Leadership
Communication Trends to Watch in 2025
It’s that time again—a new year is here, and that means fresh communication trends, big shifts, and more creative opportunities to keep audiences engaged. As we enter a new year, leaders of every industry are navigating a dynamic communication environment. New trends and shifts in strategy are creating opportunities to engage stakeholders more effectively, build stronger community connections, and drive meaningful outcomes. From technology to social strategy, understanding these shifts is no longer optional—it’s essential. This blog explores key communication trends to watch in 2025, providing actionable insights and strategies designed to help leaders succeed in an increasingly complex world. ...
Strategic Planning Strategies: The Essential Elements and Why They Matter
A well-crafted strategic plan is more than just a roadmap—it’s a vital resource for guiding an organization’s progress and ensuring decisions align with long-term goals and community values. For any organization, the strategic planning process provides an opportunity to understand the community’s unique needs and build a shared vision for success. A comprehensive strategic plan enables an organization to make informed, grounded decisions even amid challenges and ensures continuity during growth. In this blog, we explore the essential components of a successful strategic plan, which include research, visioning, action steps, goal alignment, and more. With this foundation at the heart ...
Stoic Leadership Principles for Professional Growth
As a leader in the public sector, the start of a new year is a chance to reflect, realign with your values, and prepare for the challenges ahead. Leadership often comes with complexities—balancing decision-making, your impact on others, and personal growth can feel overwhelming at times. While no single philosophy has all the answers, aspects of Stoic philosophy can provide helpful tools for navigating these challenges. Rooted in ancient Greece, Stoicism focuses on living a virtuous, rational, and self-disciplined life. For modern leaders, its ideas can serve as a guide to critical decision-making, building resilience, and fostering meaningful change ...
How Effective Communication Can Help You Lead and Inspire
Leadership isn’t just about giving orders—it’s about building meaningful connections and empowering your team to move forward with confidence and purpose. Great leaders know how to rally people around a shared vision, and communication is the key to making that happen. In our recent webinar, The Impact Group’s very own Partners Tom Speaks and Phil Herman revealed how intentional, thoughtful communication can strengthen organizational culture and inspire teams to achieve more together. Let’s explore their insights and some practical ways to apply them. 1. Clarify Your Organization's Direction Your team can’t deliver their best work if they don’t understand ...
The Art of Difficult Discussions: A Leader’s Guide to Productive Conversations
The ability to navigate difficult discussions isn't just a nice-to-have skill—it's essential for effective leadership. Whether it’s addressing conflict, discussing underperformance, or negotiating challenging changes, handling these moments productively can transform a team’s dynamic and propel it to new heights. In a recent webinar by The Impact Group, Partners Tom Speaks and Phil Herman, along with special guest Lindsay Gingo, owner of Gingo & Bair Law, LLC, shared expert strategies for turning difficult discussions into productive, growth-centered dialogues. If you missed the webinar live, here are some of the key learnings. Why We Can't Avoid Difficult Discussions ...
Self-Care Practices for the New School Year: A Comprehensive Guide
As a new school year begins, it's easy for educators, administrators, and support staff to get caught up in caring for others while neglecting their own needs. Our recent webinar "Self-Care Practices for the New School Year" offered a refreshing perspective on self-care, emphasizing its importance for personal well-being and professional effectiveness. In the webinar, Phil Herman, a Partner at The Impact Group, and our special guest, Shannon Speaks, LISW-S, shared their expertise and insights on how educators can prioritize self-care. Together, they provided valuable strategies and practices to help educators build a sustainable self-care routine. This blog post ...
Growing Resilience with Mindfulness
We were fortunate to host Shannon Speaks, MSSA, LISW-S, ACC on the Digital Leadership Academy webinar. Enjoy this guest blog on the topic "Growing Resilience with Mindfulness". In case you wondered if resilience is something you can grow, I gave it away in the title. It’s true! You can grow resilience. Consider this resiliency equation by Army Veteran & scholar Elizabeth Stanley: Stress + Recovery = RESILIENCE If you think about your life, it’s likely that one part of this equation is already covered…the stress part! A critical part of resilience is stress. But stress alone does not a resilient ...
Mastering The Art of The Presentation: Orchestrate Your Way To Success
In the realm of presentations, the difference between captivating your audience or losing their attention often lies in the orchestration of your delivery. Much like a symphony conductor commands the attention of an orchestra, a skilled presenter can captivate their audience by orchestrating a seamless blend of content, body language, and interaction. However, hitting the right notes in your presentation is no small feat, especially if you don’t follow the right preparatory steps. Let’s dive into the key elements of crafting an unforgettable presentation that leaves your audience engaged. First thing’s first: Define your objective Every presentation needs to have ...
Why is appreciation important in the workplace?
In our latest Digital Leadership Academy webinar, we explored the importance of appreciology within an organization or team. Why is appreciation so needed – and often so neglected – as a leadership skill? Let’s dive into the insights shared, including how to intentionally cultivate appreciology from the top-down, so your organization can thrive. Why One-Size-Fits-All Appreciation Falls Short Imagine this scenario: Lauren walks into work on her 40th birthday and finds a coffee mug emblazoned with the company’s logo and a small note inside. The mug is from her manager, acknowledging her birthday. Realizing she received the same gift on ...
The Strategic Compass: Steering your Organization toward Success
Strategic planning is the art of turning dreams into an actionable roadmap. It’s about setting goals and plotting the steps that will ensure an organization's growth and sustainability. It's a combination of foresight, resource allocation, and adaptability in a dynamic world. In a recent webinar, Impact Group Partner Phil Herman and Threshold Rehabilitation Services, Inc. President and CEO Dr. Ed Mahalik—broke down the components of strategic planning and helped exemplify that while the compass points to the north, it is the collaboration between stakeholders, leaders, and strategy that determines if we reach our destination. Strategic Planning & The Impact on ...