Photo by Randy Tarampi on Unsplash
Hello! Welcome to the newsletter - “Leadership for Maximum Impact." In this weekly series, we aim to empower you with insights, strategies, and inspiration to enhance your leadership skills, enabling you to transform your professional and personal life.
The essence of growing your impact lies in our commitment to making a more meaningful and positive contribution to the people, organizations, and causes we value, fostering broader and lasting results.
Created by Jenny Fernandez, M.B.A., a Leadership and Organizational Coach, Brand Consultant, and Advisor. She is also a contributor to Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Forbes. Jenny helps leaders and organizations create work cultures that foster collaboration, innovation, and resilience.
I invite you to join me on this journey to design your vision, cultivate your leadership, and amplify your impact to new heights. Together, let's embark on a path of growth and empowerment.
“The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.” - Franklin D. Roosevelt.
In this edition, I want to speak with you about a key driver of professional growth and career advancement. We will discuss these skills and provide you with strategies and tools to hone them. We are setting the stage for your personal and professional growth. Whether you're an aspiring leader, a seasoned executive, or someone navigating their career path, these strategies will position you for professional growth in 2024 and beyond.
Embrace Lifelong Learning
The pace of change in today's professional landscape is rapid. So, it is critical to embrace a mindset of continuous learning to stay relevant. The World Economic Forum’s 2023 Future of Jobs Report highlighted that “44% of workers' skills are expected to change in the next 5 years.” The Top 10 Skills in 2023 and Rising in the next four years include:
Creative Thinking (creative problem solving): The ability to approach situations, problems, and tasks with originality and develop unique, innovative solutions.
Analytical Thinking: The capacity to analyze complex problems, break them into manageable components, and develop effective solutions.
Curiosity: A strong desire to explore, learn, and understand new ideas and perspectives.
Lifelong Learning: A commitment to continuous self-improvement through acquiring new knowledge, skills, and experiences throughout one's life.
Resilience: The ability to bounce back from setbacks, adapt to change, and maintain a positive attitude and productivity.
So, ask yourself:
“Where do I stand in mastering these soft skills?
”What am I doing to develop them further?”
“How am I positioning myself for growth in the age of AI?”
As a Leadership and Branding Coach, I encourage my clients to undertake a Skills Self-assessment exercise to reflect on their mastery of these key skills and identify areas for further development. Looking ahead to 2024, commit to investing time and money in developing and acquiring new skills because you are your greatest investment. Learning is the fuel for growth.
Coach’s Advice of the Week:
Build a personalized learning plan with short- and long-term goals, articulating them as SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound). Examples of this:
By [specific date], I will complete an online course focused on a specific skill [i.e., Executive Presence, Communication, Strategic Thinking, etc].
Attain certification in [field] within the next six months by signing up with [XYZ Organization] and completing the requirements.
Starting immediately, I will consistently allocate 30 minutes daily to reading a book or business article.
Starting immediately, I will attend workshops or industry-related webinars and conferences to stay abreast of emerging trends and expand my network.
I will partner with a coach for a 3-month engagement to help me develop, grow, and define what’s next.
Resources Of The Week:
Book: "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success" by Carol S. Dweck.
Ted Talk: Carol S. Dweck's TED Talk on the Power of Believing That You Can Improve
Sneak Peek into My Plan:
Complete the intensive Columbia Coaching Certification by July 2024.
Attend Marshall Goldsmith's 100 Coaches Conference in Summer 2024.
Contribute articles to Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Forbes.
About the Author.
Jenny Fernandez is a nationally recognized Leadership Coach, Advisor, and Brand Consultant helping to develop resilient leaders to achieve their goals and scale their impact through branding, collaborations, and innovative thinking to drive accelerated and transformative growth. She works with executives and teams in high-growth companies, medium-sized businesses, and scaling start-ups. She also focuses on working with women CEO/Founders, high-potential/rising leaders, and diverse talent.
Jenny has been awarded “LinkedIn Top Voice in Executive Coaching, Personal Branding, Leadership Development, and Entrepreneurship,” Top 30 Management Thinkers in the World to Watch - Thinkers50 Radar 2024, and Top 30 Global Gurus for Brand. She was invited to join Marshall Goldsmith’s 100 Coaches Community and Agency, the world’s #1 Executive Coach and Leadership Thinker. This recognition is given to the world’s top leadership/executive coaches and thought leaders.
She is a contributing author in Leadership and Branding at Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Forbes. She has been interviewed by The Washington Post and HuffPost about Gen Z and the Future of Work. Jenny’s professional journey brings together an understanding of the skills needed to run a fast-moving, emerging startup, decades of industry experience in partnering and team building, investor acumen, real-world business savvy, and a dedication to helping future leaders grow their companies.
She trained at Kellogg School of Management, where she received her MBA. She is a Columbia and New York University adjunct professor, teaching Next Gen leaders in Leadership, Branding, and Marketing.
What's Next? Stay tuned for upcoming episodes where we'll go deeper into leadership principles, success stories, and actionable insights to scale your leadership and fuel your professional growth. Feel free to share your thoughts, experiences, or topics you'd like us to cover in future newsletters. Let's embark on this journey of growth together!
Remember, the path to leadership is a continuous journey. Let's make 2024 a year of immense growth, success, and positive impact.
Here are some ways to access further strategies, tips, and resources:
★ Follow me on LinkedIn to join the conversation on my posts on #leadership #collaboration #innovation and #branding topics. Feel free to share the newsletter with friends and colleagues who could benefit from these insights by forwarding it.
★ And if you love YouTube or Instagram, feel free to follow me. I will be sure to post videos, stories, and photos on Leadership Hacks!
★ Follow my Business Website for my blog, tips, and special content.
★ Reach out to me directly at jenny@jennyfernandez.com
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