Michelle Ray

Business and Leadership Keynote Speaker

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Michelle Ray

How leadership affected my past

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How would you describe some of the greatest leaders you have met or worked with? What characteristics did you admire the most? If you want to improve your leadership skills, leaders from your immediate or distant past are likely to have made an indelible impression. I still remember my first encounter with a great leader. He was able to inspire everyone and could remember the names of every employee in the company. (Approximately 150 people.)  Despite the fact that the company experienced many ups and downs, this individual remained positive, genuine, and accessible. As I reflect on my own leadership journey, I will always remember his enthusiasm and sincerity, and I hope to emulate many of his strengths while cultivating key team relationships. [Read more…] about How leadership affected my past

Negativity in the Workplace

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Does anyone truly enjoy working in a negative workplace? Negativity is one of the most destructive forces impacting the culture and atmosphere in numerous organizations. And when a leader demonstrates any signs of negativity, they may inadvertently be giving people permission to model what they see. It is a force that can quickly spread and has the capacity to unhinge creativity, professional relationships, morale, and service to customers—the list is endless. Unfortunately, many people enjoy a good “pity party.”. Perhaps this is because they are looking for a distraction from their work or because they lack awareness regarding the ramifications of buying into negative conversations. It is important for organizations to understand the impact of condoning negative mindsets. Ultimately, negativity feeds on itself, creating a destabilizing effect on team performance and productivity. [Read more…] about Negativity in the Workplace

The critical link: Emotionally intelligent leadership and talent retention

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I remember working with senior executives from a multinational professional services firm shortly after the Great Financial Crisis. (GFC) During their meeting, the leaders struggled to agree on talent attraction and retention strategies. Several leaders were deeply concerned about losing talent, with one team member expressing concern: “We cannot shrink ourselves to glory.” The group’s dilemma was understandable, given that any loss would have an impact on client retention and profitability. Others did not agree with the idea of maintaining the status quo, citing the firm’s financial viability as the most crucial factor.

When I left the room that afternoon, nothing had been resolved. Later, I learned that many key positions had been eliminated, leaving those who hoped to keep them disappointed. The organization successfully weathered the Great Financial Crisis, and while my contact informed me that the staff cuts directly impacted many people, they will undoubtedly remember the experience, particularly how they learned the news, which changed their perception of how their employer treated them as loyal, hardworking employees. [Read more…] about The critical link: Emotionally intelligent leadership and talent retention

Exploring the upside-downside of a new year

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Exploring the upside-downside of a new year

I will always remember the calendar turning from one millennium to another.

While millions were revelling in the excitement, I was sitting in my parent’s kitchen, enjoying my mother’s home cooking. We watched the traditional new-year fireworks lighting up Sydney Harbour on TV. It was an unusually cold, rainy New Year’s Eve, and I couldn’t have been happier. I had returned to Australia for this specific reason: to spend this momentous occasion with them. I was thrilled that they had lived long enough to experience this significant moment in time, given all that they had endured.

That night, we reminisced, rejoiced, and reflected on years past. We also looked to the future with positive anticipation. At the same time, the duality of hope and fear prevailed. While I experienced the joy of being home, my mother’s declining health, as well as the challenges of my parents running a business at an advanced age, were constant concerns that were outside of my control.

These memories are still fresh as I contemplate the upside-downside of a new year. [Read more…] about Exploring the upside-downside of a new year

The power of relationships in the digital age

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When you take care of relationships, you take care of everything. A powerful statement from Peter, a leader in a professional services organization I just met. He was on a mission to help his Gen Z staff engage with their clients in person. His challenge: The majority worked remotely and were swamped with administrative, routine activities of their day-to-day responsibilities that kept them confined to their desks and away from in-person interactions with colleagues and clients.

It is critical to mentor the next generation so that they “understand how business works” (in Peter’s words). Creating relationship-building opportunities while managing hybrid work environments is a primary leadership responsibility, no matter how high-tech our business world becomes.

Relationships are what keep the world turning. [Read more…] about The power of relationships in the digital age

The quest for meaning and purpose in a post-pandemic world

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When the pandemic struck, I found myself thrust into a new reality of fear and uncertainty. Suddenly, with work on hold and no pressing agenda, I felt as though time stood still for what was seemingly an eternity.

My business had survived the economic meltdowns following 9/11 and the global financial crisis of 2008. But nothing could have prepared me for this unanticipated new change of circumstances.

Alone in my office, I thought about my purpose as well as a future that I hadn’t anticipated. I found myself in a dark place, watching my confirmed conference bookings evaporate in a slew of emails that flooded my inbox. Suddenly, I was staring at an empty calendar in a state of shock. [Read more…] about The quest for meaning and purpose in a post-pandemic world

7 deadly sins of change management…and how to avoid them

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Love it or hate it. Change is a part of life and business.

Reacting to it is human. Anticipating it is wise. But mismanaging your change management process is entirely avoidable.

If you ask Google: What percentage of change management initiatives fail? You will see 202 million results!

The number doesn’t matter.

Getting to the cause while adopting a proactive, purposeful plan matters more. [Read more…] about 7 deadly sins of change management…and how to avoid them

8 reasons why authentic leadership is essential at work

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If you have ever been part of a relationship dynamic at work that felt transactional or inauthentic, you are not alone. Even though years may have passed, and you have since moved on, it’s likely that you can still recall the impact of the experience and level of discomfort. We remember leaders who are real, as well as those who have little or no interest in getting to know us.

Authenticity has always been a highly desirable leadership trait, although the importance of honing this critical characteristic in today’s dynamic and interconnected work environment cannot be overstated. Relationships that are built on a foundation of authenticity contribute to high trust, increased engagement, higher retention, and greater productivity…ultimately benefiting your organization’s culture.

Authentic leadership is essential for the following reasons: [Read more…] about 8 reasons why authentic leadership is essential at work

The four essentials to create the ultimate employee experience

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While economists worldwide declare the end of the Great Resignation and Quiet Quitting, the talent shortage is far from over. According to research by Korn Ferry, a global organizational consulting firm, by 2030, over 85 million job positions may remain vacant due to a shortage of qualified individuals to fill them.

To proactively address talent shortages and declining retention rates, the optimum solution is to focus on the employee experience, defined as the sum of all interactions and touch points an individual has with their employer during their entire journey within an organization.

Employee experience matters significantly because it directly impacts employee engagement, job satisfaction, productivity and overall well-being. A positive employee experience is crucial in attracting and retaining top talent, and fostering a vibrant, healthy work culture.

As an employer, you can chose to control what you CAN by rethinking your approach and harnessing your efforts to create the ultimate employee experience.

[Read more…] about The four essentials to create the ultimate employee experience

The Power of Positive Communication at Work and in Life

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Dilbert, my silly slammer stress buster toy, sits on my desk, vying for my attention as soon as I walk into my office. I enjoy his “rant” each time I slam him, although he only has three sayings: “Get out of my cubicle!”, “that’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard!”, and “You want it when?”

Dilbert came into my life long after I left my last full-time job working for one of “those” bosses we’ve all experienced in our lives, but his cubicle admonition echoes my own then-daily internal rants at the woman I named “Attila the Hun.” As soon as I started working for Phyllis, I knew that I had made a mistake. Her overbearing presence was foreboding and intimidating, her steely glare and tight-lipped smirk (replete with hot pink lipstick) rendered her a force to be reckoned with. [Read more…] about The Power of Positive Communication at Work and in Life