Let's Celebrate World Book Day and Promote Reading!

Today is World Book Day. How will you celebrate? Is there a particular book that you'll re-read, or are there some books you'll finally make time to read? No matter how you celebrate - or which books you'll either start or finish today - today is the day to celebrate reading.

According to Wikipedia, "World Book Day, also known as World Book and Copyright Day or International Day of the Book, is an annual event organized by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) to promote reading, publishing, and copyright. The first World Book Day was celebrated on April 23, 1995, and continues to be recognized annually on that day. The original idea was conceived in 1922 by Vicente Clavel, director of Cervantes publishing house in Barcelona, as a way to honor the author Miguel de Cervantes and boost book sales. In 1995, UNESCO decided that World Book and Copyright Day would be celebrated on April 23rd, since the date is also the anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare."

I have met some amazing people during the last 15 years thanks to social media, and last year, I discovered Melanie Bell's Leaders Who Fiction virtual book club. To quote Melanie, "Whether you're stepping into your first leadership role or already a seasoned leader who has read all the books and done all the training, Leaders Who Fiction will help you meet your next leadership goal. Each month, we facilitate intellectual, business-oriented conversations centered around a selected novel. In our world, reading fiction AND leadership development co-exist."

One Leaders Who Fiction book club member and I shared admiration for one book in particular, Remarkably Bright Creatures - you'll see why below. As a result, I issued an invitation to this insightful reader to appear here on my blog so that we could celebrate World Book Day together, but first, a brief introduction.

Rebecca Rucker is a psychotherapist who resides in Houston, Texas. She belongs to the Leaders Who Fiction book club because she enjoys the quality of the discussion about leadership that transpires among the book club members. When not reading fiction, Rebecca meets with a weekly group of eclectic elders who study the works of Shakespeare.

QUESTION: We met via the Leaders Who Fiction virtual book club. So, since we share a passion for reading and enjoy discovering aspects of leadership in works of fiction, my first question is, what does GOOD LEADERSHIP look like to you?

REBECCA RUCKER: To me, good leadership is represented by those in charge who maintain good character, are active listeners and innovative thinkers, and work collaboratively with their employees. 

One of my favorite supervisors was the CEO of a hospital. He had strong values of faith, family, and integrity. When in meetings, he would often place good questions at the beginning of meetings for discussion. He would listen very closely, ask more questions, and then summarize with his unique contribution or perspective on how best to proceed. I often walked out of the meetings with a sense of what a good team player felt like and that the mission of the hospital was moving forward on behalf of patients, employees, and the community. The CEO seemed to lead effortlessly.

SHARE THIS: Good leadership is represented by those in charge who maintain good character, are active listeners and innovative thinkers, and work collaboratively with their employees. ~Rebecca Rucker #Leadership #WorldBookDay #DebbieLaskeysBlog

QUESTION: I’d like to share my two favorite quotes about reading. What do they mean to you?

"If you give a person a book, you give him the world." ~Kristin Harmel

REBECCA RUCKER: I like to immerse myself in a good book. I allow the book to take me to the world of my imagination where I escape from my daily routine and enter the possibilities of new perspectives, new people, and the new cultures that the book offers. It is a sheer pleasure for me to create a movie in my head of all that the book and its characters offers.

"For you unlock magic that is hidden within, and opening the cover is how you begin. Oh, all the worlds and the places you'll see; when you hold a book, you hold the key." ~Caroline Derlatka

REBECCA RUCKER: When I first read "Outlander" by Diana Galbadon, the books took me to another place and time that felt so familiar. For a year, I did research about 16th century Scotland to the present. I researched how Diana did her research on the Outlander series, and then booked a trip to Scotland with the historian who Diana had as a travel guide while writing her books. I returned to Scotland two years later and provided my friends with tours of the Scottish countryside along with the tales that went with those places. Doing research on my ancestry, I found the small group of my ancestors who traveled from Ireland to Scotland in 1745 to establish their home. Those books were a key of discovery to a land and people that are my heritage.

QUESTION: Who is your favorite author, and why?

REBECCA RUCKER: The author, Kazuo Ishiguro, is a writer whose books I can read repeatedly and come away with a different perspective and understanding of the characters each time. Ishiguro has a writing style that is efficient with words while being rich in description. He allows readers to connect with our own humanity while realizing that despite doing our best, we are not quite the people we want to be. His writings remind me of parables that are moral and spiritual lessons about the lives we live. He delivers these parables and leaves it to us to decide the lessons we need to learn.

QUESTION: What book did you read in high school or college that, to this day, you still remember vividly, and why?

REBECCA RUCKER: In college, I read "Man's Search for Meaning" by Victor Frankl, a psychologist from Vienna who was the only member of his family to survive the Nazi concentration camp, Auschwitz. Frankl developed "logotherapy" or meaning therapy while he was in the camp. It was his theory that each of us can find meaning and purpose in life, and that this attitude is the key to our personal happiness and well-being. I was stunned by his ability to find such meaning and purpose for his own life during the horrific events of the concentration camp. After reading the book, I wrote my college essay for this psychology course on how I would adopt this perspective as a means of living my own life. Now, forty years later, I will say that logotherapy or meaning therapy has helped me live a life of happiness and well-being with an outlook to live each day finding the extraordinary in the ordinary.

QUESTION: What was the last work of fiction that you read, and what caught your attention about it?

REBECCA RUCKER: I'm going to fudge a bit on this question as the last book of fiction I read was not one of my favorite reads. So, I will tell you about my favorite fiction book of 2023: "Remarkably Bright Creatures" by Shelby Van Pelt. What first caught my attention about this brilliantly written first novel was the relationship between an octopus and a human being. The next surprise was that the story centered around a 70-year-old heroine and her relationships with the people in her community. She was relevant, sexy, and inspiring in the way she seized her life and woke up from a period of grief. I appreciated the fact that Van Pelt gave this elderly protagonist a sense of liveliness and portrayed the rich relationship that humans and animals have when they are attentive to each other. Van Pelt's short story-turned-into-a-novel (and a best-selling novel) nudged me to explore the lives of octopi and learn more about these sentient beings.

QUESTION: What was the last work of non-fiction that you read, and what caught your attention about it?

REBECCA RUCKER: The last non-fiction book I read was "Humankind: A Hopeful History" by Rutger Bregman. This is a work on the history of human nature from two opposite ends of a spectrum: Thomas Hobbes perspective that humans left to their own devices are ultimately selfish and the Jean-Jacques Rousseau perspective that it was the structures of civilization that made humans self-interested. While giving an extensive overview of history that includes the best and worst of humankind, Bergman arrives at the conclusion that human nature is inherently good. He asserts that were we to change our dominant view that humans are self-interested, we could gain new perspectives and problem-solving skills to address the major issues of our current times. This book was a thought-provoking read.

QUESTION: Sometimes authors use book titles to send a message to readers. What are some books you’ve read that you noticed messages or underlying or double meanings in the titles? 

REBECCA RUCKER: In his book, "Project Hail Mary," author Andy Weir uses the book title to represent the mission that the protagonist is on...a trip to outer space to save Earth with no real chance for the space man to survive and return to earth. However, as the protagonist comes to believe he can survive, he is offered a "Hail Mary Pass" by an alien to survive on the alien's planet. The title was a clever interplay throughout the novel about the protagonist's willingness to survive in very unexpected ways by accepting help where he least expected it.

Bonnie Gamus' book entitled, "Lessons in Chemistry" was another great title with multiple meanings. Her female protagonist, Elizabeth Zott, is working overtime to become a respected chemist in her all-male institute. While she is seeking to excel in her field and tackle the office politics of her male peers, she begins to have physical chemistry with the chief researcher. Despite keeping their relationship out of the office, their chemistry results in a long-term relationship and a child. After her partner dies, she is faced with one job offer – teaching cooking on a television show! Elizabeth Zott rises to the challenge and begins to teach cooking with a twist – she produces recipes that teach the chemistry involved in cooking! Her innovative teaching of kitchen chemistry makes her a sensation, and those male peers at her former institute invite her back to work. There are lots of fun lessons in this delightful read, especially for female readers who believe in equality.

My gratitude to Rebecca for appearing on my blog and for sharing her leadership (and reading!) insights. Happy World Book Day!

Image Credits: Sweta Sharma via Pinterest. 

Connect with Rebecca at this link:

Website: https://texasinstituteforconsultationandclinicalsupervision.com/about-us/

To learn more about World Book Day:

https://www.unesco.org/en/days/world-book-and-copyright

To read my post about Remarkably Bright Creatures: The Best Book I Read in 2023 (February 2024)

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2024/02/the-best-book-i-read-in-2023.html

If you'd like to join the next Leaders Who Fiction virtual book club meeting, check out @LeadersWhoFiction on Instagram or the club's website for details: https://www.leaderswhofiction.com

SPRING LEADERSHIP SERIES – Featuring James Strock

Last fall, I featured an inspiring series here on my blog called, "Fall Back to Reading Series." Nearly 30 leadership, marketing, and customer experience experts participated and shared their favorite books and their thoughts about the importance of reading.

Joseph Lalonde, one participant, wrote a book entitled, REEL LEADERSHIP, which focuses on nontraditional ways to think about leadership. After I read the book, the seeds for this "Spring Leadership Series" were planted. Today, I’d like to introduce James Strock, and following a brief introduction, James shares some nontraditional ways to think about leadership!

James Strock is an independent writer, speaker, reformer and entrepreneur, based in California. He's the author of several books about leadership, politics, Ronald Reagan, and Theodore Roosevelt.

QUESTION: Which TV show or TV series showcases leadership in a memorable way? This could be due to a specific character and their actions, a series of events, the plot of one or several episodes, or a specific time reflected in history.
JAMES STROCK: I would propose two very different television series.

The first is MADMEN, the multi-year hit program that memorably recreated American life in the postwar era into the 1970s through the lens of the mass advertising industry. Various characters develop over time and interact in fascinating ways, yielding many insights, including in nontraditional roles.

The second is the HITLER CHRONICLES. This series, from German director Hermann Poelking, covers the entire life of the Nazi dictator. Not only does it feature newly-discovered archival footage, but it also provides many insights by moving chronologically with observations from Hitler’s contemporaries at the time. Seeing Hitler through their eyes, as they try to comprehend what emerged as inconceivable catastrophe, without the hindsight of history, yields a layered and deeply troubling perspective of how one of the most educated and advanced nations in the world was transformed into a force for evil.

QUESTION: Which film showcases leadership in a memorable way?
JAMES STROCK: DARKEST HOUR, the award-winning film focused on Winston Churchill’s assumption of authority in 1940 in the face of the Nazi onslaught of Western Europe, is memorable as a showcase of historic leadership. In 1940, Churchill stands as an exemplar of the highest level of leadership: But for his actions, history would have been demonstrably different. In a contesting, mirroring image, Hitler also stands as a consequential leader, causing destructive results that only he could envision and initiate. Their interaction and mutual comprehension (and incomprehension) of one another is an enduring, timeless source of study.

QUESTION: Which work of fiction showcases leadership in a memorable way?
JAMES STROCK: Gore Vidal’s LINCOLN is a masterpiece of historical fiction. Vidal, who possessed unusual knowledge and experience of politics, applies deep research and eye for detail to create an extraordinary portrait of the improbable President who emerged from humble beginnings to become a reluctant warlord, ultimately the driving force of our nation’s "second founding." From the foundation of facts and the vantage point of history, Vidal conjures credible insights into the thoughts and action of one of the greatest leaders that America - and the world - has ever produced.

QUESTION: Which product, or product line, stands out as a symbol of leadership?
JAMES STROCK: ROLEX watches stand out as symbols of leadership, from aspiration to achievement. They are associated with political leaders (from Presidents to Martin Luther King, Jr.) and people of accomplishment or celebrity in various fields, including both males and females. Rolex even shows up as a signal of status in fiction, such as, on the wrist of James Bond. An interesting question is whether such timepieces, combining excellence with intimacy, will maintain their cachet in the era of Apple and other purveyors of digital, connected, multi-functional, deeply personalized timepieces.

SHARE THIS: Can timepieces like Rolex maintain their cachet in the era of Apple and digital, multi-functional timepieces? ~@jamesstrock #SpringLeadershipSeries #DebbieLaskeysBlog

QUESTION: Lastly, since I’m a marketing professional, I would be remiss not to ask this question. Which brand do you consider the best embodiment of an industry leader, and why?
JAMES STROCK: There are a number of candidates for such recognition. At this moment, I would settle on TOYOTA, which has become a byword for excellence, reliability, and value, with products across the range of uses and users. One anticipates that as the motor vehicle market evolves amid electrification, Toyota will continue to earn leadership, as with its spectacularly successful hybrid offerings over the past thirty-plus years.

Did these questions open your eyes to thinking about leadership in nontraditional ways? That was the hope. My gratitude to James for appearing on my blog, and for sharing his leadership insights.


Image Credits: Debbie Laskey, iStockphoto, Amazon, and Classroom Clipart.

Connect with James at these links:
Website: https://servetolead.com
Website: https://jamesstrock.substack.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/servetolead
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/jamesstrock
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesstrock

Check out James' previous appearances here on my blog:

FALL BACK TO READING SERIES – Featuring James Strock (October 2023)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2023/10/fall-back-to-reading-series-featuring_0711042239.html

What Happens When Leadership, Service and Encouragement Join Forces? (July 2020)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2020/07/what-happens-when-leadership-service.html

Sharing Timeless Leadership Lessons (November 2018)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2018/11/sharing-timeless-leadership-lessons.html

Leadership Is All About Serving Others (March 2014)
http://debbielaskey.blogspot.com/2014/03/leadership-is-all-about-serving-others.html
 
Serve to Lead - What a Visionary Concept (March 2011)
http://debbielaskey.blogspot.com/2011/03/serve-to-lead-what-visionary-concept.html

Marketing News of the Week: Brand Identity, Billboard Ads, and More

During the past week (okay, couple of weeks), there were news stories that reflected brand identity, product pricing, billboard advertising, and more.

OAKLAND AIRPORT NAMECHANGE

On April 11th, the Port of Oakland announced that the official name of the Oakland, California, airport has been changed from "The Metropolitan Oakland International Airport" to "San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport." The airport code OAK and the visual brand would not change, however, San Francisco's International Airport (SFO) issued a press release indicating that it had "serious concerns" over the namechange. According to SFO Director Ivar Satero, "SFO has used San Francisco Airport or San Francisco International Airport since 1927, and there is potential for customer confusion resulting from the renaming."

The reason for the namechange, according to the Port of Oakland, was because "Market research and interviews with airline partners have shown that routes have not performed as well as they should have due to the lack of geographic awareness, making all carriers reluctant to sustain and add new routes in Oakland."

However, this may not be a done deal because the San Francisco City Attorney has threatened to sue Oakland for trademark infringement.

McDONALD'S BILLBOARD AD

Have you ever smelled a billboard? McDonald's has created a scented billboard in the Netherlands. It installed a tray of French Fries into the billboard and then used ventilators to suck and diffuse the scent. The billboard is also placed within 2,000 feet of a McDonald's restaurant so customers can follow the scent. According to the company's chief marketing officer, "Smell has been proven to be more effective at sparking clear and emotional memories than images."

STARBUCKS STORE NOISE

Has a Starbucks barista ever made your drink incorrectly? Is it because the coffee store is too noisy? If you answered yes, then Starbucks leadership hears you. As the company further expands around the globe, new and renovated stores will include baffles on the ceiling that help reduce background noise and reverberations. According to the company, "The baffles, which are a ceiling treatment that helps to absorb sound, will also help baristas at the register and customers who could miss their name being called in a noisy store."

JETBLUE LUGGAGE PRICING

The airline's new baggage fee will now depend on the day of departure or dates that the airline determines to be peak or off-peak. Peak dates will include half of the year including the busy summer travel season as well as the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday periods, mid-February, and most of April for Spring Break and Easter. According to the airline, "The cost of transporting bags has gone up significantly due to increased wages and higher fuel costs, and we remain unprofitable since Covid."

On a side note, Disneyland theme parks change their pricing due to the date, and airlines charge different rates for passengers based on the date of purchase and/or travel.

DISNEYLAND'S AUTOPIA RIDE

Plans are in the works to replace the gas-powered cars at Disneyland's Autopia ride. According to the company, "Since opening the park in 1955, Autopia has remained a guest-favorite most popular with young kids experiencing driving for the first time. As the industry moves toward alternative fuel sources, we have developed a roadmap to electrify this attraction."

END OF 99 CENTS STORES

On April 4th, the bargain store announced that it would close its 371 stores across the USA. According to KTLA, "The company, which employs around 14,000 people, cited financial challenges it says were brought forth by the pandemic, inflation, and changing consumer shopping habits. The company will liquidate all of its merchandise."

END OF TROPICANA HOTEL IN LAS VEGAS

The third oldest hotel on the Las Vegas Strip closed for business after nearly 67 years. The hotel will be demolished starting in October 2024 so that the city can build a new baseball stadium for the Oakland A's Major League Baseball team that will adopt Las Vegas and begin playing there in the spring of 2028.

OAKLAND A'S AND LAS VEGAS

On a related note, the A's announced that it would move to a new stadium at the end of the current 2024 baseball season while waiting for the new Las Vegas stadium to open. The choices were to remain in Oakland, move to Salt Lake City, or move to Sacramento. While the two choices other than Oakland were not Major League Baseball size stadiums, the attendance figures at the Oakland stadium were so dismally small that the team really had no choice but to leave. For die-hard fans, a trip to Sacramento (and Sutter Health Park) is not impossible.

DOVE ADVERTISING

According to Retail Dive, "Dove has pledged to NOT use artificial intelligence to represent women in its advertising and communications as part of its long-running Real Beauty platform. Dove is looking to differentiate from beauty competitors by committing to not use AI-generated models in lieu of real women in its advertising. The Unilever mainstay believes AI could amplify the Internet's already negative impact on confidence, with nine in 10 women and girls surveyed saying that they have been exposed to harmful beauty content online. The brand is also enlisting the help of celebrity ambassadors including Reba McEntire, Drew Barrymore, Beanie Feldstein, and Marsai Martin to raise awareness."

According to Alessandro Manfredi, Dove's chief marketing officer, "At Dove, we seek a future in which women get to decide and declare what real beauty looks like — not algorithms. As we navigate the opportunities and challenges that come with new and emerging technology, we remain committed to protect, celebrate, and champion Real Beauty. Pledging to never use AI in our communications is just one step. We will not stop until beauty is a source of happiness, not anxiety, for every woman and girl."

ROOM BEHIND ICONIC BUCKINGHAM PALACE BALCONY

For the first time, the room behind the iconic balcony will open to the public because the Palace's East Wing is set to be available to tour this summer during July and August. While tourists will not be able to stand on the balcony itself, they will be able to see the Centre Room, which leads onto the balcony. According to Town and Country, "It was Prince Albert who suggested to architect Edware Blore that a balcony be added when Buckingham Palace's East Wing was created. Queen Victoria then became the first royal to step onto it during the Great Exhibition in 1851, starting the tradition of balcony appearances...Royals have waved from the Palace balcony over the decades for weddings, jubilees, and perhaps, the most memorable, during VE Day in 1945. Balcony appearances have come to be symbolic of the royal family's connection with the public."

DUCHESS OF SUSSEX NEWS

Meghan Markle, also known as the Duchess of Sussex, has returned to social media and launched an Instagram account under the name "American Riviera Orchard." The logo features gold font on a beige background and features a crest with the letters "ARO" on top and "Montecito" beneath the script of the name. A website has also been reserved (www.americanriviera.com). The trademark application indicates that the brand could sell cookbooks, fruit preserves, jewelry, fragrances, pet accessories, and more.

BASEBALL AND PERSONAL BRANDING

Will LA Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani's personal brand be tarnished by the theft of $16 million by his interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara? Will the LA Dodgers brand be tarnished? Time will tell.

PLANET EARTH NEWS

A study in the journal NATURE wrote that clocks may have to skip a second, called a "negative leap second" in the year 2029, due to a faster spinning Earth. According to ABC News, "For the first time in history, world timekeepers may have to consider subtracting a second from our clocks because the planet is rotating a tad faster than it used to." Every four years, leap year presents marketing opportunities, so think of the marketing opportunities that this situation will present!

GENERAL ELECTRIC

According to CNN, "GE once did almost everything for the typical American family – from providing much of the television they watched, to the light bulbs and appliances they depended upon, the electricity needed to power those household staples, even the subprime mortgage that allowed many of them to buy their homes. No longer. With Tuesday's split into two companies (on April 2nd), the break up of the once mighty industrial icon is complete. The company was founded by Thomas Edison in 1892 and built into the world’s largest and most valuable company by the once legendary, but now oft-criticized CEO Jack Welch...In November 2021, GE announced plans to split into three separate companies – GE Healthcare, which was spun-off last year, GE Aerospace, which builds jet engines, and GE Vernova, which is comprised of its energy generation business."

ROSIE THE RIVETER

Eight decades after their wartime efforts, real-life Rosie the Riveters received the nation's highest civilian honor from Congress - the Congressional Gold Medal. 27 Rosies traveled from across the nation to attend the ceremony on April 10th. Nearly 30 women in their 90's and up to 106 traveled to DC to receive the honor.

Many Rosies consider their World War II work not only a contribution to the war effort, but an experience of growing their confidence and independence.

While Rosie the Riveter has not been given federal holiday status, Congress has passed resolutions in recent years designating March 21st as national Rosie the Riveter Day.

OLYMPIC TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETES

Track and field gold medalists in this summer's Paris Olympics will receive $50,000 in prize money from the sport's governing body, marking the first time that an international federation has paid athletes for Olympic success. According to The Athletic, "World Athletics, the international governing body overseeing track and field, said on April 10th, that a $2.4 million pot will be distributed across the 48 track and field events, with the money coming from the International Olympic Committee's revenue share allocation. Individual winners will receive the full $50,000 while top relay teams will split the prize money among members. World Athletics plans to expand the prize pool to include Olympic silver and bronze medalists at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles...Many countries, including the United States, pay Olympic medalists. At the Tokyo Games, the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee gave gold medalists $37,500, silver medalists $22,500 and bronze medalists $15,000. Seven of Team USA’s 39 golds in 2020 came from track and field events."

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said, "While it is impossible to put a marketable value on winning an Olympic medal, or on the commitment and focus it takes to even represent your country at an Olympic Games, I think it is important we start somewhere and make sure some of the revenues generated by our athletes at the Olympic Games are directly returned to those who make the Games the global spectacle that it is."

DEATH OF O.J. SIMPSON

On April 10th, O.J. Simpson died of cancer. While he was a football star who made a fortune in movies, television, and advertising, he will forever be remembered from the Trial of the Century. He was acquitted of killing his former wife and her friend in a 1995 trial that mesmerized the nation. In 1997, a civil case by the victims' families found him liable for the death of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman, and ordered him to pay $33.5 million in damages. He paid little of the debt and moved to Florida. However, in 2007, he was arrested in Las Vegas when he and other men entered a hotel room and took sports memorabilia that he claimed had been stolen from him. After a trial, a jury found him guilty of 12 charges including armed robbery and kidnapping, and he was sentenced to 9-to-33 years in Nevada state prison. He served nine years and was released in 2017.

PARIS OLYMPICS AND NBC

Have you been watching NBC stations? If yes, have you noticed the NBC peacock logo combined with the Olympic rings? NBC wants to make sure all viewers are looking forward to the Games of 33rd Olympiad or Paris 2024 - and know where to watch it.

SOLAR ECLIPSE

And, last but not least, did you see the eclipse on April 7th? Some brands made news with their promotions including Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Vermont Teddy Bear, Doritos, and the Empire State Building.

What other recent marketing buzz caught your attention? There's always something happening that impacts marketing, so tune in to #DebbieLaskeysBlog for the scoop!

Image Credits: Empire State Building and Vermont Teddy Bear.

A Customer Experience Apology Tale

Has your brand ever apologized to a customer? If yes, what led to the apology? Did an employee make a mistake? Was a customer promised something, and your brand did not deliver? Was a communication sent in error? If your brand has never encountered this situation, then stop reading. If your brand has been in a situation requiring an apology, keep reading for an excellent example of doing it right.

One day, I received a letter in the mail (yes, via snail mail!) from the president of a nonprofit I support with the following message:

"Dear Debbie,

I'm writing to follow up on my letter of apology regarding your 2024 Partner Card.

As I mentioned, the card inaccurately reflected the number of years you have supported us and how long you have helped transform clients' lives. Receiving your first gift 18 years ago was cause for celebration then, and it is now. You are an amazing and critical part of the work we accomplish together.

Please accept your new Partner Card as a reminder of the many lives you positively impact every day. Your kindness inspires me.

Warm regards, President of Nonprofit"

Wow! How many times in your professional life have you seen any organization (for-profit or nonprofit) own an error and acknowledge that error in writing? I don't think I'm unique in counting the times on one hand.

However, I cannot remember receiving the first letter that was referenced in the above communication, which means that I would NEVER have known that an error had been made. This makes the second letter (whose content was shared above) even more remarkable, since the correct letter DID NOT HAVE TO BE SENT TO ME.

Now, let's applaud the Guide Dogs for the Blind for its one-of-a-kind efforts to own its error and correct it. Sounds like a donation is in order!

Image Credit: Salesmate.io.

SPRING LEADERSHIP SERIES – Featuring Ron Thomas

Last fall, I featured an inspiring series here on my blog called, "Fall Back to Reading Series." Nearly 30 leadership, marketing, and customer experience experts participated and shared their favorite books and their thoughts about the importance of reading.

Joseph Lalonde, one participant, wrote a book entitled, REEL LEADERSHIP, which focuses on nontraditional ways to think about leadership. After I read the book, the seeds for this "Spring Leadership Series" were planted. Today, I’d like to introduce Ron Thomas, and following a brief introduction, Ron shares some nontraditional ways to think about leadership!

Ron Thomas is a distinguished global leader and strategist acclaimed for his contributions to human resources and organizational strategy. As the Managing Director of Strategy Focused Group, he leverages his expertise across offices in Dubai and Singapore. His career has seen him excel as CEO of Great Place to Work-Gulf, CHRO of Al Raha Group, and VP of HR at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. Recognized by CIPD as a top HR thinker in the Middle East, Ron holds awards for Global HR Excellence and is celebrated among Asia's 50 Most Talented Global HR Leaders. His voice resonates powerfully, meriting a place in the Power 200 Biggest Voices in Leadership.

QUESTION: Which film showcases leadership in a memorable way?
RON THOMAS: My choice would be THE GODFATHER (three-film series) because it covers so many key business principles:

(1) Strategic Thinking: Don Corleone is a master strategist. He uses calculated moves, like brokering peace between rival families, to strengthen his position and expand his territory. In business, we should be consistently analyzing markets, anticipating competitors, and planning long-term growth.

(2) Delegation and Trust: The Don surrounds himself with capable capos like Clemenza and Tessio, empowering them to handle specific tasks with autonomy. Translate this to building a well-organized team, assigning roles strategically, and fostering trust through empowerment.

(3) Adaptability and Change Management: The Corleones navigate changing political landscapes and adopt new ventures like gambling to stay ahead. Leaders should be able to adapt to market shifts, technological advancements, and evolving customer needs.

(4) Loyalty and Respect: The Corleones thrive on the unwavering loyalty of their soldiers. In business, cultivating trust and loyalty among employees and partners builds a strong foundation and fosters commitment.

(5) Building Alliances: Forming strategic partnerships with influential players opens new doors and strengthens influence. The Don's dealings with political figures and other families illustrate this principle.

(6) Understanding People: The Don possesses exceptional people skills. He reads emotions, anticipates needs, and builds rapport with diverse individuals. This translates to effective communication, empathy-driven leadership, and the ability to motivate and inspire.

SHARE THIS: In business, cultivating trust and loyalty among employees and partners builds a strong foundation and fosters commitment. ~@ronald_thomas #SpringLeadershipSeries #DebbieLaskeysBlog

QUESTION: Which work of fiction showcases leadership in a memorable way?
RON THOMAS: My favorite book is ALWAYS START WITH WHY by Simon Sinek. I think the significant misstep in change or persuasion is we do not give a strong WHY. Develop a WHY STATEMENT IS AT THE TOP of any change. The leadership team should ensure this statement aligns from the top of the org chart to the bottom.

QUESTION: Which product, or product line, stands out as a symbol of leadership?
RON THOMAS: My choice would be APPLE. What other brand can announce a new product (we are coming up on the 16th model of the iPhone!), and there is already speculation that no other product has that amount of gravitas. Apple leads the Mobile Category.

QUESTION: Lastly, since I’m a marketing professional, I would be remiss not to ask this question: Which brand do you consider the best embodiment of an industry leader, and why?
RON THOMAS: My other choice would be RIMOWA, a luxury luggage brand. There is almost a cult following. (I own four pieces.) The quality of the product, the warranty, the stores, the customer service experience. For all these reasons, Rimowa is my choice.

Did these questions open your eyes to thinking about leadership in nontraditional ways? That was the hope. My gratitude to Ron for appearing on my blog, and for sharing his leadership insights.

Image Credits: Debbie Laskey, iStockphoto, Amazon, and Classroom Clipart.

Note: According to Wikipedia, "The Godfather is a crime novel by American author Mario Puzo. Originally published in 1969 by G. P. Putnam's Sons, the novel details the story of a fictional Mafia family in New York City (and Long Island), headed by Vito Corleone, the Godfather. The novel covers the years 1945 to 1955 and includes the back story of Vito Corleone from early childhood to adulthood. The first in a series of novels, The Godfather is noteworthy for introducing Italian words like consigliere, caporegime, Cosa Nostra, and omertà to an English-speaking audience. It inspired a 1972 film of the same name. Two film sequels, including new contributions by Puzo himself, were made in 1974 and 1990."

Interesting links pertaining to this Q&A:
The Godfather Trilogy:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Godfather_(film_series)

The Godfather Named Best Business Film:
https://realbusiness.co.uk/the-godfather-named-best-business-film

What You Can Learn about Business from a Dozen Lines in The Godfather:
https://25iq.com/2016/12/24/what-you-can-learn-about-business-from-a-dozen-lines-in-the-godfather/

Rimowa:
https://www.rimowa.com/us/en/all-luggage/

Connect with Ron at these links:
Website: www.strategyfocusedgroup.com
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/ronald_thomas

Check out Ron's previous appearances here on my blog:

How Will Your Team Decide If You’re a Good Leader? (January 2021)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2021/01/how-will-your-team-decide-if-youre-good.html

Lead and Then Get Out of the Way (February 2015)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2015/02/lead-and-then-get-out-of-way.html

Tactics for Welcoming New Employees, Increasing Productivity and Developing Effective Leaders (April 2011)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2011/04/tactics-for-welcoming-new-employees.html

Celebrating #NationalUnicornDay with Caroline Stokes

Do you know what today is? Celebrated each year on April 9th, National Unicorn Day celebrates the mythical horse-like creature with a single, pointed horn growing from the center of its forehead.

According to National Day Calendar, "Unicorns have been a popular mythical creature since Ancient Greek times...Many now see them as a symbol of love, purity, enchantment, and magic. They also continue to find their way into fantasy novels alongside other mythical creatures."

Over the last 15 years, thanks to social media, I have had the privilege of meeting inspiring marketing, branding, customer experience, leadership, and social media experts. One of these experts is Caroline Stokes, a leadership expert based in Vancouver, Canada. Due to the alignment between the title of Caroline's book and today's holiday, she is an excellent choice to appear on my blog today. Highlights from our conversation about leadership follow a brief introduction.

But first, here's a quick description of Caroline's book, ELEPHANTS BEFORE UNICORNS: "Learn how to identify your elephants, the obstacles getting in the way of your success, before focusing on your unicorns, the key employees who will help move your business forward."

Caroline Stokes is an executive coach who helps leaders to stay a step ahead in an uncertain future. She helps leaders understand how their team or organization needs to adapt to remain creative and competitive across business innovation, talent attraction, retention, and growth to meet evolving employee, customer and stakeholder expectations.

Caroline spent more than 20 years working for corporations, such as, PlayStation, Virgin, and Nokia in Europe and Australia, and went on to run two public relations agencies in England and Canada. Since 2008, Caroline has led global executive search and talent development strategies for Real Networks, Autodesk, Microsoft, Amazon, Electronic Arts, and Disney; and spurred on by her international experiences, in 2014, she launched FORWARD with a vision to create a constantly-evolving human capital solutions company with an ethical and humanist foundation. She is regularly called upon to share her expertise in the Harvard Business Review, Newsweek, Fast Company and more.

QUESTION: My favorite quote from your book ELEPHANTS BEFORE UNICORNS was, "I define people leaders as anyone who manages people in any capacity. If you have even one direct report, you're a people leader!...Whether or not you realize it, you have a tremendous impact on the direction and success of your organization." What are three take-aways you hope all readers will have upon reading your book?

CAROLINE STOKES: Three takeaways I hope readers will learn:

(1) That leaders are not born, they're made.

(2) To create an environment where people can trust each other, which enables everyone to do the work they signed up for in the first place. You've got to constantly work on the frameworks in the book or work with a coach to get there. It's not a one and done box-ticking situation. Like a diet or an exercise regimen, put the program in place and stick to it, evolve with it, stretch yourself. See all the growth in your mind, with your team, and with the results.

(3) Always work on your EQ. It's not easy to be wrong. It's not easy to make mistakes. What we do with EQ is by having awareness that we have done what we have done and to adjust. It's a life-long journey, and the book helps. (Note: Emotional intelligence (or EQ) is the ability to understand, use, and manage your own emotions in positive ways to relieve stress, communicate effectively, empathize with others, overcome challenges, and defuse conflict.)

SHARE THIS: I define people leaders as anyone who manages people in any capacity. ~@ocarolinestokes #NationalUnicornDay #DebbieLaskeysBlog

QUESTION: How can members of the C-Suite and HR teams learn the importance of "Employer Branding?"

CAROLINE STOKES: I wrote ELEPHANTS BEFORE UNICORNS primarily for the C-Suite to wake up and see that their organizations were not  operating according to their mission statements - that future employees and customers had bought into. Since the book was published in 2019, we are acutely aware of many organizations that continue to say that their employer brand is one thing, but the exit interviews and Glassdoor reviews say another. 

Culture takes time to adapt. Start now with the human first methodologies and start to see the needle shift on employer brand sentiment, which comes from an engaged workforce and lower rates of attrition.

QUESTION: What three things should be part of every organization's onboarding process?

CAROLINE STOKES: Here are three:

Goal #1: The first 100-days coaching program that every hiring manager uses with new hires, which includes goals, vision, what good looks like on a quarter-by-quarter basis. Then do all of that again at the 100-days mark because economic, societal, environmental, and personnel factors will have changed, which means that the goals will have shifted.

Goal #2: OKRs relate to everyone. (Note: Generally attributed to Andy Grove, who introduced the approach to Intel in the 1970's, OBJECTIVES AND KEY RESULTS, or OKRs, is a goal-setting framework used by individuals, teams, and organizations to define measurable goals and track their outcomes.)

Goal #3: Agreement that 1:1s should happen every week to focus on growth to reach Goal #1.

QUESTION: What's your favorite interview question, and why?

CAROLINE STOKES: I don't have a favourite interview question, as it comes off as a trap. The person being interviewed instinctively knows deep inside that it's planted to see how they will behave. I wrote for HBR that interviewing is a two-way street. The power dynamics are all wrong in an interview, and it's unattractive. (Link to article at end of Q&A.) 

I prefer an environment where the hiring manager and the hiring team huddle in realistic environments - like a 1:1 - to discuss the challenges, opportunities, areas for development, goals, and how to get through them collectively to innovate and problem-solve.

QUESTION: A well-known quote is, "People don't quit companies, they quit managers." What are some actions that employees can take, and what are some actions that leaders/managers/ supervisors/bosses can take to reverse this from happening?

CAROLINE STOKES: Everyone needs to do the self-work and the team-work. Expecting offsites or individual training isn't enough. The collective need to get together, people need leadership coaches, team coaches, strategic workshops. 

Marriage is hard where it requires constant communication, clarification, and calibration to reach goals. It comes to the power dynamic again - without collaboration, insight, everyone going down the road as a collective, people quit and people fire those people that go off track. It's a cycle that can shift at the blink of an eye with some economic disturbance or power imbalance. Nurture it, or expect some style of professional divorce.

QUESTION: Despite the findings detailed in an article published by Harvard Business Review entitled, "Research: Women Score Higher Than Men in Most Leadership Skills," the percentage of women in senior leadership roles is declining. (Link to article at end of Q&A.) How can we change this?

CAROLINE STOKES: We all know why. This is the elephant in the room. I outline it in an interview with a CEO for an article published in Business in Vancouver (link at end of Q&A), where even men knew how important women were, yet patriarchal models weren't evolving fast enough to bring in diversity of thought and processes to achieve the results many people were looking for. Systems require assessment and BRAVE leaders to change the status quo.

QUESTION: If you could dine with five leaders from history or modern corporate America, who would you choose, and why?

CAROLINE STOKES: Here are my five: Robin Williams (leader in comedy), Barack Obama (leader of the people), Elon Musk (leader of moonshot ideas), Oprah Winfey (leader of empowerment), and Nicolas Thompson (leader of The Atlantic). Imagine the enthralling, enthusiastic, and boundary-less energy they would bring and the deep pockets of reality they would share!

My gratitude to Caroline for appearing on my blog and sharing her inspiring thoughts about leadership and the employee experience!

Image Credit: Meritt Thomas via WordSwag.

Connect with Caroline at these links:

Website: https://www.theforward.co

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/ocarolinestokes

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/ocarolinestokes

Blog: https://www.theforward.co/blog

Book: https://www.theforward.co/elephants-before-unicorns

TEDx: Why an emotionally intelligent company impacts growth: 

https://youtu.be/cPmoC506_cM?si=KfXLIB3FQA40lulW

Here are the links to referenced articles from this Q&A:

National Unicorn Day

https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-day/national-unicorn-day-april-9

How to Tactfully Disagree in a Job Interview

https://hbr.org/2019/11/how-to-tactfully-disagree-in-a-job-interview

Opinion: Why Boards and C-Suite Leaders Must Cultivate a Sustainability Culture

https://www.biv.com/news/commentary/opinion-why-boards-c-suite-leaders-must-cultivate-a-sustainability-culture-8383445

Research: Women Score Higher Than Men in Most Leadership Skills

https://hbr.org/2019/06/research-women-score-higher-than-men-in-most-leadership-skills

Inspiration for final question: Debbie's Amazing Dinner Party of 15

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2022/06/my-amazing-dinner-party-of-15.html

SPRING LEADERSHIP SERIES – Featuring David Burkus

Last fall, I featured an inspiring series here on my blog called, "Fall Back to Reading Series." Nearly 30 leadership, marketing, and customer experience experts participated and shared their favorite books and their thoughts about the importance of reading.

Joseph Lalonde, one participant, wrote a book entitled, REEL LEADERSHIP, which focuses on nontraditional ways to think about leadership. After I read the book, the seeds for this "Spring Leadership Series" were planted. Today, I’d like to introduce David Burkus, and following a brief introduction, David shares some nontraditional ways to think about leadership.

Dr. David Burkus is an organizational psychologist, keynote speaker, and bestselling author of five books on leadership and teamwork. His forward-thinking ideas and books are changing how companies approach leadership, teamwork, and collaboration; and his insights on leadership and teamwork have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, The New York Times, CNN, the BBC, NPR, and CBS This Morning.

QUESTION: Which TV show or TV series showcases leadership in a memorable way? This could be due to a specific character and their actions, a series of events, the plot of one or several episodes, or a specific time reflected in history.
DAVID BURKUS: I really enjoyed (at least the first season) of Keifer Sutherland’s character in DESIGNATED SURVIVOR. Sutherland plays a man who becomes US President due to a massive terror attack and does not want the mantel of leadership but responds to the call with grace, humility, and also a powerful vision for unifying a divided country.

QUESTION: Which film showcases leadership in a memorable way?
DAVID BURKUS: It’s an incredibly violent film, but I’m still a sucker for Mel Gibson’s BRAVEHEART. William Wallace does not just join a rebellion but casts a vision of what a free Scotland looks like that inspires the entire country. And he does so by joining the fight and leading from the fight, in the middle of the battle.

QUESTION: Which work of fiction showcases leadership in a memorable way?
DAVID BURKUS: I honestly don’t read enough fiction (that isn’t turned into a movie or TV series) to say something original here.

QUESTION: Which product, or product line, stands out as a symbol of leadership?
DAVID BURKUS: I’ve always been fascinated with little green army men. It’s not the military thing (although I remember as a boy setting up massive “battles” with dozens of figurines on either side.) But it’s the way in which they never sold individual ones. You had to buy an entire team. And I think there’s a leadership lesson there. If leadership is lonely, you’re doing it wrong. It takes a team to make a dent in the universe.

SHARE THIS: If leadership is lonely, you’re doing it wrong. It takes a team to make a dent in the universe. ~@DavidBurkus #SpringLeadershipSeries #DebbieLaskeysBlog

QUESTION: Lastly, which brand is the best embodiment of an industry leader, and why?
DAVID BURKUS: Péla Case. The folks at Péla recognized that the constant upgrading of new phones was creating a massive amount of plastic waste. So, they worked to invent a cellular phone case that could bio-degrade if composted in order to be waste-free. Not satisfied with that, the same founders went on to create the world’s easiest-to-use home composter to eliminate even more waste.

Did these questions open your eyes to thinking about leadership in nontraditional ways? That was the hope. My gratitude to David for appearing on my blog, and for sharing his leadership insights.


Image Credits: Debbie Laskey, iStockphoto, Amazon, and Classroom Clipart.

Connect with David at these links:
Website: https://davidburkus.com
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/davidburkus
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidburkus/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidburkus
Subscription to free weekly newsletter: https://davidburkus.com/all-resources/

Check out posts on this blog featuring David's books:

8 Business Books for Your Winter and Early 2024 Reading List (December 2023)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2023/12/8-business-books-for-your-winter-and.html

Summer Reading Recap: Business and Fiction (August 2018)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2018/08/summer-reading-recap-business-and.html