Horizon Point Consulting

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  • March 2025 Leadership Development Carnival

    March 2025 Leadership Development Carnival

    Welcome to the March 2025 Leadership Development Carnival! Horizon Point is excited to host the carnival this month, featuring  posts from leadership experts from around the globe on the topics of communication, development, engagement, motivation, productivity, team building, and more. 

    The Framework for Organizational Excellence by John Spence

    Excellence isn’t accidental—it’s built with purpose. My new Organizational Excellence Framework brings together the key elements of success: purpose, culture, strategy, innovation, and simplicity. Read to see how it all comes together.

    How To Build a Better Relationship with Your Difficult (Icy) Boss by Karin Hurt 

    You know the type: the difficult boss barely acknowledges you, keeps conversations strictly transactional, and never lets you see their human side. Frustrating right? Here’s what to do next.

    Setting Clear Expectations for You Team by Bernd Geropp 

    When was the last time you sat down and explicitly communicated your priorities to your team? If you are thinking “They should know”, think twice. Setting clear expectations is often underestimated.

    No is a complete sentence. by Lisa Kohn 

    Lisa Kohn of Thoughtful Leaders™ Blog presents “No is a complete sentence” where she shares that although we learned to say “no” at a very young age, we need to learn to say it again. Not always, not every time, not to everyone – but to use it in a way that builds our leadership, our Thoughtfulness, and our success.

    How to Communicate a Merger and Acquisition to Employees in 9 Steps by David Grossman 

    2025 is shaping up to be the year of strategic, purpose-driven transactions according to a report from PwC. Effective communication during M&As is essential to keep your employees engaged, informed, and focused despite the changes underway. Use this roadmap to help you strategically develop your plan.

    Setting Limits: Moving Away From Dancing Around Solutions by Brenda Yoho 

    The reality is, habits—good or bad—are reinforced by what we allow rather than what we say. If we want a workplace where respect, responsibility, and accountability thrive, we must move away from avoiding difficult conversations and start addressing issues head-on.

    Why Didn’t You Tell Me? by Frank Sonnenberg 

    If you keep your thoughts to yourself, they’re worthless. Here are 23 ways to recognize excellence, express your thanks, and demonstrate that you care.

    Coaching vs Mentoring: Do you need both? by Dana Theus 

    There are many ways to get stuck in your career. When you hit a wall, it’s time to ask for help. But where should you turn? Should you consider coaching vs mentoring? What kinds of coaches and mentors would be a good fit? What other kinds of support might you find to help you out? While coaches and mentors will both offer the most direct advice and support, depending on how and why you’re stuck, you’ll find support and good ideas from a variety of other people. Use them all!

    Are You Leading or Just Managing? Let’s Find Out by Mary Ila Ward 

    The terms manager and leader often get used interchangeably, but should they? “Leading versus managing” is a common search phrase. At HPC, we don’t really think it’s a “versus” situation. You can be a good manager without being a great leader, but you can’t be a great leader without strong management skills.

    Love ‘Em, Grow ‘Em, Keep ‘Em by Bev Kaye 

    AI isn’t just on the horizon—it’s already in our workflows, reshaping industries, and sparking new conversations (and concerns) about the future of work. Here’s the truth: AI isn’t just a technology challenge—it’s a people challenge. And if you want to keep your best people as AI transforms work, you need to double down on what makes leadership human.

    Overwhelmed by Employee Development? Try ‘Microdosing’ by Julie Winkle Giulioni  

    Feeling overwhelmed by the responsibility of developing your employees? The good news is, career growth doesn’t have to come in big, time-consuming doses. Just like in medicine, ‘microdosing’ small, intentional career conversations into daily interactions can lead to meaningful growth—without adding to your workload.

    The need for moral leadership by S. Chris Edmonds  

    Moral leadership is grounded in four pillars: Let Purpose Lead, Inspire and Elevate Others, Be Animated by Values and Virtues and Build Moral Muscle. Moral leaders foster higher standards of conduct by inspiring meaningful work grounded in shared values.

    Navigating Uncertainty by Ann Van Eron  

    The winds of change are blowing fiercely in every corner of our world. Everywhere I go, people are talking about the rapid transformations and the looming uncertainty. We, as a community, are experiencing this together. How do we be resilient and navigate the uncertainty?

    How to Better Handle Embarrassing Moments by Marcia Reynolds  

    Trying to never have embarrassing moments at work can stunt your growth. Learn how to rise above, even use embarrassment, to build confidence and enjoy life more.

    The Impact of Change by Priscilla Archangel  

    Leaders must ask all stakeholders to engage with them on a journey where they balance the need to operate differently, while building new and stable networks and processes. Leaders must generate trust along the way.

    Fear of the Unknown by Bill Treasurer 

    Drawing wisdom from Plato’s Republic, this post explores how humans naturally fear what they do not know. By intentionally increasing our exposure to unfamiliar situations or people, we can transform fear into familiarity and move confidently into the unknown.

    “Can we all just get along?” Rodney King – Tips for Combatting the Political Divide in the Workplace by Diana Peterson-More  

    The data are in: 91% of employees have witnessed or experienced political clashes at work; 51% actively avoid colleagues with different political views, while 93% believe leadership’s political bias influences workplace policies and promotions. WOW. It’s time for leaders to turn this around. This post offers proven tips on how to lower the heat, how to facilitate their teams to the win-win, and to ensure productivity does not fall victim to fear and divisiveness.

    The futures after capitalism by Marcella Bremer  

    We can’t create the future we want if we can’t imagine what that would look like. Andy Hines’s book Imagining After Capitalism provides great scenarios – food for thought for organizations, too. Let’s re-kindle our imagination and agency to shape the futures that we want! Recommended reading for all organizations

    3 Priorities of Servant Leaders by Randy Conley  

    Servant leadership is often misunderstood as simply being nice or avoiding micromanagement, but it’s much more than that. In this article, Randy Conley shares 3 priorities that distinguish servant leaders from the crowd.

    Kaizen and Continuous Improvement: A CFO’s Perspective on Lean Efficiency by Jon Verbeck  

    I’m always looking for ways to boost efficiency and streamline processes. Mark DeLuzio frequently talks about Kaizen, the practice of continuous improvement, and how essential it is to examine and refine our processes regularly. Given my deep family ties to Japan, I felt compelled to explore the true meaning and origins of Kaizen.

    Two Unexpected Ways to END Your Next Meeting That Engage and Grow Your Team by Sean Glaze  

    Team meetings can (and SHOULD) be culture-building experiences that inspire action, creativity, and growth. Your team gatherings are a prime opportunity to foster collaboration and engagement, especially if you rethink how they end.

    Playbook for AI-Literate Leaders: How CEOs, CIOs & CPOs Can Stay Ahead! by Naomi Caietti  

    In today’s AI-driven world, CEOs, CIOs, CPOs, and other senior leaders must do more than just embrace AI—they must lead the charge in AI literacy. AI isn’t just an IT initiative; it’s a business transformation tool that impacts everything from talent strategy to competitive advantage.

    Reinventing Leadership for the 21st Century: Why and How Leaders Must Evolve to Thrive in Chaos by Julia Felton  

    In today’s fast-changing, unpredictable world, the leaders who thrive are not those who rely on past successes, rigid structures, or outdated management playbooks. Instead, the 21st century demands adaptive, forward-thinking, and continuously evolving leadership—a model built on reinvention.

    Thank you to the Lead Change team at Weaving Influence for continuing the LDC tradition!

  • Nourish: A Bold New Direction for 2025

    Nourish: A Bold New Direction for 2025

    After a year of “Open the Door” as our 2024 theme, we decided this year as a team that maybe we needed to simplify- our theme and our focus.  As I discussed in my speech Taste and See, turning responsibility into obligation to open the door to anyone and anything brought about a state of too much in 2025.  Like they say, there can be too much of a good thing. 

    So in keeping with tasting and seeing what is good and letting that be the only obligation or responsibility to pursue, trusting that good things will flow naturally from there, we felt as though “Nourish” speaks volumes to what we are pursuing this year and aligns with our organizational values. 

    What Nourish means to us: 

    • Living with intention
    • Nourishing the people closest to us
    • Emphasizing abundance instead of scarcity
    • Pouring into good things allows the outcomes take care of themselves
    • The mindset that capacity doesn’t equal obligation. Margins nourish us to live with intent and pour into the important people and things around us. This helps us see who and what needs to be nourished right in front of us. 
    • Nourishing creates growth 
    • Nourishing leads to thriving 

    Values Alignment 

    And in true HPC fashion, we put the word into ChatGPT and found that nourish aligns well with our values: 

    1. Passion: Nourishing reflects a commitment to fueling enthusiasm and energy in all endeavors, encouraging others to pursue their work with heart and dedication.
    2. Productivity: Nourishing the mind, skills, and workplace environment enables individuals and teams to perform at their best, driving meaningful outcomes.
    3. People First: At its core, “nourish” emphasizes care, growth, and support, putting people at the center by fostering their well-being and development.
    4. Continuous Learning and Improvement: Nourishment encompasses providing the resources, opportunities, and encouragement for ongoing growth and enhancement, ensuring a culture of improvement.
    5. Give Back: Nourishing others extends to contributing to the greater good, whether through community efforts, mentorship, or empowering others to succeed.

    What we will Nourish this year: 

    Leadership Development and Coaching

    We are launching new content in 2025 that includes monthly blog posts and coaching moment videos to help nurture leadership development in companies and communities.  These will be practical strategies to implement, not complex theories or vague guidance. A taste of what we will be doing to nourish leadership development in our area includes facilitating the Cummings Research Park Tech to Exec Program and continuing to deliver Encounter Groups to our clients.  Our customized programs for organizations will now come with a customized website page(s) to provide nourishment even after the in-person component concludes. 

    Entrepreneurship

    We will be launching new content featuring entrepreneurs across our network to showcase the innovation taking place all around us. We will continue to support Alabama Launchpad and the dozens of entrepreneurs that come through the program each year. 

    Career and Professional Development

    In 2024, we launched online courses and will continue to launch more courses throughout 2025. Taylor is now one of the very few people in the country certified to deliver the National Career Development Association’s brand new School Career Development Advisor (SCDA) training, and she will continue to work with the Alabama State Department of Education to certify hundreds of educators across the state in this and other content and certifications. 

    Informed Compensation

    We continue to do a lot of compensation work. We realize that this core hygiene factor helps people literally nourish themselves and their families. Living wages are important and so is making wise business financial decisions to ensure the longevity of our organizations. These can exist together and be nourished together- remember abundance, not scarcity.  We will continue to facilitate the North Alabama Regional Wage and Benefit survey to help companies and communities make informed compensation decisions. 

    Each Other

    We are a family at HPC and each of us needs nourishment from each other. This year, we will be focused on nourishing Taylor as she undergoes surgery and treatment for breast cancer.  Emily is nourishing new life, and we will welcome a baby into the HPC family in May!  We ask your prayers for Taylor and Emily and their families. 

    nourish gift basket
    Taylor’s “nourish” basket from the team!
    Each of us curated a few items that we knew would bring Taylor a little bit of joy and “nourishment”.

    What are you nourishing this year? What do you want to see grow? 

  • 2024 Book of the Year

    2024 Book of the Year

    Productivity has always been one of our five operating values at Horizon Point. We tie it intimately to our value of passion, which looks something like this: Get stuff done. Get stuff done that is important and that we care about.

    We are adamant about protecting the fact that productivity doesn’t dictate how and where and when work’s done, but that it gets done and meets the need.

    This mindset hasn’t changed, but throughout 2024 our idea of what it means to be productive has grown and it is captured in our 2024 Book of the Year: Slow Productivity by Cal Newport. Seemingly an oxymoron – How can you be productive and slow? – Newport’s book gets to the heart of what it means to get stuff done that is important through his three premises:

    1. Do fewer things
    2. Work at a natural pace
    3. Obsess over quality.

    He points to the fact that, often, we are doing too many things AT ONCE and in an effort to be “productive” we are sabotaging the exact thing we are trying to accomplish. We are also being “pseudo-productive”- acting like being busy is being productive. It is not.

    We can actually be more productive if we focus on one thing at a time and hone in on what those things should be – what brings the greatest return? Working at a natural pace helps us maximize our productivity and bring those greater returns, as does obsessing over quality.

    If you are like many who think, ha, this is funny, I have zero control over what work I have to do. How can I do fewer things when I’m not in charge of those “things” I have to do? Newport will challenge your thinking on how to reframe your situation. He gives practical solutions on how to execute his three premises.

    And if you are leading people and pushing those “things” around to others, Newport’s book may help you rethink your views on productivity and who actually adds and creates the most value on your team. Looking or being busy isn’t productive.

    We often overestimate what we can get done in a day, multitasking our way through them, but slow productivity might just be the way we can multiply the underestimation of what we can get done in a year and very well save our sanity in the process.

    As always, we are so appreciative of our clients and supporters. We are beyond blessed to do work we can all be productive and passionate about. Thank you for your trust in us and your willingness to innovate the workplace with us.

    We hope you enjoy our selection! Happy reading!

  • Beyond the Office: 7 Powerful Ways to Cultivate Your Identity Outside Your Career

    Beyond the Office: 7 Powerful Ways to Cultivate Your Identity Outside Your Career

    This week, we are thrilled to feature Guest Blogger, Mark Danaher. Mark is an Executive & Career Coach at Careers by Design and a good friend of Horizon Point. Originally published on LinkedIn, here is “Beyond the Office: 7 Powerful Ways to Cultivate Your Identity Outside Your Career”.

    “The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.” – Alice Walker.

    In a world where 55% of Americans define themselves primarily by their job, according to a 2014 Gallup poll, it’s crucial to pause and reflect: Are you more than your office role? This startling statistic reveals a dangerous trend in our society – the merging of personal identity with professional roles. While dedication to one’s career is admirable, allowing it to become the sole definition of who you are can lead to a precarious balancing act, leaving you vulnerable to burnout, stress, and a loss of self when faced with career changes or setbacks.

    As a career strategist and resume development expert, I’ve witnessed firsthand the pitfalls of over-identifying with one’s career. I’ve lived through it myself. For over 14 years, I served as a career counselor and coordinator at Manchester, pouring my heart and soul into helping others find their path. My role wasn’t just a job; it was who I was. Then, without warning, a new principal closed the career center, pulling the rug out from under me.

    Suddenly, I found myself adrift, grappling with a profound sense of loss. Who was I if not the career counselor? How could I introduce myself without my title? The burnout and stress that followed were overwhelming, and it took working with a coach to rediscover my purpose and reconnect with the world beyond my former role.

    This experience taught me a valuable lesson: while our careers can be a significant part of our lives, they shouldn’t define us entirely. In this article, we’ll explore seven powerful strategies to grow your identity beyond your career, ensuring that you’re not just surviving in your professional life, but thriving as a whole person.

    1. Quantify Your Life, Not Just Your Work

    In the professional world, we’re often taught to quantify our achievements. “Increased sales by 30%,” “Managed a team of 15,” “Reduced costs by $100,000.” These metrics are valuable on a resume, but what about quantifying the other aspects of your life?

    Challenge yourself to apply this same principle to your personal growth and hobbies. For example:

    – “Read 52 books in a year”

    – “Volunteered 100 hours at the local animal shelter”

    – “Learned to play 10 new songs on the guitar”

    By quantifying your personal achievements, you’re not only setting goals for yourself outside of work but also recognizing the value of your non-professional pursuits. This practice helps shift your focus from solely career-based accomplishments to a more holistic view of your capabilities and interests.

    2. Problem-Solving Beyond the Office

    Your ability to overcome challenges shouldn’t be limited to your professional life. Could you identify problems in your community or personal life and apply your problem-solving skills there? This helps others and reinforces that your value extends beyond your job title.

    For instance, if you notice a lack of green spaces in your neighborhood, you could:

    – Research urban gardening initiatives

    – Propose a community garden project to local authorities-. Organize volunteers and resources

    – Implement the project and measure its impact on the community

    By tackling issues outside of work, you’re demonstrating to yourself and others that your skills and initiative have a broader application. This can be especially powerful when facing career transitions or setbacks, as it reminds you of your inherent problem-solving abilities.

    3. Take Initiative in Personal Growth

    As you might go above and beyond in your career, apply that same initiative to your personal development. Set ambitious goals for yourself that have nothing to do with your job. This could involve:

    – Learning a new language

    – Training for a marathon

    – Starting a blog about a passion project

    – Taking up a challenging hobby like rock climbing or chess

    A study published in the Journal of Happiness Studies found that individuals who engaged in leisure activities reported higher levels of life satisfaction and lower levels of stress. By taking initiative in areas outside of work, you’re not only expanding your skillset but also building resilience and a more robust sense of self.

    4. Optimize Your Personal Time

    Efficiency shouldn’t be confined to the workplace. You can look for ways to streamline your personal life to make more time for the things that truly matter to you. This might include:

    – Meal prepping to save time during busy weekdays

    – Creating a capsule wardrobe to simplify your morning routine

    – Using productivity apps to manage household tasks and errands

    By optimizing your time, you’re freeing up space for activities that contribute to your identity outside of work. This could mean more time for family, hobbies, or self-care – all crucial elements of a well-rounded identity.

    5. Lead in Your Community

    Leadership is about more than managing teams at work. Look for opportunities to lead in your community or groups aligned with your interests. This could involve:

    – Coaching a youth sports team

    – Organizing a neighborhood watch program

    – Leading a book club or hobby group

    – Serving on the board of a local non-profit

    A 2018 Corporation for National and Community Service study found that volunteers have a 27% better chance of finding employment. However, the benefits extend far beyond career prospects. Community leadership allows you to develop new skills, build a diverse network, and make a tangible impact outside of your professional sphere.

    6. Apply Your Skills to Passion Projects

    Your professional skills have value beyond the workplace. Could you identify ways to apply these skills to projects or causes you’re passionate about? For example:

    – If you’re a marketing professional, offer your expertise to a local charity

    – If you’re an IT specialist, volunteer to teach coding to underprivileged youth

    – If you’re a financial advisor, start a blog offering budgeting tips for young adults

    By applying your skills in diverse contexts, you’re reinforcing that your abilities are part of who you are, not just what you do for a living. This can be particularly empowering during career transitions or when facing professional challenges.

    7. Cultivate Diverse Relationships

    Your network shouldn’t be limited to professional contacts. Actively seek out and nurture relationships with people from various walks of life. This might include:

    – Joining clubs or groups based on your hobbies

    – Attending community events or workshops

    – Volunteering for causes you care about

    – Participating in online forums or social media groups aligned with your interests

    A study published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships found that having a diverse social network contributes to greater life satisfaction and resilience. By building relationships outside of your professional circle, you’re creating a support system that isn’t tied to your career status.

    The Journey to a Holistic Identity

    Remember, growing your identity beyond your career is a journey, not a destination. It requires conscious effort and a willingness to step out of your comfort zone. As you implement these strategies, you likely find that your sense of self becomes more robust and resilient.

    Psychologist Dr. Susan David, author of “Emotional Agility,” offers this powerful insight: “The most resilient individuals and organizations aren’t the ones that don’t fail, they’re the ones that fail, learn, and thrive because of it.” By diversifying your identity, you’re building this resilience, preparing yourself to thrive regardless of professional ups and downs.

    My journey from career counselor to rediscovering my purpose taught me that our true value lies not in our job titles but in the unique combination of skills, passions, and experiences that make us who we are. By consciously cultivating your identity beyond your career, you’re not diminishing your professional self but rather enriching your whole self.

    As you progress, challenge yourself to assess the balance between your professional and personal identities regularly. Are you giving enough time and energy to your life outside of work? Are you recognizing and celebrating your non-professional achievements with the same enthusiasm as your career milestones?

    Remember, you are not your job title. You are a complex, multifaceted individual with the power to define yourself on your terms. By embracing this truth and actively working to grow your identity beyond your career, you’re not just safeguarding against professional setbacks – you’re opening yourself up to a richer, more fulfilling life.

    In the words of Roman philosopher Seneca, “As is a tale, so is life: not how long it is, but how good it is, is what matters.” Make your tale about more than just your career. Make it a story of growth, resilience, and the continuous discovery of who you truly are.

    Reach to me if you are struggling with your identity. Talk to Mark

    For similar content on what we call “wholepersonness” and work-life integration, check out these posts on The Point Blog:

  • My Six-Week Soul Sabbath

    My Six-Week Soul Sabbath

    When you think of a sabbatical from work, what comes to mind? I took a few minutes to write the first words that came to my mind. They were: breather, time off, soul rest, work-life balance and creative restoration.  As the newest member of the Horizon Point team, I was not as familiar with the term sabbatical like the rest of the ladies. 

    Rumor has it that in 2021 everyone was on Mary Ila’s back porch in a Monthly Mingle meeting, distracted, busy and burned out. A couple of our team members had been to the hospital with chest pains, and it was tangible how deeply everyone needed a “soul sabbath”. The next item on the agenda was sabbaticals for everyone. That meant 6 weeks of paid time off for mental, physical and spiritual restoration. The idea was that when everyone was full, they would be able to dedicate their best selves to the mission. Thus, the Horizon Point sabbatical was born.

    This year, for our second quarterly planning meeting, “Sabbaticals” was on the agenda. Apparently, everyone on the team had been busy juggling too many balls and the subject was brought up before we even got to it. Not being familiar with the art of sabbaticals, I had loads of questions. “So, we get paid for 6 weeks? You don’t check your emails? What about Insighlty-the CRM we use for our tasks? Are you sure?” Everyone on the team assured me that it was a wonderful experience and that it would be well worth it. So, I blocked off November 1-December 16th and as if I could read my own fortune, forecasted the most timely sabbatical I didn’t even know that I needed.

    You see, 8 weeks ago, I found out that I am expecting my second child. My husband and I had prayed for this baby, but I knew before trying that historically, pregnancy has not always been the easiest experience for me. Add in coming off anti depressants in July and the beginning of the perfect hormonal storm was brewed. Things that normally are a challenge or are exciting for me have invoked fear, and I could feel deep inside that I needed to be still. The next quote is from Mary Ila’s blog, The Surgeon General’s Warning and Professional Development.

    A week or so after the conversation with the pregnancy announcement, we have our monthly one-on-one. We talk through a lot of client work and potential work. It is kind of hectic. We have to call another team member in at one point to talk through an execution plan for a new client. 

    And as we usually do in one-on-ones, we spend some time talking about her professional development within the context of her needs and the company’s needs. 

    I can tell she is concerned about taking on too much during this season of her life where a new child will enter and in her current state where she just doesn’t feel good and she never knows when that may or may not hit. Thus are the joys of growing a human being inside you. 

    I think out loud and I can tell my thinking out loud may be overwhelming her. I even sometimes overwhelm myself with it.  

    So, I stop. I ask her to think about one thing she wants to grow in professionally. Just one.  I can tell she doesn’t want to stall her learning and growth, and she says as much, but she also wants some grace as she navigates what looks like a very different season coming up for her.  

    I don’t want her to stop learning and growing. I want her to continue to grow in her confidence and skills where she can continue to add value to the organization.  But I know she won’t do either of these things if she is overwhelmed. 

    I don’t think Mary Ila knew the impact that reading that in black and white had on me. During that meeting we discussed juggling too many balls but also the fact that there are bouncy balls and there are glass balls. Bouncy balls like professional development will do that just-bounce, but the glass balls like mental health are a little less resilient. So on my six week “Soul Sabbath” I plan to rest. Not to lay down (although that may be on the agenda too) but to rest my mind. To be still and to know. After all, God’s track record in my life is GOOD.

    If you are interested in learning more about how to create organizations where people thrive, please visit our Illuminate website at: https://horizonpointconsulting.com/illuminate/

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