Advances in technology combined with the proliferation of data—the information gleaned from consumers’ movements online, through emails, over their phones, and in stores—has opened up many possibilities and opportunities for businesses and has also made running a successful business more complex. To keep up with the changing times and their competitors, companies have to keep up with the changes that have occurred, get savvy with the data they do have, and prepare for the inevitable fast-moving changes that will occur. Christopher Surdak predicts in Data Crush that by the year 2020, consumers will encounter more customized, relevant messages wherever they go, whether they are at work, on vacation, or at home. Companies that are setting themselves up now for such changes will thrive.
It is the people who step up to exercise leadership in critical moments that ultimately achieve greater success within their organizations. However, few people are able to recognize the moments that are opportunities to exercise leadership. In Step Up, Henry Evans and Colm Foster identify six common “leadership moments” every professional should recognize along with what actions they must take when they encounter them. By demonstrating leadership in each of the six moments, leaders will be able to improve their overall performances and further their careers.
If there is anyone who knows the secret ingredients to success, it is Betty Liu. As an award-winning financial journalist and Bloomberg Television anchor, she has had the opportunity to interview billionaires, CEOs, politicians, and celebrities about what it is like at the top and how to get there. In her book Work Smarts, Liu shares advice and insights gleaned from these interviews. She offers practical tips on important job skills such as networking, asking for a raise, and negotiating. Also covered are less obvious aspects of getting ahead, such as the importance of being likeable, how to think like an entrepreneur, how to bounce back from a layoff, and how to overcome fear.
Thanks to changing customers and a changing business environment, marketing techniques also need to change in order to be successful. Although it is no longer at the front end of the sales funnel, marketing is increasingly becoming a strategic partner in driving improved business results. In turn, these results are becoming more and more dependent on understanding and serving customers in innovative and thoughtful ways. HBR’s 10 Must Reads On Strategic Marketing provides valuable insights into the changing landscape of the marketing function, as well as practical steps for reinventing their marketing processes to better serve customers and drive profitable growth.
