The Latest Insights from Leading NOW

January is National Mentoring Month –– a great time to start our new 5-part series called Leadership Lessons from Women Leaders. 

Leading Through Uncertainty: Dealing with Ambiguity We are continuing our current blog series on the core leadership competencies needed to navigate change. Change that is defined as volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA). So far we’ve covered “Interpersonal Savvy” and “Organizational Agility” - and today we are digging into “Dealing with Ambiguity.”  “Ambiguity is a type of meaning in which a phrase, statement or resolution is not explicitly defined, making several interpretations plausible. A common aspect of ambiguity is uncertainty.” Uncertainty -- hmmmm -- sound familiar? We are surrounded by so many uncertainties right now! However, we know that not all ambiguity is environmental. Ambiguity comes in several forms in the workplace. The issue arises from a lack of direction and clearly defined roles. The problem can result from the business itself or from specific managers who fail to implement the direction and roles associated with their job. It can also be cultural, or a product of barriers in understanding inclusive behaviors... Read ON! 

"Change is the only constant in life" - Heraclitus When we used this quote to launch our six-part series on leadership through change back in March we did not know at the time how on the nose this quote would be for all of 2020. This year has been packed with volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity, but despite the global pandemic, our teams took the time to evaluate, process, and adapt to this environment of constant change.  We've been able to stay incredibly positive and, as you will shortly see, rather busy. Here are some of the highlights (in no particular order), from the last twelve months! Enjoy & Lead ON!   

BOSTON - Dec. 17, 2020 - PRLog -- Leading NOW, the global advisor to organizations seeking to change mindsets, behaviors, and cultures to be inclusive for all, announces the appointment of Kelly Lockwood Primus as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Formerly the CEO & President of Leading Women, which was recently acquired by Leading NOW, Primus' extraordinary work growing Leading Women into a global organization with a focus on proprietary research was a key factor in her selection. The newly-merged organization sought a strong leader to propel the company's growth trajectory. The remainder of the organization's restructure will continue under her guidance.

Integrating DE&I Expertise, Inclusive and Organizational Leadership Solutions, and Executive Search BOSTON - Dec. 16, 2020 - PRLog -- Luisi Tromba Advisors (LTA) a global executive search and leadership solutions consulting firm that helps organizations and leaders bridge the gap between ambitions and outcomes, and Leading NOW, the global advisor and provider of inclusive leadership solutions to organizations seeking to change mindsets and behaviors, creating inclusive cultures for all, and to improve business performance, are pleased to announce they have entered into a global strategic partnership. The alliance will help organizations transition from traditional thinking and approaches to DE&I initiatives, to proven research-based, DE&I thought leadership and solutions, both through the recruitment of progressive DE&I focused leaders, as well as the development of strategic and transformative pathways to enhanced cultures and outcomes.

Expands DE&I Offerings in the United Kingdom BOSTON, Dec. 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --  Leading NOW, the global advisor to organizations and the epicenter of new knowledge for changing mindsets, behaviors, and cultures to be inclusive for all, announces it has entered into a strategic partnership with Inclusion Partners, a London-based collaborative DE&I consultancy, to license Leading NOW's world-class content and research-based programs to deliver to clients in the United Kingdom market.

DE&I (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) is a part of every conversation I have these days––not just because I am leading the commercial strategies for Leading NOW and it’s my job to advise organizations how to be inclusive for all, but rather because organizations are finally realizing what our research has proven all along––that building a diverse company culture starts at the top with leadership. And while organizations have tried to increase diversity in their workforce, leaders are now recognizing they’ve been missing the mark by spending a lot of money and resources without capturing the true value of diversity. 

As we wrap up our 7-part series: “Gender + Diversity Playbook: Setting and Achieving Your Goals for 2021 and Beyond” - let’s review why we felt it important to put together a playbook in the first place. It started with 2020’s Miss is Now a “New” 2030 Promise–But Will Orgs Break This Promise Too?, where we talked about tackling some of the specific barriers that are causing the leadership gender gap (hint: it’s not just about committing to a 50/50 gender balanced workforce by 2030, you must take targeted actions). 

On a timely basis we curate fabulous articles about closing the leadership gender gap on our Facebook page, LinkedIn Leading Women group and company page, and also Tweet them out.  We then share the the best of the best here on our blog!  Leading Women's Kelly Primus interviewed on The Hennessy Report The Hennessy Report   Listen ON!  

With the gender gap growing at a rapid pace due to Covid-19, the retention and advancement of women in the workforce is at an important and critical inflection point. We know that hiring alone won’t address the gap, but the right kind of strategic talent development and coaching can!  Leading Women is helping our clients develop, advance, and retain the talent they have within and across all levels of their organization - so that they see the opportunities that are possible at an organization that is committed to investing in their career journey. Leading Women has been recognized as a Top 10 Leadership Development Training/Coaching Company!