Silence can at times seem uncomfortable and invite uncertainty. Does the speaker know what they are talking about; can they navigate and respond to challenging questions; why do they appear so nervous?  

How can silence be used strategically to your advantage? How can pausing for a brief moment, grant permission to 'soak' in what has been shared, set the stage for transitioning to the next point or even be used to reset or reframe your thoughts?  

We discuss the power of silence and how this can be effective for overcoming those dreaded 'filler words', control the rhythm and set the stage for you to shine as the subject matter expert - SME. A well-timed pause can also present an opportunity to emphasize key points and evoke emotion. Don't forget the impact of silence through your body language. 

To learn more about our soft skills training and public speaking coaching, visit appmeetup.com

Also look for our books and journals on Amazon, including our Public Speaking Book, Talk it Up: A Guide to Successful Public Speaking.  

How can taking time to reflect benefit your success journey? Effective leaders understand the value of self-reflection and actively incorporate it into their leadership practices.

In this episode, we will delve into the importance of introspection and the impact examination can have on leadership development. Leadership is not just about guiding others; leadership is also about personal growth through continuous assessment. By taking the time to reflect, leaders can identify both strengths and weaknesses, increase self-awareness, uncover blind spots, and discover patterns of behavior that may be impacting or contributing to their success. 

Leaders who prioritize self-reflection inspire their teams to adapt, embrace feedback and innovation, while expecting continuous improvement. Promote learning and growth by making self-reflection a regular part of your routine. 

A few examples of effective leaders who practice self-reflection include:

Microsoft Chairman and CEO, Satya Nadella.

Howard Schultz, former Chairman and CEO of Starbucks.

Oprah Winfrey, Media Producer and Philanthropist.

Investor, Founder of Bridgewater Associates, Ray Dalio.

To learn more about tools and resources to support your leadership goals, visit appmeetup.com

What should you know if you want to close 2024 strongly and ensure a great start to 2025? 

5 Things to know plus a Bonus:

1. Know your numbers.

2. Know what your ICP values. 

3. Do you need to refine your ICP? 

4. Automate 

5.Social Media

The Bonus centers around a focus on inspiring your buyers and making the journey easy for them.

Regardless of the responsibility level, every leader, team member and department within the organization must know the numbers that apply specifically to them. They need to understand how 'their part' impacts the overall success of the business.  

Perception is key for delivering expectations. How well do you know what your Ideal Client Profile (ICP) is? Consider the 80/20 rule and leverage your partnerships. Ride the momentum into 2025 with these keys.

To learn more about leadership, soft skills and coaching resources, visit appmeetup.com

Ask us about how you can take advantage of the flex dollars your organization provides to support continued education and growth.

The combination of having to navigate the ever-changing tech landscape with buying behavior preferences is transforming how organizations go to market. Trends reveal the importance of being able to engage your channel partners and develop a thriving channel community.

Jeffrey Taylor, Channel Strategy Leader at Lenovo lends his experience with building and supporting an innovative channel strategy and global partner ecosystem. 

Highlights include:

Over 80% of Lenovo’s revenue globally goes through the channel.

A focus on developing the Channel led to Lenovo 360, a framework built around the 3 Pillars of ‘Enable, Connect, & Grow.’

Creation of learning paths and certifications, with 38,000 new certifications in 2023.

Soon to launch their Lenovo 360 for MSPs and the importance of Lenovo TruScale.

Listening to the partner and adapting to support their journey.

Importance of storytelling and crafting the right narrative to create personal connection.

Jeffrey’s book, ‘Bigger Than The Widget: Building Meaningful Customer Relationships By Going Beyond Your Product’ and the connection to the V Foundation.

To learn more about Jeffrey, connect with him on LinkedIn or grab him at an upcoming Conference. Also visit lenovo.com to learn more about the partner community. Don’t forget to pick up his book on Amazon and other book distributors.  

No matter where you are on your growth journey, you can benefit from a community with like minded leaders and organizations. Specialized communities can help accelerate growth and increase networking and educational opportunities. 

Nancy Henriquez, Head of US Community with SuperOps speaks to the benefits for leaders and organizations who align themselves with a growing community. SuperOps is an AI-powered unified PSA-RMM platform for MSPs.

Highlights include:

Highs and lows of her leadership journey, including how being in the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program fueled her growth.

A success story about consolidation, savings and being in a better position to serve clients.

Partnership with Pax8.

Community resources including podcasts, forums and summits to provide education and networking.

Importance of personal development as a leader. 

Connect with Nancy on LinkedIn and visit superops.com/ and superops.com/demo?src=appmeetup for a free demo. 

When you think about the future and growth of technology, start by looking at the numbers. The data reflects a more agile, faster and consumer centric approach to winning. What do the latest trends and data say about your business? What does it mean for how you should approach the market? 

We are thrilled to highlight our partnership with lenovo with a special series, beginning with our friend Jay McBain, Chief Analyst for global channels at Canalys, a leading global technology market analyst firm with a distinct focus on channels, partnerships, alliances, and ecosystems. 

Highlights include:

Data and more data, reflecting the growth of technology.

The global economy with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $105 trillion with Tech and Telco making up 5%.

Cyber Security and Managed Services growing at 12%, with Managed Security at 15%.

Gen AI $158 Billion.

"One thing has always been constant. Where there's mystery, there's margin"

Lenovo awarded ‘Champion’ Status in Canalys Global Sustainable Ecosystems Leadership Matrix. 

Importance of exposing the world to his children and juggling travel schedules with Michelle.

Stay tuned for more content around our new partnership with Lenovo and make sure you are connected with Jay for his blogs and insights surrounding the IT industry, channel management, and some of his own life. Visit canalys.com/insights and jaymcbain.com/

When was the last time you thought about the impact of your organization’s brand? What about your own image? A strong brand and image builds trust and can leave a memorable impression; an impression that lends to what can be expected. This type of reputation translates into value. 

Lisa Shorr shares why it is important within the tech sector to know the strength of your brand. Lisa is a Speaker, Corporate Brand & Image Consultant and Owner of Secure Future Tech Solutions. 

Highlights include:

Her journey into technology and becoming an image consultant.

Shorr to Shine System as a framework.

B.R.A.N.D. Method which led to her soon to be released book, Your B.R.A.N.D; Unleashed. B.R.A.N.D stands for:

B – Professional Behaviors

R – Respect yourself, your corporate brand and your client’s brand

A – The Power of your Appearance 

N – Effective Networking 

D – Dynamic Dialogue 

Consistency is key and you have to set yourself apart from the “sea of sameness.”

The need for more female role models and allies. "It's important to have that empathetic view of what it means to be a woman in tech."

Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn and visit shorrsuccess.com to stay connected with her work and to sign up for information about her book release. For our listening audience, Lisa is offering a free report on how your company image could be costing your MSP money (shorrsuccess.com/msp-free-report/)

What's the recipe for building a winning team? As a leader, how can you inspire and bring the very best out of your team? We’re not talking about just hitting goals, but surpassing them.

No one wants to believe that their contributions are not being noticed or appreciated. They want to know that their knowledge, experience and skills are relevant, valued and necessary to the overall success of the organization. They want to be engaged, motivated and inspired!

Whether you're a seasoned manager, executive or relatively new to leadership, here are Five Ways you can engage and inspire your team:

1. Set Clear Goals

2. Encourage Autonomy

3. Provide Learning Opportunities

4. Reward System

5. Share Positive Feedback

Goals not only need to be set, they must also be clear and understood by every team member. 

Autonomy fosters the spirit of ownership & responsibility

When the budget gets tight, avoid the temptation to cut training and learning programs

Not all want to receive recognition the same way. Learn what motivates and encourages them. Reward system helps them to feel appreciated, work harder and strive for excellence

Feedback Loop with constructive feedback

Ask about how we can support your learning and growth initiatives with our resources and Mercury Platform.

Does your organization have a strategy for technology integration and how can this be integral to achieving superior productivity goals? What should you know before adoption and how can these tools help to optimize operations, enhance decision-making, and personalize customer experiences?

David Wright, Covenant Global’s SVP of Global Strategy shares his thoughts on the importance of developing an AI and Data Governance Strategy. Covenant Global is a woman-owned technology consulting firm that empowers organizations to excel in the digital age with comprehensive cloud technology, cybersecurity, and compliance solutions.

Some of the highlights include:

Leveraging AI Tools like Microsoft CoPilot can become a force multiplier, automating repetitive tasks and facilitating smoother workflows.

Developing an AI Strategy considering factors including desired outcomes, current skill level, necessary training and data readiness.

How he presents his company, 'It’s all about value.'

Interesting places he has lived.

Lessons learned from leaders including Barbara Corcoran

Connect with David on LinkedIn and visit covenant.global/ to learn more about how Covenant Global can become a great partner in your integration and adoption strategy. David is also sharing a free Copilot Readiness Assessment for our listening audience: covenant.global/services/copilot/

A strong foundation sets the stage for sustainable growth. Paramount to building a successful organization also requires perspective, grit and being able to align with the right partnerships. Lucas Diaz, CEO of Ludia Consulting shares how clarity of purpose, market and partnerships can lead to incredible results. Ludia Consulting is a minority-owned Microsoft Dynamics partner serving clients in industries including oil & gas energy, manufacturing, and professional services.

Highlights include:

Building upon a family heritage.

Impact of AI and technology, technical debt and elevating underserved communities.

Partnerships with AppMeetup and Microsoft helped to bring clarity, including their ICP. 

'Have a 100% reference ability rate' as a result of their focus on 'value, trust and communication.'

Upcoming special announcement with Microsoft and the launch of Ludia TV.

Connect with Lucas on LinkedIn and visit ludiaconsulting.com/