Unplanned changes are usually a result of unforeseen circumstances. Since they come unannounced, it's important to have contingency plans in place to deal with them without causing panic across the board. This is where leadership comes in. Leadership is all about taking risks others would avoid taking. It's also about making quick but correct decisions to mitigate the effects of unexpected disruptions. A leader can make their team better by turning obstacles into opportunities and stumbling blocks into stepping stones. Leaders take challenges head-on and eliminate the fear factor when an unplanned change occurs. Let's dig deeper into howsuccessful leaders prepare their team for an unplanned change. 1. Bringing clarity Teams can face unexpected challenges better when they have clarity. This requires leaders to ensure that the team understands the impending changes and what ... View Post

Management and leadership are often considered the same in many organizations. Though the two share a number of similar traits, they differ in the sense that while all leaders are managers, not all managers are leaders. Managing and leading are two complementary qualities that are linked to each other. Extricating one from the other is impossible. Leaders inspire and motivate, whereas managers plan, organize, and coordinate. A leader sets his eyes on the bigger picture, while a manager puts ... View Post

A growing number of organizations?small and big?are recognizing the benefits of embracing a culture of empathy in the workplace. Empathy reduces stress, improves mood, promotes self-esteem, helps develop trust and comfort, and unlocks creativity. In most cases though, leaders are the ones carrying the torch of cultural transformation through empathy. But can they do it alone? Leaders need help from every department and every level to initiate a paradigm shift in organizational behavior. We ... View Post

Most parents tell their kids that it's uncouth to brag. However, when it comes to designing marketing and branding strategies, a moderate indulgence in self-promotion isn't entirely a bad idea. While there are no one-size-fits-all rules, we've found out four that work in most scenarios: 1. Build a great product or service, and let your customers do all the talking. Great brands are driven by customers and their experiences. Word-of-mouth marketing is still the most powerful medium to ... View Post

Do we highlight our trials, tribulations, and setbacks with the same amount of passion that we expend when celebrating our successes, Not so much. Success comes with a sweet-sounding ringtone, whereas failure is almost always in silent (and sometimes, desperate) mode. Failure, no matter how much it hurts, is an important part of life. Failure is a great teacher. It's like nature's chisel which chips away at the excesses, strips down the ego, and molds and shapes us. There isn't a ... View Post

          They waited. As their husbands fought a debatable war, they waited. The battle ended, they waited. Recognition came, a bit too late,and they still waited. During the long years of theVietnam War, many American pilots were shot down in North Vietnam, and weretaken as prisoners of war (POW) or were reported missing in action (MIA). Theirwives sought information about their husbands from various government departments.Go home and ... View Post

Autism spectrum disorders affect the way a person?s bodyand brain work. People with autism may have trouble speaking or communicatingin a social situation. Nearly 30% of individuals on the spectrum are nonverbal.They often don?t communicate as much as others do; are sensitive to noise, light,and textures; and may prefer to sit quietly in a corner. However, these traits don?t undermine the fact that peopleon the spectrum are capable, passionate, intelligent, and honest. The onus is onthe ... View Post

From filling out lengthy application forms to mustering up confidence for an interview, job hunting can be stressful. It can be a little more stressful for people with autism as they are faced with the perennial dilemma of whether or not to disclose their diagnosis. Most experts say that disclosing autism in the workplace is entirely a personal decision, based on the candidate's needs and preferences. A differently-abled worker may face stigma if they disclose. Eminent sociologist Erving ... View Post

Organizations and individuals across the world, every year, observe April as Autism Awareness Month. Events are held to raise public awareness and educate local communities about autism spectrum disorders. The first National Autism Awareness month was held by the Autism Society in 1970. Over the past 50 years, autism has emerged as the fastest-growing developmental disability, affecting one in 59 children in the US and creating barriers to employment and independent living. It used to be one ... View Post

Companies often lament the paucity of skills duringtalent acquisition. Scarcity is a mindset that stifles innovation and makes itdifficult for many companies to look in the right direction. The truth is thatqualified candidates are everywhere. But outdated business models and closedplatforms, deployed by many organizations, impede the search for the rightcandidates, hiring managers, and talent suppliers. Smaller organizations are unlikely to have the rightresources to zero in on the best ... View Post