Leadership in the Age of AI: 5 Essential Skills Every Leader Must Master
Artificial Intelligence is no longer an innovation strategy. It is operational reality. In 2026, AI writes proposals before your team does. It forecasts revenue before finance finalizes projections. It screens candidates before HR reads a résumé. It answers customers before sales picks up the phone. Decisions that once took days now take minutes. Reports that required teams now require prompts. Entire workflows are being compressed, automated, and optimized in real time. The question is no longer whether organizations will use AI. The real question is this: Can leaders keep up with the speed it demands? Because while AI accelerates execution, it also magnifies leadership gaps. It exposes an unclear strategy.It amplifies weak alignment.It reveals cultural fragility. Technology is moving fast—leadership must move faster. 1. Strategic Clarity in a Data-Overloaded World In 2026, leaders are not lacking tools. They are drowning in options. Dashboards update by the second, and AI now goes beyond analytics: it predicts pipeline conversion, flags at-risk deals, recommends next steps, and even drafts follow-up outreach. Yet many sales teams still feel scattered—targets shift, priorities change, and everyone is busy, but not always aligned. This is the paradox of the AI era: while AI delivers unprecedented insights, predictions, and data, more intelligence alone does not guarantee better decisions. High-performing leaders recognize the distinction: AI generates insights, but leaders set direction. Without disciplined processes and human judgment guiding AI’s outputs, even the smartest tools cannot ensure better outcomes. Without a clearly defined strategic intent, data becomes noise. Teams chase trends instead of building momentum. They optimise activity instead of driving outcomes. Reed Hastings did not scale Netflix by chasing every media trend. He made a bold strategic decision to pivot from DVD rentals to streaming—even when it meant disrupting his own profitable model. Later, he committed to original content production while competitors hesitated. The clarity of direction allowed technology to accelerate growth rather than dilute focus. Jensen Huang did not position NVIDIA at the center of the AI revolution by reacting impulsively to hype. For years, he stayed committed to a long-term conviction: accelerated computing would shape the future. Instead of diversifying aimlessly, NVIDIA doubled down on GPU innovation and AI infrastructure. When AI demand exploded, the company was already prepared. In both cases, clarity preceded acceleration. In a VUCA environment—volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous—clarity is not a luxury. It is a competitive advantage. Practically, this means sales leaders must: This is why our Do What Matters Most program is even more relevant today. Productivity is not about maximising output. It is about concentrating effort on high-leverage actions that move revenue, relationships, and results. In the age of AI, everyone can move fast. Few move with direction. And direction determines performance. 2. Human-Centric Influence in a Digital-First Economy As automation accelerates, human connection becomes more valuable—not less. By 2026, AI can qualify leads, analyse buying signals, personalise proposals, and even simulate negotiation responses. But it cannot replace trust. It cannot replace emotional nuance. And it cannot replace the credibility that comes from authentic leadership presence. Leaders who win in this era understand a simple truth: technology scales efficiency, but influence scales impact. Marc Benioff didn’t position Salesforce at the center of the cloud and CRM revolution by merely launching powerful technology. From the beginning, he has consistently emphasized that trust with stakeholders—including employees, customers, partners, and communities—is foundational to the company’s success. Rather than relying on technology alone, Benioff has made relationship capital a core strategic priority, reinforcing that trust and stakeholder confidence are decisive in building and sustaining long‑term growth. Inside sales organisations, this shows up clearly. Teams equipped with automation still struggle when conversations lack depth. Deals stall when stakeholders feel unheard. Talent disengages when leaders rely solely on dashboards instead of dialogue. Human-centric leadership means: Programs such as Winning Others Over (WOO) focus on enhancing influence so leaders can influence effectively and powerfully with customers, colleagues, and stakeholders. Participants develop skills to measure and harness their “Influence Factor,” adapt communication to different personalities, build trust, and negotiate collaboratively—ensuring strong business outcomes that benefit everyone while strengthening relationships. In an AI-powered world, influence is the differentiator. Leaders who master it will outperform those who rely purely on systems. 3. Adaptive Decision-Making Under Uncertainty The half-life of strategy is shrinking. Markets shift faster. Consumer behaviour evolves unpredictably. Regulations change overnight. AI models themselves update constantly, meaning what worked last quarter may not work next. In this environment, rigid leadership fails, and adaptive leadership wins. Leaders who continuously adjust strategies, respond to emerging signals, and embrace flexibility are the ones who turn disruption into opportunity. Lou Gerstner’s turnaround of IBM demonstrated this powerfully. When he stepped in as CEO in the early 1990s, IBM was deeply rooted in a hardware-centric identity that was losing relevance. Rather than defending legacy success, Gerstner pivoted the organization toward services and integrated solutions, reorganizing around customer needs and long-term relevance instead of product lines alone. It was not comfortable, but it was necessary to revive one of the world’s largest technology companies. Modern leaders must develop the same agility. Adaptive decision-making means: In sales teams, this translates to dynamic pipeline management, flexible engagement strategies, and rapid objection handling as market sentiment shifts. Our Problem Solving and Decision Making program develops these capabilities by helping professionals identify barriers to effective problem solving, uncover the root causes of challenges, generate creative solutions, and make confident decisions even in high-stakes or uncertain situations. Participants learn to validate ideas, innovate processes, reduce costs, and influence outcomes, turning complex problems into opportunities for growth. In 2026, the strongest leaders are not those who predict perfectly. They are those who respond intelligently. 4. Data Fluency Without Losing Judgment AI can provide recommendations. It cannot assume accountability. One of the most dangerous leadership mistakes today is blind automation dependence. When leaders outsource thinking entirely to algorithms, critical reasoning weakens. When teams rely only on predictive scoring, they risk losing contextual understanding. Strong leaders develop data fluency—not data dependency. They know
The Top 5 Habits of High Performing Teams
We’ve all been in situations where the deal looks secure. Your proposal is strong. Client conversations have been positive. You and your team believe the close is near. Then momentum fades. Decisions stall. Priorities shift. The deal quietly disappears. This scenario has become increasingly common—not because sales teams lack effort or talent, but because many organizations are still operating with yesterday’s sales habits in today’s V.U.C.A. reality. We now sell in environments that are Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous. Markets shift faster than planning cycles. Decision-making is fragmented across multiple stakeholders. Budgets are scrutinized more tightly. Buyers are better informed and far more cautious. In this landscape, personality, persistence, and pressure tactics are no longer enough. From our experience in empowering sales teams across complex markets, one truth is clear: Today’s sales performance is driven by the right habits and rhythm. Highly successful sales teams don’t react emotionally to uncertainty. They operate with clarity, discipline, and leadership habits that keep opportunities moving forward, even when conditions are out of their control. Here are five habits that consistently separate top-performing sales teams from the rest. Habit 1: They Build Strong Sales Foundations Before Chasing Results High-performing sales teams understand a simple but often overlooked truth: Sustainable performance starts internally before it shows externally. In V.U.C.A. conditions, pressure is constant. Targets remain aggressive while buyers delay decisions. Competition intensifies. Deals collapse late in the cycle. Without internal resilience, sales professionals direct energy emotionally rather than strategically. Many salespeople enter the profession focused purely on outcomes–quotas, commissions, rankings. But without the proper mental discipline and emotional control, even high-potential performers struggle to sustain consistent momentum. Rejections feel personal. Delays feel like failure. Motivation becomes inconsistent. Top-performing teams take a different approach. Before pushing harder on pipelines or closing velocity, they strengthen the people behind the numbers. They invest in personal sales mastery–in developing emotional resilience, confidence, discipline, and professional sales identity. Sales professionals learn to separate effort from outcome, manage rejection constructively, and maintain composure even when deals stall or fall apart. Common habits include: The result is not just better sales outcomes, but stable, credible professionals that buyers trust. In uncertain environments, calm consistency builds confidence. A Real-World Transformation Sales Teams Can Learn From When Alan Mulally became CEO of Ford Motor Company, the company was on the brink of collapse. Internal silos were deeply entrenched, leaders avoided admitting problems, and teams protected their own divisions instead of solving issues together. Despite strong talent, Ford struggled to execute cohesively. Mulally didn’t start by demanding immediate revenue gains or cutting deeper targets. Instead, he focused on reshaping Ford’s internal culture around transparency, accountability, and collaboration. Leaders were encouraged to surface problems openly, share data honestly, and work together across departments to solve them. As trust and alignment improved internally, Ford’s external performance followed. Product development accelerated, quality improved, and sales teams were able to engage customers with clearer value and greater confidence. Ford avoided bankruptcy during the financial crisis and emerged stronger, more unified, and more competitive. The turnaround wasn’t driven by pressure alone. It was driven by a shift in mindset. The lesson is clear: when teams change how they work together, performance changes how the market responds. Why This Matters More Today In the past, product knowledge and persuasive ability alone could close deals. Today’s buyers are already informed before meeting sales professionals. They compare options, seek peer advice, and delay decisions cautiously. Sales professionals now operate through longer decision cycles, shifting budgets, and multiple stakeholders, all while sustaining monthly performance pressure. Without internal resilience, pressure becomes overwhelming and motivation becomes inconsistent. With resilience, challenges remain manageable and professionalism remains stable regardless of short-term outcomes. Sales success today depends less on pushing harder and more on staying steady longer. Impact on Sales Performance When teams build strong internal foundations, performance stabilises. Sales professionals enter meetings with confidence and composure, stay motivated through prolonged sales cycles, and remain productive even when deals slow or stall. Results become less volatile, and momentum becomes intentional rather than emotionally driven. Programs like our signature program, The DNA of a Sales Superstar, focus on developing true sales mastery—starting with helping individuals understand their belief systems, selling skills, and natural selling dispositions. Together, these elements form a salesperson’s sales identity. The objective is not just to sharpen technique, but to develop sales professionals who can perform consistently under pressure. In modern selling, success rarely begins with tactics. It begins with the right mindset. Habit 2: They Operate With Structure and Measurable Discipline In volatile markets, many sales teams often become reactive in order to meet targets. Deals are chased late. Pipelines become unclear. Forecasts rely on optimism rather than historical, empirical evidence. High-performing teams eliminate this kind of guesswork. They build structure into how sales happens, from prospecting and qualification to pipeline reviews and coaching. Discipline becomes their rhythm. Opportunities are reviewed early. Risks surface sooner. Managers coach with data, not assumptions. Sales success becomes repeatable and scalable. Structured sales teams operate with: The result is predictable sales results instead of quarter-end scrambling. A Real-World Transformation Sales Teams Can Learn From When Lou Gerstner became CEO of International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) in the 1990s, the company was close to collapse. IBM’s sales divisions operated in silos, competing internally rather than serving customers collectively. Sales efforts were fragmented, and clients experienced inconsistent engagement. Gerstner reorganized IBM around customer solutions rather than product lines. Sales teams were aligned under unified account management structures, creating discipline and coordination across divisions. Instead of pushing products independently, teams began offering integrated solutions. Sales processes became structured, measurable, and customer-focused. IBM returned to profitability and rebuilt enterprise trust globally. The transformation did not happen through aggressive selling. It happened through operational discipline. Why This Matters More Today VUCA environments punish unstructured operations. Without discipline, stalled deals go unnoticed until it’s too late. Structured teams adapt faster, spot risks earlier, and sustain momentum even when markets fluctuate. Impact on Sales Performance Teams
7 Tips to Be More Productive In The Workplace
We’ve all been part of the hustle and bustle, whether it’s in our workplaces or dealing with deadlines. To top it off, we face many additional challenges given the current circumstances around the pandemic. No matter how hard we try to make efficient use of our time or strive for productivity, it can be tough meeting all your goals sometimes. Maybe you’ve subconsciously cultivated some work habits–good or bad–that make it challenging to maximise your productivity. That’s normal, and completely human! While you cannot become more productive overnight, you can certainly work on forming some disciplines that help the process more effectively. All good things come with patience, hard work, and dedication. First, before we begin, I’d like to state that there are so many ways to help us sort out our priorities and streamline our workflow. For example, I’m a fan of using self-help resources and productivity apps to help keep me on the right track. To be honest, I’ve found that there is little merit when it comes to limiting the mind to a one size fits all approach. What may work best for someone else may not be what you need. Secondly, I, too, have found it hard to hit the sweet spot of productivity. But after a couple of trials and plenty of error, I’ve learned what worked best when it comes to jumping back on the productivity wagon. So with that, here are some steps and tricks from a fellow employee in our fight against distraction. Here are 7 tips to be more productive in the workplace: 1. Get organised As someone who works in a fast-paced environment, I can attest to the essentiality of order. Getting organised shouldn’t be a stressful task; instead, it should bring you a sense of peace and ease, which becomes feasible with a little bit of work and time. At the end of each day, spend some time decluttering, sorting, and prioritising tasks for the next day. Doing this allows you to be better organised before the next day to avoid feeling overwhelmed the first thing in the morning. Plus, removing clutter, be it physical or digital, has other perks too. Since clutter can cause stress because it’s an excessive visual stimulus, it sends a signal to our brains that our work is never done and creates guilt, anxiety, and feeling overwhelmed. Being organised is more than just having a tidy, physical workspace. One of the biggest challenges is organising and managing your time. In fact, it’s proven that if you spend 10-12 minutes planning your day, you’ll save up to two hours of time that would have otherwise gone to waste. That’s two extra hours to work on things that matter! 2. Tackle the most important task first Contrary to what you feel is more comfortable and easier to do, it’s best to prioritise the highest impact and daunting tasks. There’s a saying that goes, “eat the frog”. Mark Twain once said “If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. And if it’s your job to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the biggest one first.”. The most important to-dos are often your most challenging task that requires the most energy and focus. Moreover, when you procrastinate, it can often lead to them being harder to begin. Although we all know that all working hours vary, we can agree on one thing. Employees tend to work the hardest from 9 AM to 12 PM. After this time, productivity tends to drop significantly. I know I definitely struggle to stay awake after lunch sometimes. That’s why it’s best to tackle it first thing in the day before those other less-important-but-more-urgent things get in the way. Not a morning person? That’s also fine. The same principle applies to any time of the day that you feel energised, focused and productive. You ought to take full advantage of your best work hours, whether that be morning or night. When that time comes, do your most important task first. 3. Find a system that works best for you. As I mentioned before, what works best for someone, might not necessarily work well for you, so find a system that works best. We’re all diverse in our thought, characters, and approach to doing things, regardless of our background or industry. Everyone has different goals, preferences and priorities. However, trying out what other successful people have tried and tested is a good place to start. Remember that hundreds of factors can impact our productivity in the workplace. The tools you use each day, the people you surround yourself with and even your work environment. For example, if you’re not a morning person, you might find that you have different hours to be productive at your work. Furthermore, you know where your gaps lie. Some might find listening to music at work helps them focus and be productive, whilst you find it distracting. Know what works well from others, try and test it, and keep the ones that benefit and are suited to you. 4. Don’t multitask Upon research, studies have shown that multitasking makes us less efficient and more prone to errors. The hard truth to multitasking is that the rapid shifting of tasks and topics does not allow the brain to retain the information or apply it efficiently. According to a neurologist, “When we think we’re multitasking, most often we aren’t doing two things at once, but instead, we’re doing individual actions in rapid succession or task-switching.” One study found that just 2.5% of people can multitask effectively. That means for the rest of us, we’re not effectively using our time and work when we multitask. The cost of multitasking leads to a reduction in productivity, which defeats the initial purpose of why we multitask in the first place. So let’s stop trying to do everything at once. Instead, let’s give our tasks the full attention they require to increase productivity, one job at a time. 5. Keep a distraction
Why Tone of Voice Is Important For Your Brand
Every word you put into your content, website, social media and marketing collateral defines how your business is perceived. Writing can emphasise who you are as a brand through the blogs on your website or product descriptions. However, content alone won’t build you long-lasting customer relationships. It’s all in how you engage your audience by having a tone of voice in your copywriting. So whether you like it or not, writing is branding. In this blog, we’ll share about: What is ‘Tone of Voice’? It’s what you choose to describe your brand’s personality and values to your audience, and it remains consistent across all the content you create. The tone, however, is changeable to convey different attitudes. It adds flavour to your voice and keeps your content fresh. Your brand can have one voice as well as many different tones to refine that voice. Your tone of voice plays a significant role in brand identity. Think of it like this, your content as the “what” and your tone of voice as the “how”. As different purposes call for other measures, your tone of voice may vary from time to time. Now, what does that mean for your business and brand? How can your company benefit from a clear and defined tone of voice? Considering how crowded the digital landscape is, there’s chatter from both businesses and individuals alike. Everyone is competing to differentiate and stand out in the crowd. Moreover, there’s just so far you can go with a great logo, content and product features. Instead, you need to give your written content as much attention and consistency as the other elements of your brand profile. Why you need a tone of voice for your brand 1. Establishes your brand2. Builds trust3. Creates an emotional connection with your audience (humanises your brand)4. Keeps your messaging fresh5. Gives you a competitive edge Establishes your brand The most memorable brands that pop up in our minds are often the more established brands, with a distinct logo, story and personality behind the brand. Imagine your brand identity as a person, each having their own conversational quirk, personality and style flair. When you identify a clear tone of voice for your brand, people will come to find it trustworthy and dependable. How can you achieve that? Start by establishing consistent communication and tailor your messages to reflect your brand’s image while simultaneously addressing your customers’ needs. Don’t forget to be authentic and genuine, as well! In fact, 86 percent of consumers say that authenticity is important when deciding what brands they like and support. Around 91 percent of consumers have stated that they would prefer to buy from an authentic brand, and 63 percent of buyers surveyed would buy from an authentic brand over a brand that isn’t perceived as honest. That’s a large percentage of consumers that prefer authenticity over what you think they want to hear! While it’s no surprise that authenticity builds trust and trust increases sales, many brands still diverge from their brand identity. Whether inauthenticity is intentional or not, many consumers can sniff out even the tiniest missteps, and that alone can turn into the biggest debacles, like Everlane’s promises about transparency. So, bear in mind about being truthful with your customers–own up to any mistakes made and avoid sugar coating. My advice is to care about your consumers and remain true to your brand’s core values. Be communicative and understand your customers’ needs. And don’t forget to deliver messages that are relevant to your buyers. To stand out among your competition, focus on establishing your brand personality and building authentic relationships with your audience. Builds trust Have you ever heard this saying, “trust is earned”? It is not given, nor can it be bought, which leads me to build trust vital to a brand. To prove your brand’s “why” to convince people to buy, believe, and promote your brand, you must first gain your consumers’ trust. Building brand trust will also grow loyalty, engagement and advocacy amongst your customers, which means trust can drive sales. That’s why it’s imperative to use your tone of voice to express your brand identity with transparency when communicating with your customers because that will earn their trust better over time. Building trust and relationships with your customers encompasses way more than customer service and mere interactions with them. Instead, building relationships is about the concept of shared values. Since everything you do is a form of communication to your customers, there are plenty of ways to express your brand’s philosophy and better gain trust and resonate with people. A study by Harvard Business Review found that of the consumers who said they have a brand relationship, 64% cited shared values as the primary reason. No matter the industry or audience, we should remember that building and maintaining brand trust isn’t easy or guaranteed. It takes transparent messaging, consistency and authenticity in understanding and communicating with your audience. That being said, brands must instil and build a trustworthy tone of voice into every piece of content they create. Even mistakes and hiccups from your organisation can turn into a great opportunity to build trust if you get it right. Mainly because the trend for honesty and transparency is still going strong in today’s day and age. Creates an emotional connection with your audience Although everything has moved towards digitalisation, it’s still nice to have a personal touch with people in our interactions. Knowing that we live in a digitally connected but socially disconnected world, brands with a distinct tone of voice can connect emotionally with their audience. It gives people the feeling that there is a human voice behind the content. With the right style, you can elicit a range of emotions from your readers. Another thing worth mentioning is the importance of engaging with people through emotions. According to the Harvard Business Review, emotionally connected customers are more than twice as valuable as highly satisfied customers. These customers buy more of your products and services, visit you often, follow your advice, recommend you
Instagram Shopping: Why It’s Essential For Your Brand
Social shopping…it seems like one of the biggest buzzwords for businesses lately. Many successful brands have moved into the world of social commerce when we take a look at popular platforms like Instagram. It makes sense if you take a minute to think about it–most customers are on social media platforms constantly. It’s a natural inclination for most of us; the desire to keep up with our friends or stay updated on the latest trends, news, products, and etc. Brands that understand their customers and their actions understand that social shopping is so much more than what it is upon first glance. It’s a blend of social media and online shopping. Mostly, it’s revolutionizing the way we shop. By shifting your customers’ entire shopping experience to social, marketing and branding has a greater chance of transforming it as a direct gate for sales. On your best days, it may be the best base to grow your following and sales. For users, it allows them to experience a seamless shopping journey, from consideration to conversion. 90% of Instagram users follow business accounts, and 60% of Instagram users have reported that they find new products on Instagram. Interestingly enough, 30% of online shoppers say they would be more likely to make a purchase from a social media network. What is Social Shopping? Social shopping, in its most simplistic form, is a dialogue between you and your customer about your brands and products. This act of using social media to discover reviews and recommendations about certain products (regardless of whether its introduction is intentional or happenstance) can be both a challenge and an advantageous opportunity for companies. Now, you’re probably wondering: why should I care? Paves the Way for a Better Shopping Experience If you’re looking for ways to grow your online revenue stream, the best place to start is on your Instagram account. There’s a big chance that people are already talking about you on social media. Your customers may be using their platform to compare your products and share their opinions with their peers. This can be a powerful medium in which you can contribute to the dialogue. 56% of Instagram users follow brands on social media to see their products, which also means they’re ready to purchase within the app itself. With over 87% of people saying that social media platforms help them decide what to buy, it certainly gives brands a way to complete the entire buyer’s journey in one fell swoop. Helps Build Customer Loyalty and Authenticity Another way that Instagram helps businesses increase potential buyers is by providing the necessary analytics for brands to understand how they can build authentic trust among their audience and community. By utilizing social listening and big data analytics, marketers can infer their target audience’s preferences and motivations. Information like this could increasingly become an essential component in bridging the gap between marketing and sales. Generates Brand Awareness A crucial aspect of Instagram’s social marketing dexterity is its inherent ability to generate rapid brand and product awareness, especially when influencers are added to the mix. According to Digital Marketing Institute, 49% of consumers depend on influencer recommendations when making purchase decisions. Instagram aids by allowing influencers to add a checkout feature on their sponsored posts. When you combine the clout of influencers with the accessibility of Instagram’s Checkout on every part of the app, you’ll have an integrated tool that allows sales to grow through a marketing channel. Personalized Product Suggestions Lead to Higher Conversion Rates The great thing about Instagram shopping is that it only shows your products that are for your targeted audience. Imagine being able to walk into a store where everything was curated exactly according to your tastes. Due to Instagram’s thorough algorithm–which is all based on previous engagement of other users–you’ll be able to offer products to the customers who are more likely to purchase them. Essentially, it’s safe to assume that if a user stumbles upon your purchasable posts located in their Instagram Shop feed, there’s a viable opportunity of converting new (or old!) customers. The Bottom Line The strategies of bolstering online sales are evolving. Today, many customers are now shifting their buying behavior toward Instagram, where the beloved social platform makes shopping effortless and quick. As more and more businesses restructure their sales and marketing strategies to include social shopping, it’s suffice to say utilizing channels like Instagram will be imperative in aiding brands in reaching their target audience, building brand awareness, fostering customer relations, and boost eCommerce sales. With the large number of daily active Instagram users, it’d be an agile move to begin your own social shopping strategy!
Social Media Shopping and How It Influences Us
What is social media shopping? Is it social media marketing? Social media shopping, also known as social commerce, refers to the process of selling products directly to consumers on social media. To clarify it differs from social media marketing, which often uses content to drive traffic to websites or boost brand awareness. Rather, it involves having the entire shopping experience occur within the social media platform. For example, brands and businesses can set up online storefronts through the platform where consumers shop directly, rarely having the need to leave the app. They can browse through curated collections by brands, learn about their product details or be redirected to the brand’s website. With how rampant change is, it does not take much to assume that those figures are much higher now. How does it shape the way we shop? It influences our purchasing decision process (especially with social media commerce these days). Shopping is all about the social experience. I cannot possibly list all the reasons why I, or we, love to shop. However, in essence, it is a lot about learning what the trend is, which brands and products we identify ourselves with and how we fit into society as a whole. We play a part in our social circles to share good recommendations, and vice versa, we would trust it when coming from reliable friends and sources. We discover brands that we would never hear of, and we can easily learn about them instantly. There is no better time to be shopping online than right now through social media or online shopping. More so, because we have to adapt and accept the norm of living through this digital age alongside the pandemic. With brands pivoting their ecommerce strategies to fit this current situation, shoppers are now being presented with more intentional visual content, which often leads to them to discover more about said product or service. The easy accessibility they provide to product reviews is definitely attractive to us shoppers, which is something that I sure can relate to. After all, that is the appeal of being a social media user! Here are 4 ways that social media is shaping our buying habits: 1. It grows our love for shopping – with convenience One of the overarching themes of how and why we shop nowadays, is convenience. If a shop has an online presence, we are more likely to buy from them because we can do so with convenience. To sit cosy at home browsing for discounts and sales, screenshot and save for later or pay with a click of a button, is the norm. We no longer find ourselves in crowded places in-store or waiting in a long line to make our payment. In a time where we’re advised to stay at home, “convenient” shopping is everything. Plus, we are always on our phones and they seldom leave our sides. Living in this era, where smartphones and connectivity is the expectation, mobile shoppers are highlighted as a growing segment. Statista estimated that by the end of 2021, 73% of e-commerce sales will take place on a mobile device. From online grocery shopping to buying a complete look through an Instagram post, we have plentiful choices to buy what we want with the click of a button. Social media shopping features of shoppable posts, product tags paired with swipe up links are in place to make our lives easier. 2. It becomes a source for product discovery Social media has influenced the way we like to discover new brands, places, products and so on. Many of us turn to social media or the internet for help in our search process. Did you know? 70% of shopping enthusiasts turn to instagram for product discovery. Admittedly, I have done that too, personally scouting the feeds and stories of people I follow for their favourite skin care products they recommend. When we are on social media, ideas and inspiration can be sparked by looking at our feeds or sponsored posts. Since our brains are hardwired for visual content, it is no wonder we respond well to social media content. Subsequently, it leads us into shopping, saving or sharing. 3. Our reliance on it for product research Similarly, social media has also changed the way we talk. We become more aware of products, brands and trends! People nowadays are more savvy and in the know of happening trends, through the power of social media. And so word of mouth goes a long way, Search Engine Watch wrote that 81% of consumers’ purchasing choices are influenced by their friends’ posts on social media. Nowadays, people have learnt to be more smart with their buying decision making. With more information readily available, we learn to research more thoroughly. With so many voices on social media, it has become our go-to for recommendations, specific information for product research and advice. As we stumble upon a product we think we like, we take into account different considerations, most of which are in the hands of past users or friends. Reviews matter, and people know it. “According to the Global Web Index, 42% of internet users look for information about products on social networks.” There is a trust factor with other users and friends. We want to hear about their experience with a brand or product firsthand before we decide on our next steps, and we’re likely to count on it. If a brand’s customer service is good, you’d hear about it in the form of positive ratings and reviews. On the other hand, the power of reviews over a poor experience could leave a brand’s image and in trouble. Here are some interesting data around reviews: 4. Social proof is a greater force for buying decisions Naturally as social beings, we like the feeling of belonging in a greater community. We gain a lot from what is shared online, from our peers and those we aspire to be. There is power and influence in word of mouth sharing. Gen Z and Millennials are more likely to be influenced,
How to Deliver Effective Virtual Training Over Zoom
Looking back in these past 9 months, we have delivered more virtual programs, online coaching, and virtual engagements than in our 20 years of business existence. What’s most interesting is that our customers who were previously skeptical about effectiveness of conducting online, have turned around. In fact, they are now our strong supporters, widely accepting the way forward to engage and up-skill people. I would say the industry have been propelled another 5 years into the future in terms of digital learning acceptance. Having gone through so many hours online (my Zoom report says I have been clocking an average of 8,000 minutes a month ), I would like to share several tips to run live online programs/meetings successfully as a host or lead facilitator. Since there are so many things we can talk about, in this post, we will focus on 3 powerful tips on logistical matters prep, lighting, music, etc. Here’s part 1 of How to Deliver Virtual Training/Meetings Effectively over Zoom (3 for 3 series: 3 Powerful Tips in 3 mins): 1. Lighting You’ll want to have three lights, preferably identical. Place one light directly in front of you, one at around 45-degrees to the left and one 45-degrees to the right. While yellow lights (3,000 Kelvin or 3K soft) gives a warm feel, LED white lights (5,000 – 6,000 Kelvin or 5K-6K daylight) is better overall for producing video-friendly color temperature. Make sure the lighting is placed from the top rather than direct, to reduce shadows. Also, put the lights behind the cameras to reduce having too much light into the camera lens. 2. Playing quality Music on Zoom Take note that Zoom has very powerful features to help deliver quality voice or music over the Internet. In order to have the best sound quality when playing music or video over zoom, especially if you are inputting a separate source via your phone or any sound card, there are few key things to keep in mind. 3. Use two Zoom accounts One as a host and another as a participant. There are 2 reasons for this: A. So that you can view what your audience is seeing and it helps you to know what’s going on without having to ask our participants eg. Can you see my shared screen? This gives you the ability to quickly fix things as a host and keeps you looking professional! B. If you log in via their separate account with your tablet, you can use this as your tactile whiteboard and have more accurate handwriting (use ppt, word, note-taking app like penultimate, etc). This allows you to quickly switch screens with your slides or other app windows that you are sharing with your host account. Of course, you can also use your main host account and connect a separate drawing tablet (eg. Wacom, Gaomon, Huion, XP, etc) and use it to annotate on your shared ppt or whiteboard too! But I find using the logging in separately with an iPad and Apple Pencil enables me to write most legibly and the written notes are stored ready to be reused again for a recap or sending as a post-session resource for my participants. The verdict I hope that what I have shared will help trainers and facilitators deliver more effective and engaging Virtual engagements. Be alive in your Passion!
Top 5 Work from Home Tips for Digital Marketers
Working from home can be awesome for some people, but it can also prove to be…challenging for others. Before the insanity of 2020 struck, some modern professionals thrived from the luxury of occasionally working from home. But now that all of us are stuck at home, which environment is actually beneficial for our productivity? Our home office or our actual physical office? While being in the office, your coworkers tend to be the biggest threat to your productivity. However, at home, I’ve often found that it’s easy to become your own worst enemy. When you’re not surrounded by the backdrop of your colleagues and your boss, the drive to accomplish everything can dwindle. (Especially when you’re working in your pajamas and have a severe bedhead.) That just means it’s up to you to motivate yourself and complete your tasks–like you would in your physical office. As such, here are some tips from me and my team to help you keep yourself accountable and productive. Get an early start and commit to doing more Not a morning person? I feel you. In fact, I’m pretty much dead before my first cup of coffee or tea. But I’ve definitely benefited from the simple act of waking up to kick off the workday. Start off your day right by productively diving into your to-do list the first thing in the morning. Even the simple act of getting a project started can be the key factor in making effective progress on tasks or campaigns. While you’re riding high on that productivity train, attempt to also overestimate the number of things you’ll get done in a day. Because at the end of the day, even if you come up short of your initial goal, you still would’ve gotten a solid list of tasks done. And that’s a special kind of gratification that no other acclaim can fill. Plan out your daily tasks and schedule Working from home, while similar in the schedule of a typical office job, often requires strong self-discipline and accountability. Now, that doesn’t mean that your entire day centers only around work––because it’s especially important to take breaks for a much-needed refresher in order to retain some semblance of your sanity––it just means that any non-work-related activities need to be scheduled for your own knowledge. Therefore, when you’re creating your schedule, be sure to pencil in other commitments (i.e. kids, marriage, sports, volunteering, etc.) in order to motivate yourself to get work done before or after these extraneous responsibilities. Once you’ve set a clear schedule, make it accessible and visible to your other colleagues through a shared calendar (it can be a simple iCal or Google Calendar). By maintaining a schedule, you and your coworkers are aware of when to schedule a meeting. I find this extremely helpful to one’s mental health because it’s hard to know when to stop working and when to start. When you employ a schedule, it’s easier to keep track of what you need to get done and when it needs to be completed. Utilize the resources at your disposal Technology is a wonderful thing at times, isn’t it? Especially when one lives in the midst of a global outbreak. Since most of us are stuck at home, why not spend this time setting up an independent work area for yourself? Invest in a Spotify Premium account (maybe listen to some hype music to psych yourself up), use tools like Trello or Slack, jump on video calls with your fellow WFH colleagues, and etcetera. This is a great way to stay-in-sync throughout the day whilst simultaneously keeping personal contact with others. Embrace shared cloud technology like Google Docs or marketing automation systems to help you get your job done. Attend as many virtual marketing events as possible If you’re like me, then you’re a big fan of self-improvement and skills development. If you’re not really into, I’d suggest attending at least one marketing summit to hone your marketing skills and knowledge. Leverage this time to attend virtual marketing events to understand more about what your target audience is going through and how their behaviors, attitudes, and psychology is changing due to current events. Harnessing all the information available is a surefire way to keep up with current trends, metrics, and analytics so that you can tailor your messaging to fit contextually. Check out some marketing events like Content Marketing World or Adobe Max. Most importantly…take breaks! While most of us generally understand the necessity of taking breaks, I cannot help but emphasize it more. Taking breaks can be extremely beneficial in boosting your productivity levels, but it is also crucial to your mental health, as it can prevent fatigue or burnout. But don’t just take my word for it. According to a research report by Stanford University, taking breaks and going on a walk can bring exceeding positive results for productivity and creativity. Some other practical ways you can take breaks is by implementing the Pomodoro Technique. It enforces productivity by driving 25 mins of intense productivity then staggering it with 5 minute breaks in-between. As more intervals of tasks increase, so does the amount of break time. You could also practice the ‘Pulse and Pause’ technique. The technique focuses on taking longer breaks after 90 minutes of productivity. During this break, you could have a healthy snack or watch some funny Youtube videos. A personal favorite of mine is to schedule a workout. Studies have shown that physical activity like running, yoga, Zumba, boxing, and etcetera is immensely benign for mental and physical health as well as brain function. The verdict While working from home certainly has its perks––zero long commutes and flexibility in schedule––it can lead to some fatigue as well, as the novelty of remote working dies down. However, this unprecedented time shall pass and you’ll be back in the office before you know it.
