Disagreements at work can be healthy. They can bring out viewpoints for consideration and often lead to breakthroughs. Yet, managing disagreements can be tricky. We've see all too often that disagreements can lead to disrespect, a disregard of opinions or viewpoints and even worse. How do you manage disagreements within your organization? Respectful disagreements can lead to positive outcomes in many ways. Agree? #Leadership

Do you have a succession plan in place? We all think we are immortal, but the truth is that things happen. Look at what we have faced in 2020 with COVID-19. The first thing to do is to have a contingency plan in place. The second is to have a succession plan in place. Transition requires preparation. From strategy, customer relationships and vendor partnerships to finances, key managers and taxes, succession is a long term event. Year end is a good time to take a look at your professional and personal timelines. If you anticipate making changes in the next five years, now is the time to do some serious planning. #Planning #SuccessionPlanning

#Blockchain is the technology behind making the record-keeping of a transaction uber-secure. Bitcoin is the digital currency that uses blockchain for its security and recordkeeping and theoretically hacker-proof. The pros and cons have been debated ad nauseum. Regardless, more and more companies prefer to pay with and accept bitcoin. The challenge is that bitcoin is not regulated and not accepted through a traditional bank. And, there are competitors to bitcoin. JPMorgan recently introduced 'JPM Coin', their version of #bitcoin for commercial use. While in its early stages, it could very well be the infancy of a major change of course in the financial world.

Everyone knows Radio Flyer Wagons. They are like mom, home and apple pie. If you didn't have one, you knew someone who did. Radio Flyer is a relatively small company with only 140 employees, but is has a revenue of $100MM+. The company has been on the Inc 5000 four times, has a 5.0 rating on Glassdoor and has earned the Great Place to Work certification this year. There's a reason for the success. Sure they make a great product, they have for years. But, there's more. People love to come to work. They are engaged, innovative and upbeat. Radio Flyer has created a culture of support, positivity and FUN. It was deliberate and it worked. #Culture #BestPlacestoWork

Uncertainty has become our new normal. What is certain is the power of the internet. Now, more than ever before people are vetting companies, products and services online. When was the last time that you revisited the copy on your website? What about social media? Whether you use social media or not, does not matter. What matters is that your customers, prospects, colleagues and circles of influence do use it. Your digital profile can make the difference between a phone call/inquiry or none. If you are not online, you're not in business.

It's hard to imagine the depth of the affects of this COVID-19 pandemic. Like coins. Did you know that there is a coin shortage? If you think about it, so many retail stores, bank branches and laundromats which typically ran though volumes of coins, were closed. Couple that with the big retailers like Walmart, Costco, CVS, etc., pushing for cashless transactions, coins are not being well circulated. Now, some retailers have announced that they will exchange coins. It's a changing world. What's next?

If there is anything that I have learned over the years, it's the value and insight of a mentor. When I was getting my sea legs, there were very few women around and we were all competitors. In fact, most of my colleagues considered me a competitor. There was very little collaboration because we were set up to be fierce competitors. It was really difficult to try to navigate through it. Today, I have great colleagues, even 'competitors', who are resources and provide insight and advice. If I had to give one piece of advice to a young woman starting out, it would be to find a mentor or two - both inside and outside of work. Become part of a group outside of work that can help you develop professionally. They will, most likely, be colleagues for life and truly invaluable.

It's no secret that global supply chains are anything short of complex. Their complexities are what make them so vulnerable in times of crisis. How can we reimagine this industry to reduce vulnerabilities? Building resilience into operation and business models will be key to surviving future disruptions.

When was the last time you looked at and updated your #EmployeeHandbook? An up-to-date is critical in today's complex #workplace. A well-written handbook will be a useful tool for all things policy, culture and information. The Employee Handbook is a 'user manual' for terms of employment, company policies and expectations. It's a living document (means that it's meant to be updated to reflect changes) and can proactively address issues or problems. There are many sources that can help including Employment Attorneys who can help with technicalities involving #Californiaemploymentlaw. We recently updated our Employee Handbook. When was the last you updated yours?

Social media has become a means of connecting. For companies, it's been a means to stay connected with customers, prospects, colleagues and others who can buy or are part of the center of influence. For individuals, it's a means of communicating with their networks for business and personal. Sometimes the lines get blurred. While employees can be positive ambassadors for the company, brand, product, service or an event, comments of a personal nature can often go awry and take a life of their own. This can turn into a PR nightmare. In these days of civil unrest and sensitivity, it's important to monitor all company social media channels and to have a social media policies? Have you revisited your social media policies lately?

Opportunity abounds. Despite the pandemic, companies and people are flourishing. Sometimes, we are like plants who start from seeds and need a little watering and nurturing to take hold. Mentoring is a good way to water and nurture our next generations. They don't need a handout. They need a hand up. There are many ways to mentor. There are formal programs. And, there are informal connections that serve the same purpose. The point is to give someone a hand up. Have you found a way to lend your hand?

As business leaders, it's important to share. It's especially important to help our BIPOC (Black, indigenous and people of color) colleagues. While we may not be able to share our 'secret sauce', we can help by sharing best practices, lessons we have learned and providing insight and advice. For example, sharing information about software that has helped improve efficiencies, making connections with a banker that is friendly to privately-held businesses, etc. can go a long way in lending a helping hand. The movement to improve diversity and inclusivity includes our colleagues. Have you reaching out to yours lately? #BIPOC #Diversity