4 min read

How To Bring CLARITY

Jan 19, 2018 6:30:00 AM

Today we’re sharing insight from guest blogger, Mike Natalizio, CEO at HNI Risk Services. We hope you enjoy Mike’s wisdom and perspective.

How To Bring Clarity - FB.pngEffective leadership is all about clarity. Being clear about where you want to go, what you want to achieve, and how you're going to get there.  

This level of clarity doesn’t come from a "to-do" list of loosely tied together ideas that aren’t truly tied back to WHY you do what you do.

As business leaders, we all want our organizations to grow. Unfortunately, crushing your tactical "to do" list isn't going to deliver you to the fountain of perpetual growth.  

If you want a fighting chance at achieving long-term, sustainable growth at your company, there are three imperatives that you must bring clarity to: Leadership, Brand, and Culture. Let's explore each imperative in our quest to achieve clarity.

Leadership

In order to differentiate, we need to act differently. That starts right at the top with leaders being willing to take some risk. It means letting go of some of the legacy beliefs and artifacts that you, over the years, have held near and dear to you. Times have changed, and the leaders that embrace the challenge to be different and to inspire themselves and their clients are making waves.

Brand

We are different, really! We, we, we is in everything you say and do. It's time to stop talking about ourselves and see the world through the lens of your customer. You need to recognize that it's not about you. It’s about your employees and customers. You need a story to tell, and the hero of that story is the customer [note to self: you are not the hero]. Your story to the world is how you help build “their” story. The art of a story well told will make you different.  

Culture

We are here to make a difference. Sure, we all work because we need a job. But we choose WHERE we work based on what inspires us and where we belong. Feeling good at work involves being valued by the people you work with and being inspired to ship your best work. It’s time to clear the clutter and create bold reminders around the office of your purpose and why you come to work every day.

What’s The Risk?

Without clarity, you’re severely limiting your organization’s ability to survive, let alone thrive. The good news is that with intentional leadership, an inclusive brand, and purposeful culture you can bring it every day!  

 

This content was written and shared by guest blogger Mike Natalizio.

Natalizio, Mike.jpg

Mike is CEO of HNI Risk Services. HNI is a performance-driven risk advisor that delivers insurance, benefits, and advisory strategies working with ambitious leaders to reduce insurance dependency and boost performance from locations in Milwaukee, Chicago, Minneapolis, and Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Mike has been a trusted advisor to many companies and C-suite leaders - helping them build strategies in the areas of Leadership, Culture, and Brand.  

Connect with Mike via LinkedIn and Twitter. Also check out Mike's manifesto, Complexity Unraveled: the art of leading in a complex world, which embodies his approach to business, life, and leadership.  

Topics: Executive
Gibson

Written by Gibson

Gibson is a team of risk management and employee benefits professionals with a passion for helping leaders look beyond what others see and get to the proactive side of insurance. As an employee-owned company, Gibson is driven by close relationships with their clients, employees, and the communities they serve. The first Gibson office opened in 1933 in Northern Indiana, and as the company’s reach grew, so did their team. Today, Gibson serves clients across the country from offices in Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Utah.