Jeff E Kirby

Those in need are usually the last ones to ask for help. Look around. Be aware of changes of those you work with, are friends with, and truly know. The signs aren’t always obvious. Everyone needs help at some point in their lives. Be there for them. Be a leader and show emotion. Show empathy. Show you care. Lend an ear. Leadership isn’t about being boss. It’s about being there to guide, improve, console, promote happiness, listen. Leadership isn’t being better than someone else. It’s making that other person better than yourself. Be a leader, not a boss.

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I told you in the words of Dr. Suess last week that a podcast storm was brewing when the first episode in an 8-part series dropped that I had the opportunity to be a part of. Guess what? Episode 2 dropped yesterday! 😮 Traci Austin and I talk about how coaching is such an important aspect of any successful leader and how it's ok and beneficial for leaders to be coached too. We also talk about "head trash". Never heard of that before, that's ok. Give the podcast a listen. 😁 Please give it a listen and leave your feedback in the comments. LET'S GO! https://lnkd.in/gBUtKEMu #peoplestrategypodcast #coachingmatters #leadershipgrowth

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Washington DC is moving with new requirements for healthcare IT and Cyber Security. Here is an analysis of 2 major announcements in the last 2 months of 2024. Stay tuned! The rate of announcements accelerates into what looks to be a rapid-fire velocity, we will continue to digest them for you into easy to understand news letters and tactics to turn these into a significant opportunity.

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Sending prayers🙏 to all those impacted by the CA fires. We have family and friends there, several of whom were evacuated and one is now just 7 miles from the fires. If you're in the area and have yet to be evacuated take the following three precautions ahead of time: 1. Take videos of EVERYTHING inside and outside your house (open cabinets, closets, sheds, etc). This way if something happens you'll have proof of all your belongings. 2. Make an Evac pack of your most important papers, meds, animal supplies, blankets, clothes, water, canned food, can opener, flashlight, batteries, chargers, etc, so you're ready ahead of time, for a quick exit. 3. Lastly, if you can smell smoke, wear a mask to help prevent fumes from entering you airways. Breathing in smoke can cause untold health issues. Stay Safe!! #besafe #CaFire #hookupwithrealestate

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There are few publicly available sources of information on retail loss. For many years, the National Retail Security Survey (NRSS) has been the primary source and it has been invaluable in helping the public understand the challenges retailers face in maintaining safety and security in their stores. For the past three years, the Loss Prevention Research Council (LPRC) has compiled a database of shrink, incidents, and security measures as part of its American Retail Crime, Shrink, and Security (ARCSS) initiative. #LPRC https://lnkd.in/gggqTSZS

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Story time and a solid reminder of one of the earliest lessons in my career. My son received, through his job, two free tickets to the local amusement park (Six Flags – Fiesta Texas). He was excited to go and asked me if I would join him. I jumped at the chance as I remembered growing up how much I loved rollercoasters.  In my younger days, I would climb onboard and wish that I never had to get off. I could not wait to feel the excitement and the energy of riding the many coasters they had. When we arrived at the park, my son asked me how we wanted to go about doing things. Mind you, I am a detailed planner. When I take vacations with my wife and family, I know everywhere we are going, places we are going to eat, where we are going to rest our heads long before we set out on the trip. This time, there was no prior homework. I responded by saying we would take it by ear. The park was not crowded, and I did not feel a plan was needed. I could not have been more wrong!! My first problem, I forgot I was not as young as I used to be and did not expect to feel the way I was about to. We immediately went on two coasters within the first 20 minutes. The way I felt after the first two, I knew it was going to be a hard day. Within the first 90 minutes, we had gone on four rollercoasters and one vastly different spinning-type contraption. He then decided he was hungry and wanted to eat. Honestly, I did not feel the same as him but was glad I had a chance to take a break. Thirty minutes later, we would start up again. Two more rollercoasters, including one where the car freely spun in place while the car went throughout the track.  WHO DESIGNS AND BUILDS THESE DEVILISH MONSTROSITIES!! About three hours in, I gave up. I could not do it anymore and started feeling so sick we had to leave the park.  I was not the same person I was 30 years prior. However, looking back on it, I know my mistake…and it was one of the first leadership lessons I had in my career. Fail to plan, plan to fail. We can rush through our work getting the most we can done, or we can take a few moments it takes to plan and approach our work in the most efficient and productive way. Taking the time to understand which items are most important and setting forth in a direction that allows you to accomplish key activities is paramount to success. How much more could I have done that day with my son had I just remembered this valuable lesson? I talked about this with my son who took it as an opportunity to then ask, “So when are we going again??” Soon, son. Soon. Once I can plan it out (and recover from the last one).

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Leadership Quote of the Day 557 What do your people hear when you give directions - stop or go? Bobby Herrera The Gift of Struggle If most of your directives are stop it means you've either not adequately shared what success looks like or are concerned about your people outstripping you. If your team shares the same mission, understnds what success looks like and you care more about that than you being the winner, you're going to be saying "Go, go, go" the vast majority of the time. Background I have shelves of management and leadership books - most of which I’ve read. But all too often I look at a book and realize I’ve ignored or forgotten its lessons. I’ve tried higes - they have all helped but not enough. So I decided this year to again post a quote a day here. Basically I’m using my LinkedIn community to hold me accountable, so thanks all. The quotes won’t necessarily be the most powerful or my favorite, just one that jumped out at me when reviewing that book. Bobby Herrera #leadership

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Nov 6: Wake up to friends and family receiving text messages indicating BY NAME they have been selected to pick cotton at the nearest plantation with instructions on when/where to go to report. Now, KKK flyers are being distributed in surrounding neighborhoods in a community that I call home. By the way, texts and flyers are a cowardly move. Show your face. I'm posting here because it's important to understand the climate in which some of us are living in personally. Because it's imperative to be cognizant of the need for organizational environments to push the agenda of inclusion now more than ever. Together, we can eradicate this foolery by standing for inclusive workplaces. Ensuring diverse work environments and promoting tolerance in the workplace allows people of diverse backgrounds to work, connect and relate to others they may not come into contact with in their communities. We have an opportunity to grow our hearts bigger just by going to work. Be a part of the bigger picture. #inclusivity #weallbelong #uplift #corporatediversity https://lnkd.in/gatU4myn

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📖 🚨 Adam's Book Club Alert 🚨 📖 On my flight out to TribalNet this year, I read Smart Brevity by Jim VandeHei, Roy Schwartz, and Mike Allen. These gentlemen co-created POLITICO and Axios. They may know what they're talking about. The Coaching for Leaders podcast by Dave Stachowiak did an episode on this book; which led me to buy the book. The episode spoke to me because throughout my career I've been told I write good emails with great information; however, the majority of who my emails are intended for don't read the entire email regardless of how much great information is in it because: TL;DR (too long, didn't read). Being cognizant of this, I'm always on the look out for ways to improve my writing to make it shorter and to the point. This is where Smart Brevity comes in. This book gives you very easy ideas to follow to get your message across and to ensure it gets read. One easy suggestion is to use bullet points to get your key points across instead of using multiple paragraphs. Bullet points forces the writer to be clear, concise, and short which makes the points easier to absorb. In today's communication age, emojis are everywhere. Smart Brevity gives the suggestion to use these in emails to help grab attention and how not to overuse them. It's an interesting thought because prior to their argument for using them, I thought emojis have no place in business communication. Now I'm open to them and finding smart ways to use them. An idea I took from the podcast that was talked about in this book, and has been well received within the IT Department at Potawatomi Casino Hotel, is a weekly email that I send out that contains no more than 5 things the department should be aware of that is either happening for the current week or will be coming up. It's another way to share the information top-down, so everyone is on the same page. (This weekly email's name may or may not be influenced by a certain custard/burger spot in the Milwaukee area. Bonus points to anyone in the department who can figure it out.) My wife calls me a slow reader (I argue with her all the time that I am not); regardless, this book took the flight from Milwaukee to Las Vegas for me to read. To me, that is a quick read. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who is looking to hone their writing and communication skills regardless of the industry you work in.

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Mental Health, Suicide, and the Workplace: A Call for Awareness and Action Years ago, I had an exceptional employee—skilled, dependable, and consistently praised. I felt proud when he received his recent promotion. Shortly after, I noticed he seemed distant and down. I asked if he was okay. He hesitated and then said he had to go. I regret not stopping him or following up. Days later, he took his own life. This tragedy has haunted me and driven me to advocate for mental health awareness. We quickly grab a band-aid for physical wounds but neglect mental ones. When someone hurts our pride or a toxic boss makes work unbearable, we often do nothing. Alarming Statistics 25-30% global increase in anxiety and depression since 2020. 15-20% rise in workplace stress-related disorders. Rising Suicide Rates: Over 700,000 people die by suicide each year (WHO). Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15-29-year-olds globally. Impact of COVID-19: Feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and depression. Most Affected? Men: Middle-aged and older, veterans, rural men. Women: Young adults and middle-aged women facing life transitions. LGBTQ+ individuals and youth often experience social pressures. Various racial and ethnic groups—including White Americans, Native Americans and Alaska Natives, African Americans, Asian Americans, and Hispanic and Latino populations—experience challenges related to mental health and suicide risk. Dealing with a Toxic Workplace: Acknowledge the situation: It's not your fault. Self-Care: Establish healthy routines and set boundaries. Document Everything: Keep records of toxic interactions. Seek Support: Talk to trusted colleagues or use EAP. Communicate Professionally: Address issues if it is safe to do so. Involve HR: Report concerns following company procedures. Build a Support Network: Network professionally and lean on friends. Get Help: Consult mental health professionals. Plan: Update your resume and explore new opportunities. Know When to Move On: Set timelines and exit gracefully. Supporting Those Struggling: Recognize the Signs: Look for mood changes and isolation. Initiate a Conversation: Express concern. Listen Actively: Validate their feelings without interrupting. Please don't make it about you. Encourage Help: Assist in finding resources. Avoid Minimizing Feelings: Show empathy. Don't say, "Everyone goes through that". Ensure Immediate Safety: Don't leave them alone if at risk. Stay Connected: Maintain regular contact. Emergency Support Resources: USA: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Dial 988 (Available 24/7) Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 India: AASRA: +91-9820466726 (24/7 Helpline) UK: Call 116 123 (Free, Available 24/7) Final Thoughts Prioritize mental health just as we do physical health. Support each other, help someone struggling, and don't hesitate to ask. References: World Health Organization (WHO) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) The Lancet Medical Journal #EndTheStigma

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Interesting article highlighting the importance of the CISO position and why organizations should value the insight and knowledge qualified CISOs provide.

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Quite interesting how Southwest still using Windows 3.1.

Good stuff from Tamra. However, many of us might need a bit of a primer on what drives mortgage interest rates in order to understand this stuff. Much of Tamra's audience does not of course but if you are a person that asks, "why?" a lot like me you'll want to know more. This article from Marketplace is a good one (the data is old, but the concepts are there, and you can plug those three things into your thinking): https://lnkd.in/gyGGXPSt

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📢 Join the Back to School 2024 Foster Kids Computer Drive! Want to help foster kids, recycle your old laptops, and get a tax deduction? Here’s how you can make a difference: Every year, we collect and restore laptops to provide to foster kids, kinship families, and foster families in Colorado. These laptops are distributed through our foster care partner organizations, which are registered 501(c)(3) charities. You'll receive a tax deduction letter for your donation! How You Can Help: 💻 Donate your old laptops 🏢 Corporations and individuals are welcome 📧 Contact me on LinkedIn or email [email protected] for submission details Let's work together to ensure foster kids have a great school year! Your support can make a huge impact. 🌟 #FosterCare #BackToSchool #Donate #CorporateSocialResponsibility #NonProfit #TaxDeduction #MakeADifference #CommunitySupport #KidsInNeed #EducationForAll #Leadership #Motivation #Productivity #Innovation #Career #Entrepreneurship #Business #Marketing #Sales #Technology #Finance #Startups #Management #Strategy #Networking #Success #Workplace #HR #Hiring #JobSearch #PersonalDevelopment #Skills #Wellbeing #Diversity #Inspiration

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Respecting and handling ALL travelers' belongings with care, especially those with specialized equipment, should be a basic expectation from airlines. One additional consequence of this that everyone should know and understand is that the equipment that a disability athlete travels with is custom-fitted. Truly not anything that is easily replaced at the nearest sporting goods store. These ongoing mishandlings have significant consequences for disability athletes who rely on their gear to perform in their sport. Losing its use affects their performance and the competitive nature of their teams almost as much (or possibly more if they are sidelined completely?) as their original disability. It’s the definition of unfairness and disrespect. Airlines definitely need to improve their luggage/freight handling procedures and training to ensure they are accommodating and respectful to ALL passengers and their possessions, including those with disabilities. It’s not just Southwest Airlines, ever one needs to do better. Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Northwest Airlines, United Airlines, who am I leaving out?

Many law enforcement leaders tell us they are stuck in a cycle of high-touch processes that are slow, error-prone, and leave staff spending too much time on administrative tasks. NextRequest software by CivicPlus is a purpose-built solution to streamline law enforcement agencies' public records request process. Reduce paperwork, boost efficiency, and build resident trust. Want to learn more? We're hosting an on-demand webinar to share best practices for managing public records requests in law enforcement. Watch now and see how NextRequest can help your agency. #LocalGovernment #FOIA #ResidentServices #TrustAndTransparency https://lnkd.in/extCrB-p

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Discipline. Action. Results. Leadership. Would you trust a leader without discipline? No way. Great leaders deliver results, overcome roadblocks, and inspire through action. Shoutout to Rhonda for breaking barriers in racing and empowering underprivileged communities with education and job placement. Leadership is about performance not just finishing the race, but paving the way for others. Let’s lead with purpose and action!

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