybe we need to learn something here and stop interfering in the natural process of being.

As a leader in the business world for over 25 years, I’ve learned this lesson the hard way. I’ve always been a corporate person, with a secure job and secure income every month; moving across the hierarchy quickly and from one job to the other creating achievements. Or that’s what I thought at the time! I never moved jobs until I secured another one of course. Me being jobless!! No way. Till the day came in March 2014, when my stress level was at its peak. I was always on a plane flying somewhere to take care of the marketing function I was heading in a regional role. Then it hit me on one of those trips that I was not really living. I was just passing by, creating checkmarks of performance, but was I happy, fulfilled, or content? Actually no, on the contrary. I felt I was adding no value at all. So, I quit my job overnight! Here I am not advising people to do that especially, if they don’t have an abundance mentality, thinking that life will end after this job they have, or that the world is tough now with a bad economic situation, or that the job market is full of people. When I took that move something inside of me told me, life is OK. Everything will be fine and doors will open for me. Guess what? They did. The following day, I got contacted by the competition. I got several calls from friends wanting me to partner with them in business, and I settled down to launch my book “Life Outside Your Comfort Zone.”. So, I realized the author in me too. It was as if there was a magical force behind me. The magic was simply inside my own heart, brain, and gut, which all told me life is abundant.

So, what lessons here can we apply in business? Through work with several business people, I came to admire those that collaborate. In fact, in one of the mastermind discussions that I ran, I came across a business owner who has been running kid’s theme parks, a family business for years. She has been short of cash during covid when her business had to pause its operation. When we brought to the table 12 other business people from different industries, she instantly got over 30 solutions to implement to be able to still run her business and generate cash. She has survived that tough time and has a profitable running business now. Therefore, the power of belief mixed with collaboration and support has played a huge role here. So, simply the way we look at business in today’s world needs to change into a more holistic model.

In my capacity as CEO and Founder of Presence Business Coaching, and has been in the human development field for over 15 years now, I always come across friends/competitors (as some may call them). When we get together as trainers and share notes or coach each other, not only do we elevate our performance, but that of the people we train as well, creating a ripple effect. It doesn’t stop here. I can simply refer you to clients, even though you might be providing similar services as mine. I will continue to do that. In fact, just passed a referral a while ago. I do sound weird to some business partners. I totally understand where they are coming from. Yet, I believe in Karma and what goes around. If I support you, then by default someone or some entity will provide the same for me. A growth mentality allows us to see beyond ourselves creating a much bigger impact.

I think, what’s needed especially these days in tough economic situations, is to start seeing areas of collaboration rather than points of competition. We can all add value and complete one single picture; the one that is meant to be created, without us interfering in the process or resisting it. Flow and let others flow. We will all be able to grow and thrive

– By Marwa Saleh, Founder and CEO of Presence Business Coaching

Dr. Nairouz Bader and Srini Pillay, M.D

“I Just Happen To Be A Woman” Effectiveness without Activism to Elevate Your Business Career

Being a woman in business can be a significant challenge. Extensive research shows that social biases exist against women getting a loan, getting paid, being a CEO, and a number of other benchmarks of progress and status in business. While there is a tremendous effort to seek gender equity and parity in business, most approaches emphasize identifying unconscious biases, seeking inclusion, or adopting an activist stance to advance the cause of women. While these all have distinct advantages, we believe that the issue of addressing gender bias must be more nuanced than this.

In this blog, we will address the psychological disadvantages of activism and an alternative approach to gender bias in the workplace. In so doing, we are not blatantly eschewing activism and inclusion. Instead, we are proposing that women take a more nuanced approach to advance their own agency and empowerment by considering the dilemmas in their actions

The other side of activism

Compromises individuality: Psychologically speaking, an activist identity is a collective one. It declares that one is part of an “ingroup”. On the surface, both of these ideas seem fine, except that they may obscure individual strengths and become self-defining.

Challenges of true inclusion: Also, activism sets up a polarized (us-them) framework that may slow down inclusion if it remains static. It may not suit some women to be seen as “women” in such an overt way that the recognition persistently excludes them. While the “us-them” mentality allows for confrontation and negotiation, it makes the genuine connection and loves more difficult

Extreme reactions and masochism: Research indicates that a feeling of “oneness” with a group makes people react more extremely. As a result, they engage in risk, self-sacrificing, and potentially life-threatening behavior. Self-representation as martyrdom is non-ideal in many instances. Rather than being courageous, it becomes unconscious self-sabotage.

Destructive anger: There are many prosocial forms of anger that are constructive. For instance, addressing injustices with anger may be an effective and authentic form of communicating. However, when people are angry, they are more likely to be perceived as unfriendly and incompetent. On many instances, anger is an ineffective instrument for persuasion. At a physiological level, destructive anger is associated with a greater risk of coronary heart disease too.

An alternative to activism

In order to manage the potential dangers of activism, we suggest that women incorporate the following ideas in their thinking.

The individual within the collective: When women are expressing their own views about injustice, it may help the listener to see the “group injustice” independent of the woman. For instance, it’s not fair for anyone of any gender doing the same work as anyone else to be paid less. Even if it were a man who was being paid less than the other men, it would not be fair. So, the issue that can be stressed is that the playing field should be levelled, rather than being trapped within a collective identity.

Also, it is relevant to include personal experience in a discussion. This is more likely to reach a listener. And shared collectives with a person (e.g. landscape identification) can be helpful to incorporate in the conversation too.

Form an “us-group”: Rather than asking the ingroup to include you as the “outgroup”, ask ,”What would it take for us to work together?” Sticking to that agenda sets up a proactive contemplation: What do I need to do to get promoted? What do I need to do to get paid more? Are these the same standards applied to everyone? Forming an in-group/out-group dialogue will just lead to more rejection pain.

Moderate and diversify your identifications: Look out for self-sabotage or self-destructive behaviors. Often, activism is traumatic to the activist, and this trauma may make it difficult to attend to one’s self. Caring about a purpose or mission starts with caring about yourself.

Keep anger constructive or seek other emotions: Rather than imposing an emotion on someone, ask them,
“What does it make sense to feel if you were in my position?” Moral anger can be helpful if it not threatening.
Otherwise, the other person will be in fight or flight mode.

BIO:- Rt. Dr. Nairouz Bader

Dr. Nairouz Bader, the CEO, and founder of Envision Partnership is a global career powerhouse with +20 years of market and business experience supporting management teams in corporations around the world through her leadership and board advisory consulting services.

She plays a major role in women empowerment projects, coaching female leadership in the META region. Among several initiatives, Dr. Nairouz is part of #Accelerate Her mentorship program, dedicated to developing female talents in #Fintech.

Her achievements were featured in an array of notable media gates and publications such as Arabiya, CNBC, Forbes, People Management, and Horasis.

Essential Traits Of A Dependable Logistics Partner

Supply chain and logistics are perhaps the trickiest parts of business operations because they ensure proper product quality and timely reach to the market. Most American companies struggle to keep these operations in place, but finding a reliable logistics partner can resolve the challenge. But choosing the one you can depend on requires a good understanding and analysis because your business depends on it. While there is no proven checklist to assess a supply chain company, you can look for a few qualities that make them better than others. Let us highlight the essential traits of a dependable logistics partner.

Visibility and tracking

Last-mile deliveries can be stressful for a business owner. After all, the thought of leaving your precious cargo with truck drivers is daunting. But a logistics service that offers real-time visibility and tracking for their fleet is worth trusting. Measures like GPS-tracked freight cut down the suspense about deliveries. You need not worry about packages turning up late or suspiciously going missing because your provider lets you track them on the go.

Customized delivery options

Another trait to look for in a logistics company is customized delivery options according to the nature and sensitivity of your products. You cannot expect to send high-value or time-sensitive products like wine and medicines in a traditional vehicle designed to carry bulk volumes. A dependable provider provides a variety of vehicles to ensure the apt one for your needs. You can rely on them to protect your inventory, no matter how valuable or sensitive it is.

Responsive shipping adjustments

The business landscape is dynamic, and organizations must scale and evolve to keep pace with competitors and trends. You need a logistics partner that supports your growth with responsive shipping adjustments. Fortunately, you can find them across the country, provided you know what to look for. New Jersey businesses should evaluate New Jersey logistics companies to find one that incorporates alternative transit options such as air and rail freight into their services. Knowing that you have a provider you can rely on makes scaling effortless.

On-time availability

On-time availability is another factor that sets a shipping and supply chain partner apart from the rest. You may need last-mile bookings more than once as urgent orders and deliveries come into the picture for all businesses. Ensure that the provider can arrange last-minute services on short notice. Moreover, they should not charge exorbitantly for quick service. Missing out is not a choice because you may lose revenues and customers in the long run.

Track record and customer reviews

You cannot overlook the track record and customer reviews of a logistics company because they give a fair idea of what you can expect from them. Collaborating with a provider that goes the extra mile with customer satisfaction is always a plus. You can check testimonials and ask for recommendations to decide whether they are worth depending on. Also, ensure good customer support as a part of the service.

The right supply chain partner can set up your business for long-term growth, so you must not compromise on this front. Look for these traits to find a company you can trust.

How To Upgrade Your Textile Business This New Year

The New Year is the best time to upgrade your business, so you may have a lot on your mind to step up your textile company in 2023. But growth should always happen strategically with proper planning and preparation. With the New Year just around the corner, you should keep your growth checklist ready to get the best results without spending a fortune. Planning is even more crucial in a competitive industry such as textile manufacturing, where others will also have a growth strategy. Let us share a few valuable insights to gear up for an upgrade to your textile business in 2023.

Go the extra mile with existing customers

This one is a no-brainer because retargeting your existing customers is far easier than acquiring new ones. Check the changing customer expectations and realign your product and service offerings to take their experience a notch higher. The good thing about impressing the existing customer base is that you get more than a sales boost. These buyers act as brand advocates and recommend your products through word of mouth, broadening your reach further.

Find a niche

Finding a niche for your business is another great way to upgrade it in the New Year. Although it narrows your market, you can actually win more customers with less effort. Moreover, the competitive pressure goes down because you have to compete with fewer brands in the same zone. The great thing about targeting a niche is that you can establish a stronghold over the market and retain it for years ahead.

Follow the industry trends

Another surefire tip to give your textile business a winning edge in 2023 is to follow the industry trends. For example, screen and digital printing are in vogue, so you can consider adding them to your portfolio. But remember to find reputable textile printing ink suppliers to deliver top-notch products to your customers. Focus on building long-term vendor relationships to get great deals on raw supplies.

Research your competitors

The textile industry is rife with competition, and staying ahead of the rest is the only way to survive and thrive in the tight market. Experts recommend researching your competitors to understand their strengths and weaknesses. You can seek inspiration from their strengths and capitalize on their weaknesses to propel your products and brand in the market. Although researching other businesses seems like a lot of work, the effort is worthwhile.

Embrace sustainability

Upgrading your textile business this New Year should also be about being more responsible. Going green with sustainable practices can set your brand apart because consumers are more eco-conscious than ever. Besides reducing your carbon footprint, sustainability can help you prevent waste, save energy costs, and even get tax credits and incentives. Moreover, it can enhance the reputation of your business in the long run.

Upgrading your textile business in the New Year need not be about investing in new technology and expensive equipment. You can embrace these easy steps to modernize and expand on a budget and make the most of the momentum in the future.