John R. Whitcomb

It feels like we've been in an era of uncertainty for four-plus years. While the reasons for the uncertainty have changed, how to lead through it remains constant. Here's some leadership wisdom from Cameron Batten, Chief Communications Officer of Volkswagen of America, on how to lead through it. It's the Taking The Lead column in the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)'s Strategies & Tactics for September: https://bit.ly/3XwiwnN #Leadership #LeadingThroughUncertainty #LeadershipSkills #LeadingThroughChange #ThoughtLeadership #PRSA

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The article also introduces four essential work streams that serve as paths to successful transformation: portfolio, enterprise-wide capability building, performance infrastructure, and business health and change management. By clearly defining your "true north" you can ensure that all transformation efforts align with your long-term goals. This strategic alignment is crucial for maintaining focus and avoiding the pitfalls of short-sighted decisions. Which path do you resonate with? #FourWorkStreams #ComprehensiveApproach #BalancedTransformation

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While working on the transition team for TRW after the acquisition of Lucas, We had the huge challenge of delivering £120M of merger benefits. There were many consultants with every change management best practice: stakeholder engagement plans, communication plans, training programs. Yet resistance was higher than ever. Going deeper, we found the real issue: Every department head supported the change for other departments, but believed their department should be the last to implement. We created what I call "Concurrent Commitment" - departments had to implement changes in parallel or lose their implementation funding entirely. No one could wait for others to go first. And we saw great results. Full implementation in 9 months instead of the planned 3 years. large cost savings. Why do you think it happened?

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Check out this infographic on why (and how) it's important to measure and improve your value streams to achieve digital transformation.

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Check out this infographic on why (and how) it's important to measure and improve your value streams to achieve digital transformation.

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While there have been many displays of grit at this summer's Olympic Games in Paris, one in particular will remain etched in my memory -- Britain’s Tom Pidcock's mountain bike race to victory. If you missed it, here are the highlights. Pidcock had to make an unplanned pit stop on his third lap (in this 8-lap event) to replace a flat tire, which put him way behind the leaders and almost certainly out of the running for a stellar finish. With five laps to go, he jumped back in and is quoted as telling himself, “There’s no point in stressing over it, is there? That’s not going to get me back to the front.” Pidcock gave it his all. Fast forward to the final lap of the 22-mile race, and Pidcock was in the number two position, following the top-ranked mountain biker in the world. When the leader had an unlucky break, Pidcock jumped to the lead to claim the gold for Great Britain. You can check out the details here: https://lnkd.in/gxsp7q2k. I have an observation from Pidcock's surprising comeback that I believe applies to us as business leaders. With so much uncertainty in our environment, a catastrophe in the early stages of a project or career isn't always fatal. But it does require grit -- including an abundance of mental toughness -- to make a comeback. If you've got a personal comeback story, I'd love to hear about it over a cup of coffee.

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Value Stream mapping is so simple and so powerful - try it on a non-manufacturing process and see how awesome the results are. #wheelofsustainability #leadershipcommitment #teamwork

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"To measure is to know. This rings especially true when considering investments in areas often deemed as esoteric, such as company purpose, people, and culture. That's why our programs kick off with a partnership with The Maturity Institute. Appreciating the impact of these investments on your bottom line, customer and employee satisfaction, and shareholder value, as well as recognizing the risks of neglecting them, is crucial. These metrics serve as your biggest allies in overcoming resistance to change toward a more than just financial-driven organization." Unbossers Network (May, 2024) Thanks to Unbossers for this brilliant feedback. If you want to drive lasting people and culture improvement, Nick Van Langendonck leads a team that runs unique programs for change, which we are proud to be part of. #ESG #risk #totalstakeholdervalue #humancapital

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Engaging with Lila MacLellan at Fortune over such an interesting – and controversial – topic, nepo CEOs, was thought provoking.    Our research at Korn Ferry shows again and again that no matter how one gets the top seat, the essential leadership characteristics remain the same: driving a clear vision to action and successful outcomes while demonstrating emotional intelligence and prioritizing partnership with both your team and your board.    #CEO #leadership #BoardofDirectors #PowerofALL

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When an executive starts a new role, missing a key stakeholder or selecting the wrong colleagues to form early relationships with can jeopardize performance. Use Gartner's framework to form connections and build relationships to make an immediate impact. #Executive #Leadership #Transition #NewRole

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I was reading recently about the Stellantis CEO’s departure and how his cost-cutting mantra may have impacted the change in leadership when I was reminded of a mantra of my own that I have used often throughout my career and I continue to believe in today: “You cannot cut your way to growth.” (Not suggesting I made this up but have no idea where I first heard it.) So let’s get all the caveats out of the way and then we can focus on the real message here. Yes, there are times within business cycles when cost-cutting is necessary and can be done strategically (as long as you don’t view marketing as discretionary or people as infinitely replaceable). Yes, efforts to cull outdated and/or under-performing assets and programs to create space for new ideas is usually valid. And Yes (with capital Y for emphasis), keeping expenses in line to generate profitability is a best practice. That said, I too often see widely publicized projects launched to cut expenses in such as way as to ensure a Pavlovian response from analysts—they often come with catchy project names—without even a whisper of commensurate growth initiatives, as if whacking budgets is somehow going to miraculously spark demand creation and brand love. In fact, the end users of your products and services are most often only impacted in negative ways when costs are cut: “optimizing” product construction to save money, scaling back on customer care, waning inspiration from less story-telling, etc. Growing brands requires investment. Period. Investment in talented people, great ideas, experienced know-how, driving awareness and affinity and caring for your fans is how brands scale and thrive. If you are paring back investment capacity, especially in these mission-critical areas, you are paring back what is required for brands to prosper. So let’s start seeing these puffed up cost reduction exercises for what they truly are and focus instead on generating real brand growth initiatives that deliver.

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Absolutely spot on! An Executive Integrator can be a game-changer for businesses ready to bridge the gap between vision and execution. Having been part of the transformational impact of this role firsthand, I can’t recommend it enough for companies striving to scale effectively. Great insight Wolf's Edge Integrators!

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Sub-category creation is the most impactful and enduring form of innovation a company can pursue, and the most profitable move a marketing team can make on the bottom line.

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HOW ARE BUSINESSES NAVIGATING SUPPLY CHAIN DISRUPTIONS? Supply chains are breaking, operations are stalling, and businesses are feeling the pressure. Productivity is being hit hard, with companies struggling to keep up with demand. As these challenges grow, many businesses are rethinking their strategies—adjusting plans, reallocating resources, and seeking new solutions. The question is: how do we navigate this landscape successfully? Vistage UK's latest Confidence Index Survey for Q3 2024 reveals how businesses are responding to these disruptions—and what they're planning for the months ahead. The insights are timely, relevant, and essential reading for any leader facing similar issues. Dive into the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dsudne4J

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Benefits of a friction-less organization and how Cre8 Independent Consultants can help (1 min). Part 1 of interview. https://lnkd.in/efWJNt2G

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" I’ve long argued that boards should have more CHROs and CMOs because, typically, there are a lot of finance people on boards already, and the two most important assets of any company are the brand and its people. They don’t appear on the balance sheet, but they are what matters most. We just don’t necessarily recognize that the true value of the organization is the people who go up and down the elevator and the value of the brand." Greg Creed, the former CEO of Yum! Brands _____________________ At Breakpoint Human Capital Management Inc. our story is growth and value. We are the choice of CEOs and executive leaders who need the expertise of an experienced leader who can address critical challenges, guide strategic initiatives, or maintain stability during times of transition and growth. Trusted Advisor - accelerating readiness for change and positioning the organization for increased competitive advantage. Interim Executive - providing flexible, high-impact leadership solutions that adapt to the rapidly changing business landscape and strengthen leadership teams.   Executive Coach - when you want to impact revenue, innovation, and performance, then you need deeper capacity in your leadership. Toronto  |  Muskoka  |  Sudbury Wouldn’t you like to partner with someone who has been in your shoes? Let's connect. It's starts with a conversation. Please let us know how we can best help at [email protected] And if you’d prefer, you’re always welcome to call 416.209.8776 Breakpoint Human Capital Management For the people™ #breakpointhumancapital #change #executivecoaching #executiveadvisor #people #nosurprises #strategy #growth #humancapitalmanagement #leadership #entrepreneurship #culture #businesswithpurpose #forthepeople #interimleadership #fractionalleadership

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Courageous conversation is usually a better option than fight, flight, or avoidance when discussions become challenging. This requires both skills and a willingness to listen and be curious about what the other person is saying. You can read my full column  at https://lnkd.in/excnUj4p

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With 93,000 employees spread around the globe how do you create a great workplace culture that brings everyone together? That’s one of the questions I posed to Paulo Ruiz Sternadt, President and COO of the Industrial Sector at Eaton when he recently sat down with me for Make It: Frank Conversations on the Future of Manufacturing. I loved his answer…make work meaningful and enable/empower local leaders to bring your vision/values/culture to life because that’s where it’s real, that’s where employees experience it. We also talk about the war for talent, the potential of Industry 4.0, and how Eaton is investing $1 billion in North America to help power the AI and EV era. You can listen below or on Apple, Amazon, or Spotify! Or watch the video here: https://lnkd.in/ewKKhere Follow #magnetvideo and #magnetpodcast for new episodes. #manufacturingsuccess #smartmanufacturing #makeitbetterohio #CEOinsights MAGNET: The Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network

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