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Heading into 2024: Adapting for Updated Regulations

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The beginning of Q4 is always an exciting time for the C-Suite. With the year’s end in sight and Q1 right around the corner. It is prime time for leaders to reflect and position their strategies for the New Year.

Photo by Drew Beamer on Unsplash

Organizations that garner international attention need to remain aware of any regulatory requirement changes is an important step. The expanding improvements of AI and blockchain-backed tools has been an amazing benefit for streamlining. However, due to “insidious” capabilities and potential users of these tools, governments across the world have been discussing what the best policies will protect the safety of their populations.

Looking towards 2024, its looking like the United States, the EU and China are adapting akin regulations when it comes to Generative AI. The goal of adopting updated regulations to prevent any discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, religious belief, nationality, region, sex, age, or profession. Additionally, governments seem to agree that certain usage of the AI systems are unacceptable violations of rights, such as:

  • Cognitive behavioral manipulation
  • Social scoring
  • Real-time and remote biometric identification
  • False information

This presents an exciting opportunity for business leaders. With governments world-wide adopting similar regulations, managing operations in multiple countries will be less of a hassle. There are still aspects of overarching technological regulations that differ (ie – data ownership). It appears as if we are coming closer to finding a universal base for organizations to be able to operate globally.

Have you updated your organization’s policies in anticipation for these changes?

Do you have comments, questions, ideas, or suggestions? Share with us at: [email protected]

Reference links:

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/society/20230601STO93804/eu-ai-act-first-regulation-on-artificial-intelligence

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/society/20230601STO93804/eu-ai-act-first-regulation-on-artificial-intelligence

Nurturing Success: Gut Health and a Thriving Business

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While success relies on many factors, there’s a lesser known one that plays a significant role for both individuals and organizations: gut health. Surprisingly, the state of your gut can have a profound impact on your business’s well-being. Let us explore the fascinating connections between gut health and a well-functioning business.

The Gut-Brain Axis: A Closer Look

Before diving into the business aspect, let’s delve deeper into the science behind the gut-brain axis. This is the bidirectional communication network between our gut and brain, mediated by the central and enteric nervous systems. The gut contains millions of neurons and trillions of microbes, collectively known as the gut microbiome. This complex ecosystem not only affects our physical health but also plays a pivotal role in our business functions through:

  • strong mental clarity
  • effective decision making
  • mental and emotional well-being
  • stress and burnout reduction
  • maintenance of higher energy

Practical Tips for a Strong and Resilient Gut-Brain Axis

The significance of the gut-brain axis has been established, now let’s nurture a strong and resilient gut microbiome:

Mindful Eating & Hydration

Pay attention to your eating habits. Eating slowly and savoring your meals can improve digestion and overall well-being. Knowing when to properly hydrate is an often-overlooked step in making sure our body is well taken care of. At certain times our stomach is better equipped to receive than others. Drinking a few small sips, however, may prompt and ready the stomach to receive more.

Stress & Sleep

Chronic stress can disrupt the gut-brain axis. Implement stress-reduction techniques like deep breathing to support a balanced microbiome and clear thinking. Powering down screens and dimming house lights in anticipation can facilitate proper space creation for deep sleep.

Diverse Diet for a Diverse Microbiome

Just as a diverse team with various skills is valuable in business, a diverse diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fermented foods can promote a diverse gut microbiome. Different microbes thrive on different nutrients, so aim for variety in your meals. Probiotics and prebiotics can help nourish beneficial gut bacteria, (it is advised to do research and even consult with knowledgeable individuals for best practices).

Listen

Like one would with sound, “listening in” on our stomach may prove helpful in understanding what it next needs and its current status.

Each person’s makeup will differ, and so too will the essential and varying requirements, therefore it is important to understand your specific gut microbiome.

A Healthy Gut and a Successful Business

Now that we’ve taken care of our health, what lessons can we learn from our gut for our organizations?

Effective Decision-Making

Gut health influences our cognitive function and emotional stability. Similarly, a leader’s mental clarity and emotional intelligence are first in line for effective decisions.

Resilience and Adaptability

Just as a diverse microbiome helps the gut adapt to changing conditions, a diverse team with a range of skills and perspectives can help a business navigate challenges and seize opportunities. A well-rounded workforce enhances adaptability and resilience.

Long-Term Sustainability

Just as a balanced gut ecosystem wholistically promotes long-term health, a sustainable business model that considers practical, reputational, environmental, and economic factors is essential for longevity.

Language Input

There are essential inputs that our stomach uses on a regular basis, such as fresh produce.

This parallels essential statements like the Mission, Vision, and Cores [Values & Competencies] that hold fairly consistent even while adjusting over time.

There are inputs that our stomach enjoys at varying intervals, but not all the time, such as the cleansing acidic nature of lemon juice.

This parallels the curiosity and interest of your audience and community as stakeholder needs may adjust throughout a season or year.

A connection between gut health and business success may seem unconventional, but it highlights the importance of well-being in both personal and professional life. A thriving gut microbiome and a well-functioning business share more common traits than expected.

Success starts from the basics.

Do you have comments, questions, ideas, or suggestions? Share with us at: [email protected]

CxO Interview: Luke McNamara, CEO of Roman Sanford

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Katie Moran, Community Engagement Manager, recently sat down with Luke McNamara – CEO of Roman Sanford – to discuss overcoming challenges with business growth and recruiting & retaining employees in the Executive Protection Industry.

Photo provided by: Roman Sanford

Roman Sanford was founded in 2015 as an Executive Protection company and has grown to include: RS Strategic, a valet company – founded 2017, and the Roman Sanford Black Program, a Tactical Training Program – founded in 2018. Luke is an Air Force Veteran, an active Detective and member of the SWAT team. He also holds a BS in Business Management from Stony Brook University.

What inspired Roman Sanford?

Having military and law enforcement experience, and always having an unusual amount of motivation, work ethic, drive, and passion for security work, I knew I wasn’t just a worker. I knew I had the ability to create something special on my own, and so I did. Through strong relationships built with colleagues, mentors, peers, local community governments, and even competitors, I was able to develop Roman Sanford for what it is.

How did you break into the Security Industry?

I pretty much started doing security work when I was 18, bouncing! By 19 I joined the Air Force; I went into the Security Forces field and learned a lot about government security systems there. Following that, I went and finished out my Business degree at Stony Brook. I got into law enforcement after that. I was a patrol officer for 10 years, then got assigned to ESU (otherwise known as SWAT), and now, a full-time detective. Security and protection work have always been a part of my DNA.

Have you found your involvement in the town where Roman Sanford is headquartered has aided in your success?

Yes; I’d say it has definitely helped. I keep in touch with most people I meet and I’m constantly networking. I’ve always been that way. So, it was easier for me in that sense when I started the business because I started networking even more and just telling people what we do; people already liked me for what I stood for, my ethics and reliability from all the years they knew me prior to that. So, that definitely helped – amongst the other things, like, being in law enforcement and having a military background.

What have you found to be your biggest challenge?

One of the biggest challenges I have, as a Hamptons based company, has always been quality employee retention outside of the busy, hot season. We can keep these guys employed full-time throughout the summer. Then, we would hit this wall in the off-season where it was mostly part-time contract work. One of the things I implemented to combat that, is something I created “The Black Team.” They are our top guys who are carefully selected employees based on a multitude of criteria. They are kind of like our Delta Force (like within the US Army). They are our best assets, and ones I don’t want to lose to lack of work, so I implemented ways to keep them busy, and happy.

What tools have you found to help you manage the most?

That’s really difficult to say… The biggest tools/systems for me are those that help me recruit and retain top quality human capital. Human capital to me is everything. It’s made my company. Also, I’m a major networker, and I talk to people all the time. I’ve got a large social media presence. More specifically, Instagram, has been like my LinkedIn for networking with people and bringing people into the company. Also, we use a particular app for all of our scheduling, programming, and logistical support, which has aided us in so many ways.

How do you decide who to assign and do your clients request the same agents?

It depends on client feedback. Most of the time they like who we assign, and we have it in our contracts and through our tailored assessment with them, that if they’re unhappy with anyone, we’ll pull the agent immediately. We don’t really get that, however. We carefully select who is going where, to do what, based on many things. Experience is one thing. Though, for instance, does the client have a lot of threats against them? Like, more of your celebrity type where you need a large human-being to constantly help keep people physically back? This is more bodyguard style work. Or, is it a big tech CEO who is more low-profile, no one really knows him, but he’s worth a billion dollars and he still needs protection for certain other reasons? In that case, we might pair him/her with executive protection agents which are, maybe, former intelligence officers, law enforcement, former special forces, etc, who can kind of keep a more low-profile presence, while still protecting them in a multitude of ways other than “physically.” Selection for these details is based on various criteria.

How would you define your company culture?

It’s very much so a team effort and team-oriented. We have an awesome team. I’ve always been a huge team player. I like people being involved. Money has never been the driving factor for me with the company, and it probably never will be. It’s always been about the brand reputation, and where people love working alongside me and my guys. That’s the main thing for me – the brand. People love working with our team, and we do the little things to keep everyone stoked to be here. We do a lot to keep our guys connected, even in the off-season. We created our own Brazilian ju-jitsu club that’s called the RS Grappling Club, that meets once a week. It’s things like that, the team things.

How do you keep your agents trained and up to date?

We have strategic partnerships with other major training companies. Our #1 partner is Progressive Force Concepts out of Las Vegas. I’ve been with them for years now. Steve Chrisdeck is the CEO. He’s been a close friend of mine for a while now. What I established is, if you want to be on the Black Team and work alongside the world’s 1% clients that we have, they have to go throw certain trainings. One of them is an executive protection development concept course that Progressive Force Concepts hosts, and they have one of the only internationally recognized certification courses for executive protection. To be on the Black Team, that is the steppingstone. I fund the training. Then year to year, I keep record of their training and rotate them out, so they are a well-rounded package.

What are you looking forward to in 2024?

Every year we are on the incline. One of the other challenges for me has been managing that business incline and scale. I’m not a one-man army and the only way it can operate the way it can is with the people under me. It’s funny, every year I seem to be hiring more people for different positions and different things, and then we scale even more than projected. So, it’s like a constant catch-up game. I’m hoping by 2024 it’s a little more automated while maintaining quality control. I’m hoping to get to a little more automated myself so that I can focus on more of the business development as we go.

What advice would you have for anyone trying to break into Executive Protection?

The experience and having a background does matter – for Roman Sanford, you have to have done a number of years either in the security industry, military, or law enforcement, to qualify for EP. But the biggest thing is really that you just have to have the drive to stay the course. The future, especially for what we do, is always an unknown. EP work can be very demanding. Stay humble, stay the course, and respect the industry. The 1% world is a small one and that’s what a lot of people don’t understand; you can mess up once and it can sink you and your reputation in the EP industry. You never know who you’re talking to, that’s why I say respect everyone (competitors included). There’s plenty of work out there for all.

To learn more about Luke McNamara and Roman Sanford, visit: https://www.romansanford.com/

Do you have comments, questions, ideas, or suggestions? Share with us at: [email protected]

Interested in being featured in one of our CxO Interviews? Email: [email protected]

Customer Feedback: Know Your Stakeholders

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Harness and cherish these relationships. Understand them authentically & strategically, and you will catapult your business beyond your current bounds.

89916192 © Publicdomainphotos | Dreamstime.com

Before we begin, let’s set our minds to the right mindset.

What are the most important questions of interest to your organization?

What is the most essential information to gather that will allow your organization to relate to your customers in the most natural way?

Let’s jump into some strategy:

1. Systematic Feedback Collection

Begin with setting up systematic feedback channels. Embrace a multi-faceted approach, including surveys, emails, social media, responsive customer support, and customer tailored approaches. Employ cutting-edge tools and software to streamline data collection and organization.

2. Intelligent Data Analysis

Your customer data analysis will give you keys to your market. Regularly dive into the data to uncover recurring themes and patterns. Categorize feedback into various types, ranging from glowing testimonials to constructive criticisms and feature requests. This initial step lays the foundation for prioritization.

3. Prioritization Excellence

Every piece of feedback is not created equal. Employ sophisticated frameworks like the Impact-Ease Matrix to prioritize feedback based on potential impact and ease of implementation. The key here is to focus on feedback that aligns with your overarching business goals and addresses your customers’ most pressing needs.

4. Clear Objectives Setting

Define your objectives explicitly. Be crystal clear about what you aim to achieve with the customer feedback you’ve gathered. Whether it’s improving product quality, elevating customer support, or bolstering customer retention, setting concrete objectives is essential.

5. A Strategic Action Plan

With objectives in place, create a meticulous action plan. Assign responsibilities and set deadlines for each task. A well-structured plan ensures that you can execute the necessary changes systematically.

6. Effective Implementation

Now, it’s time to put your plan into motion. Step by step, execute your action plan. Test and measure the impact of each change you make. This iterative approach ensures that the adjustments align with your goals and produce positive results.

7. Transparent Communication

Transparently communicate your progress to both your internal team and external stakeholders. Celebrate successes and acknowledge challenges along the way. Effective communication fosters collaboration and keeps everyone motivated.

8. Continuous Monitoring

Change is an ongoing process. Continuously monitor the results of your feedback-driven initiatives. Key metrics and customer satisfaction should be a continued focus. Be ready to adjust based on ongoing feedback and data analysis.

9. Educating Your Team

Ensure that your team members are well-versed in the art of utilizing customer feedback. Invest in training and cultivate a culture of customer-centricity within your organization. Feedback requires a whole team effort to be received properly and acted upon effectively.

10. Proactive Engagement

Don’t just wait for feedback to come to you. Actively seek it out. Use predictive analytics and customer behavior analysis to anticipate potential issues or needs. Being proactive ensures that you stay ahead of the curve.

11. Automation for Efficiency

Streamline your feedback collection and initial analysis processes through automation tools. This frees up valuable time for more strategic actions, enabling you to focus on what truly matters.

12. Seek Expert Advice

When faced with challenging or unfamiliar feedback scenarios, don’t hesitate to seek expert advice or consult with industry peers. Expert insights can often provide valuable guidance.

13. Avoid Over-analysis

While thorough analysis is critical, guard against the trap of overanalyzing every piece of feedback. Remember, action and iteration can sometimes be more valuable than striving for perfection.

14. Learning from Experience

Reflect on both your successes and failures in feedback-driven initiatives. The lessons learned will be your guideposts for future feedback handling processes.

15. Scaling and Expanding

As you become more adept at harnessing customer feedback, consider broadening your horizons. Expand your feedback collection methods and engage with a larger audience.

What’s this all for? Why invest here?

All stakeholders are important to get to know, & each stakeholder category/type brings a unique addition to the table. The more we add value to & get to know the needs of the customers, the more secure all parties will be in heading towards a bright, fruitful, and lucrative future.

[Additionally, for executives and leadership looking to innovate on their workplace, viewing your employees as a type of customer* is a tested strategy to better understand and upgrade your internal operations. (*in other language, apply these principles as well to the employee stakeholder category)]

Customer feedback is an invaluable resource waiting to propel your business to new heights. The key is to strike a balance between listening to your customers and taking well-planned action. Take time & learn to leverage feedback effectively to drive sustainable growth. Those who truly listen to their customers are the ones who thrive. As customers feel heard, a two-way relationship becomes stronger and revealed. Real connection to your purpose and brand has been cemented.

Loyalty and positive reputation will often help customers break through inconveniences in order to continue doing business with you.

Do you have comments, questions, ideas, or suggestions? Share with us at: [email protected]

Your Board Position is Waiting for You

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Looking to join the board of directors?

Enjoy this free resource, a branding guide [https://resources.pointroadgroup.com/board-director-branding-guide] thanks to Alyssa Gelbard and the Point Road Group.

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This resource was released to help expand your career!

Our friends at the Point Road Group are experts in helping you deliver your message to plant your key points that you want people to hold onto. Additionally, they come with a deep understanding of the mediums involved to deliver the messages themselves.

Here is an excerpt directly from the branding guide

“Stand out as a strong board candidate with a personal brand that sends the right message and creates the right impression.

Be able to clearly articulate why you want to serve on a board and what value you bring to the boardroom.

Focus on board-relevant experience including things like corporate strategy, financial performance, governance and creating shareholder value.”

There are many reasons to join a board of directors including gaining experience guiding an organization, further building your network, furthering an initiative you connect to, and earning more income.

Point Road Group is a personal branding firm that helps companies make better brand impressions through their people. They sharpen how employees present themselves in-person and virtually, so they always demonstrate brand excellence. Their programs educate and train your team now and for the future, so as your company continues to evolve and grow, your brand and people are set up for success.

Alyssa Gelbard and The Point Road Group understand that Brands Begin With People.

Do you have comments, questions, ideas, or suggestions? Share with us at: [email protected]

Contact us and let’s get started!