Leanna Cruz
Editorial Director

Looking from the outside the chaos brought about as a result of change is intriguing, educational and addicting to watch. As an insider it is frustrating and causes feelings of inadequacy, uncertainty and frustration. Big business has recently experienced such change. Your challenge is to be an insider and react as an outsider. Since change springs innovation and a new normal, find the opportunity in change.

To find your opportunity reexamine the way business is done and the way talent is used. As a starting point look at the attention you give to inclusion, your views about diversity, your ability to build relationships and your ability to adept to change.

Inclusion the Female Advantage
The current chaos and evitable change will present the opportunity women have been looking for. Inclusion and diversity are success indicators for share holders and customers and women have the advantage over men. As a result of the path women have had to take and challenges they have experienced women have a distinct advantage to help the companies they work for succeed in the area of including diverse opinions, experiences and ideas. The best strategy to develop creative and innovative solutions to the challenges companies are facing.

Relationship Building
Building business relations is a skill both men and women admit that they feel less apt. In a global economy, in a business environment where collaboration is the best way to remain competitive and in an employment market where relationships matter, your ability to be effective in your career requires that you hone your ability to build all types of relationships.

It may be unnerving to learn that the growing workforce in emerging markets – India, Brazil and China for example, admit that building global relations is a skill in which they feel confident and capable. This is not so in the American workforce, but we are operating in a new era of global business and hence the need to be able to develop trusting relationships across the boarder is required whether with suppliers, coworkers or customers. Since companies are doing business globally and have the opportunity to hire from an international talent pool, understanding differences in cultures and styles of working are a must for business and career success.

Change Leaders
Leaders who can maintain calm, take the initiative, find clarity in confusion and who are agile and can adapt to shifts in direction all while maintaining a positive outlook of the future will be the shining stars. Sounds like a lot, but these qualities are a huge asset if your ambition is a seat in the executive suite. Independence and self direction is essential. When a problem pops up call on your expertise, experience and insight to fix it with an impactful result. Help your company accelerate to the new normal.

Identify the needs high on the list of executives in your company then take stock of your current ability and gain the skills you need to become effective. That is what will lead you to the leadership positions waiting for you.

Rethink Possibility – AT&T
Write the Future – Nike