Kelly Manthey

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year… Planning Season! While some are stringing lights and sipping hot cocoa - over here, we’re unwrapping something just as magical: the plans for 2025. It’s that time when we gather around (virtually or in person) and look at the business from every angle, making sure we’re ready for the year ahead. We’ve been diving deep into what makes us 'tick.' We’re analyzing industry trends and thinking about how we can stay ahead of the game. We’re taking stock of our amazing team and identifying where we might need to add new talent. It’s about more than just brainstorming. We’re identifying opportunities, understanding potential disruptions, and asking ourselves the tough questions - Where should we invest? What’s our biggest opportunity for growth? How can we make life easier and better for our clients? And, of course, how do we keep our magic alive while charging full speed into the future? The energy in these sessions is exciting - it’s where big ideas take shape, strategies are born, and dreams for what’s possible turn into action plans. It’s challenging, and inspiring all rolled into one! As we sleigh forward (sorry, I had to), I can’t help but feel a deep sense of pride in where we’re headed. The future isn’t something we wait for—it’s something we build, one bold decision at a time. Cheers to growth, progress, and a little holiday spirit sprinkled in along the way! And Cheers to a fabulous (long) weekend, everyone!

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This essay explores the paradoxical nature of human emotions, focusing on how kindness, love, and hate can have unexpected consequences. It highlights how excessive kindness can inadvertently cause problems, how intense love can become suffocating, and how love can sometimes give rise to hatred. Through real-life examples, the essay discusses the importance of balancing these emotions with honesty, respect, and empathy to foster healthier relationships and a more harmonious society. It concludes by emphasizing the need for a nuanced understanding of these emotions to navigate the complexities of human interactions effectively. https://lnkd.in/gRESX24k

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Sharing this insightful HBR article by #richhorwath. Are you tactical or strategic?? Rich identified three core behaviors to develop strategic thinking skills 1. Acumen 2. Allocation 3. Action: #inspiresoftware #aicorporatestrategy #strategicthinking #aidevelopments

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This essay explores how CEOs use storytelling, consistency, and tailored communication to craft compelling narratives that drive organizational success. Drawing parallels to everyday life, it emphasizes the importance of defining a clear message, adapting to the audience, and seeking input to foster collaboration. By learning from CEO communication strategies, individuals can improve personal and professional interactions, leading to better alignment, engagement, and results. Practical tips for improving communication, such as clarity and repetition, are also discussed for broader application. https://lnkd.in/gJkrQ2Pn

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Lots of organizations get stuck cycling between strategy and tactics. While that process might feel like serious planning for the future, it results in a perpetual cycle of trying to catch up: to competitors, to new entrants, and to external sources of disruption here's an interesting perspective to think about planning a bit differently. #planning #strategy #framework #shortterm #longterm #tactics

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The essay explores the essence of genuine kindness versus performative actions, highlighting the often unnoticed selflessness of everyday heroes. It contrasts these with the insincere behaviors of those seeking recognition, emphasizing the need for authentic compassion. By celebrating true acts of kindness and calling out superficial gestures, the essay advocates for a society that values sincerity and integrity. It argues that true kindness is not dependent on an audience but is motivated by a genuine desire to help others, ultimately fostering a more compassionate world. https://lnkd.in/gfNp3q_W

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I attend conferences for two reasons: growth and transformation.    For me, growth is all about “connects” and building relationships, meeting new people.     Transformation is about how I think post-conference vs pre-conference. Did the conference reshape or re-imagine my outlook? Did my opinions change?    Both are fueled by the content and the experience—whether coming from the main stage or in a 1:1 coffee with a new relationship.     The Exchange conference is all that and more—specifically designed for the #financialadvisor (FA).    Exchange is for the financial advisor, by the financial advisor.    - The date and location are guided by feedback from the FA community.   - The size and experience are guided by feedback from the FA community.  - The content is guided by feedback from the FA community.    Today, registration is open for Exchange 2025: https://lnkd.in/gf4e9eeJ   The conference will be in Las Vegas, March 23-26, 2025.    For me, the city of Las Vegas is all about growth and transformation—home of the Golden Nights, the Raiders, the Sphere, and more. Today it's an expansion candidate for the NBA and soon to have an all electric bullet train from Los Angeles. #growth #transformation     I’m delighted to see hundreds of FAs have already registered and many of our esteemed partners are all set to be there as well.     Join us! Together we will grow and transform.    Link: https://lnkd.in/gsmdmyU6 TMX Group VettaFi Exchange

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This essay explores ten essential truths that every leader must confront to foster a healthy, productive team environment. It emphasizes the importance of actions over words, the irreplaceable value of trust, and the need for investing in team growth. Leaders must acknowledge their mistakes, ensure open-door policies are genuinely safe, and actively combat burnout. The essay also discusses the necessity of flexibility, the significance of mental health, and the dangers of allowing toxic superstars to undermine team dynamics. Embracing these truths can transform leadership into a practice that benefits both the team and the organization. https://lnkd.in/g6yDtgVZ

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This post explores the dynamics of unfiltered honesty in communication, emphasizing the phrase "I say what you are thinking." It discusses how this direct style can be seen as either confident and upfront or arrogant and rude, depending on the listener's confidence and cultural context. Using examples from comedians like Sarah Millican and Trevor Noah, the essay illustrates how humor can soften blunt honesty. It highlights the importance of empathy, audience awareness, and contextual sensitivity in navigating this communication style. The post also addresses the cultural nuances and potential for misunderstanding, concluding that the art of unfiltered honesty lies in balancing clarity with consideration and respect for others' feelings and perspectives. https://lnkd.in/gZ9v9a7J

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Reflecting on almost 20 years since we pioneered the matrix approach to help companies with strategy deployment, I’m reminded of the beauty and power of the “matrix in a matrix.” This approach excels in making connections and building narratives. It drives change effectively, much like solving a puzzle. As teams design their storyboards, they engage in discussions, have fun, and voice frustrations until they reach a consensus. The intersections of the matrix, where the "how to" is unpacked, are where creativity truly thrives. It’s in these moments that innovative solutions and strategic alignment come to life. So many people, with strong conceptual capabilities, have adopted the matrix, because it helps us to design fast and make interesting connections.

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Thanks to longer, healthier lives, human beings face more life transitions than ever before. No matter what age or stage you’re at, transitioning is a skill to work on. To do this, focus on four component skills. First, pacing and planning. Longevity means that, more than ever, we need to plan for change. Think of your life as a series of seven-year cycles. How do you want to spend them? Second, leaving gracefully. There comes a time in jobs, life phases, or relationships where you know an arc has reached its end. Knowing how to end well will become an increasingly valuable skill. Third, letting “the inside out.” Self-knowledge is a hard-won reward of aging. As you get to know yourself better, how do you want to spend your time? Fourth, letting “the outside in.” In other words, before you make a major transition, test it out and get some feedback from the world. Is this new thing what you thought it would be? And finally, learn to take the leap, because thinking and testing will only get you so far. Now that we have a few extra decades to test our wings, the real challenge may be remembering that it’s never too late to fly.

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How can you keep accessibility at the top of your organization’s priorities? Join Jeff Adams, CPACC this Wednesday at Noon ET as he shares ways you can empower your team to advocate for accessibility, gives practical tips to create long-term accessibility programs, and how to start meaningful discussions around accessibility: https://lnkd.in/ew8tECTc #WebAccessibility #AccessibilityProgram

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Leadership is also about turning adversaries into allies. Laura Huang & Ryan Yu discuss strategies for leaders to persuade detractors who disagree with their decisions. They identified three approaches: Cognitive Conversations, which focus on logical arguments to address objective objections; Champion Conversion, where leaders build rapport and understanding to win over personal grievances; and the Credible Colleague Approach, where a third-party advocate with influence supports the leader’s stance. Each method depends on diagnosing the root cause of resistance and tailoring the strategy to the situation. Authenticity, sound logic, and careful navigation of relationships are essential to gaining support and changing minds effectively. What approaches have you taken to turn around an adversarial situation, I would love to hear the same. #adversary2ally

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Our next episode on #AI in the workplace with Elizabeth Kiehner is now LIVE! Liz is the Chief Growth Officer of Nortal, a global digital transformation consultancy. She previously held #leadership roles at IBM, Memorial Sloan Kettering, and Capgemini, and is an award-winning author and keynote speaker on AI and human/machine collaboration. Kallie Knop, ACC, and I both gained much insight from our conversation. Liz has worked to advance technology in many roles, both for companies and countries. Based on our conversation, my upshot is to approach #AI with a blend of curiosity and cautious optimism. As discussed in our podcast, organizations that establish an "inspiration phase," aka clear guiding principles and usage protocols, and prioritize education will better leverage AI as a powerful tool to enrich their organization, products, and people. I know I'm stepping up my AI literacy, experimenting, and defining my own personal usage. After Kallie mentioned it, I tried out Chat GPT for vacation planning, and it produced several new, solid suggestions. I had not thought of using it for that! What are your thoughts on AI? How are you using it? Why or why not? Check out Episode 2: https://lnkd.in/gnJycG8Q *also on Spotify and Apple Follow The Upshot Leadership: https://lnkd.in/gsfFjT32 #growthmindset #leadership #professionaldevelopment #coach #theupshotleadership #AI #ChatGPT

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Research shows companies with diverse leadership outperform others. Women leaders bring unique perspectives & foster collaboration, leading to innovation. This post explores how Dr. Kavitha Thangasami, Jenny Hamilton & Michelle Spencer are paving the way for a more inclusive future. #womeninleadership #diversityandinclusion

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This essay humorously questions the rationale behind common life celebrations like birthdays and anniversaries. It points out the irony of celebrating the person born, who had little to do with the event, and suggests instead appreciating the parents, especially the mother. Similarly, it explores how celebrating relationship milestones might undermine the very vows couples made. Through comical observations, the essay sheds light on the absurdities of these rituals, making us rethink why we celebrate them in the first place. https://lnkd.in/gmJqTdeY

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How can one integrate continuous learning into the workflow? Participate in a discussion, add your thoughts, and enjoy learning. Register below: #aiworkflow #talentdevelopment #peopledevelopment #leadership #inspiresoftware

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🤔 Is your organization ready for true digital transformation? Rally is leading the way with an enterprise-first commitment that accelerates agility and innovation. Discover how Rally empowers teams to achieve faster, more effective outcomes while aligning with business goals. Dive into our latest insights here! #DigitalTransformation #ValueOps #Agile #EnterpriseAgility #Rally #VSM #Agile #Broadcom

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