Local Input, Global Impact
FountainBlue's October 14 When She Speaks program was on the topic of 'Local Input, Global Impact'. Please join me in thanking our esteemed panelists. We were fortunate to have such a dynamic group of accomplished speakers for this month's When She Speaks program. They represented different roles and backgrounds, but had much in common:
They are continually focused on the needs of the customer, within the framework of the business offerings and objectives.
They have a passion for empowering and engaging a wide range of diverse others to collaboratively address and deliver amazing results.
They are focused on learning and growing and bring a mindset of openness and curiosity to the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Below is a compilation of their best practices around acting locally, and bringing global impact.
Adopt a respect for global customers and their varying interests, perspectives, habits, expectations and ways of doing business.
Design solutions with foundational elements of common use for all global customers, and build from there. This is true even if you may not have intentions to serve ALL global customers and markets from the beginning.
Local laws and regulations may make management and implementation difficult, so make it easy for your staff to comply with local, regional, state, national regulations by clearly communicating requirements, expectations and actions.
Tie social/ERG goals to business goals and metrics.
Adopt DEI principles which go far beyond just checking a box or jumping through a hoop and invite opening up, collaborating, connecting and communicating as one organization, aligned to common values, mission and vision.
Don't assume that your way is the best way, no matter how many successes you may have had. Be curious about the way of the other as it might serve everyone better in specific situations.
The not-invented-here 'NIH" may perpetuate an 'old' way to doing things which could close off new opportunities for innovations and positive change.
Facilitate a welcoming and inclusive culture rather than a US-THEM mindset. Creating a chasm between yourself and others not-like-you makes it difficult to provide positive and constructive local input from your team, and global impact overall if you create that divide.
Expand your sphere of influence within and outside the organization, and empower and challenge others to do the same. We are all better together.
Break things down into smaller pieces so that you can explain things in ways which are justifiable and explainable, and get local buy-in and executive sponsorship.
Provide detailed specifications and collaborate with local and global parties to deliver to those standards.
Design and grow products and services which would serve local and global markets well.
Our panelists spoke often about the importance of building respect and trust with a wide range of individuals and groups, and challenged us all to open up to people, ideas, and groups around you who are not-like-you, for this is the path to impact which is lasting and global.