Leadership and Coaching, excerpt from John C. Maxwell

Leadership is developed through continuous learning, effort, and personal growth. True leaders influence and inspire others by building trust and deep relationships, rather than relying on authority. They lead through their own experiences and dedication to improvement, motivating others to achieve shared goals. Leaders ignite the potential in others and support collective growth. 

 

The foundation of successful leadership is a commitment to self-improvement, reflection, and long-term planning. Leaders learn from both successes and failures, recognizing that growth takes time and persistence. Empower teams by fostering a warm, supportive environment where employees feel valued and motivated to excel are table stakes. Reflection is crucial for leaders, through evaluation of past decisions, it deepens professional relationships, adjusting priorities, and key to adapt new challenges. Understanding the purpose behind actions and attracting like-minded individuals who share common values strengthens the team and creates a strong foundation for collaboration.

 

Effective communication, empathy, and storytelling help leaders build trust and inspire their teams. By sharing both successes and failures openly, leaders create an atmosphere of transparency and mutual respect. Coaching is an integral part of leadership, using open-ended questions to foster dialogue and uncover deeper challenges. Staying curious and asking, "How can I help?" opens the door to genuine problem-solving and collaboration.

Leaders must also recognize the trade-offs in their decisions, understanding that every "yes" may mean a "no" elsewhere. Commitment to learning, fostering self-reliance, and supporting a culture of continuous growth ensures the team remains resilient and adaptable.

 

Building trust, empowering others, and fostering collective growth are more important than ever. Leaders who focus on inspiring and developing their teams create lasting impact and drive the success of the entire organization.

Intersection of Strategy and Leadership

A successful business strategy starts with effective leadership that creates cohesive narrative, appealing to an executive audience and broad-based constituencies. Developing a robust strategy is not merely about a plan but instead, sets a clear, purposeful vision that resonates throughout the organization and vibrates with stakeholders and "customers". Effective leaders recognize that strategy formulation and reinforcement with others.

 

A well-articulated strategy begins with clarity and simplicity. It requires rigorous due diligence, consolidated effort that incorporates diverse perspectives, and flexibility for continuous revisions. The initial phases is critical and includes identifying stakeholders, understanding dependencies, and framing the strategic position. These steps ensure that the right questions are asked, setting the direction that aligns with both organizational goals and stakeholder expectations.

 

Leaders must focus on defining the target customer and the broader market outlook, ensuring that decision-making criteria are clearly established. This approach allows for a top-level view that incorporates stakeholder and competitor perspectives, positioning the organization for success. However, the strategic plan should leave specific actions for the execution phase, keeping the focus on long-term goals.

 

The engine that propels strategy forward is sound leadership. It is about influencing people, fostering trust, delegating responsibilities, and building relationships that enhance decision-making. A leader's ability to communicate powerfully and clearly ensures that the strategic vision is understood and embraced across all levels of the organization. This approach varies from supervisory and dictatorial means, preventing conflicts and misunderstandings. Moreover, leadership is characterized by continuous self-improvement and a genuine care for the people within the organization. By prioritizing character and empathy, leaders not only inspire their teams but also drive the continuous improvement and resilience that are essential to sustaining a successful strategy.

 

Iconic brands such as Apple, Tesla, Netflix, and Starbucks demonstrate how effective leadership can drive strategic innovation and loyalty. Apple's strategy of fostering an ecosystem that seamlessly integrates innovative products, services, and applications has built unmatched consumer loyalty and redefines user experience. Tesla's focus on long-term goals, such as sustainable energy and electric vehicles, over short-term profits, and has revolutionized automotive along slide visionary space industry. Similarly, Netflix's transformation from a DVD rental service to a streaming giant, driven by strategic use of contextual viewer data, highlights how strategy pivots fueled by leadership can redefine entire industries. Starbucks' emphasis on premium products and creating a "third place" experience away from home and office showcases how aligning long-term strategic goals with customer-centric leadership can elevate a brand. 

 

These companies have mastered the art of aligning strategy goals with immediate impact and outcomes that ensure every decision made is a step toward achieving the broader vision. As a result, leaders can achieve organizational goals that foster continuous innovation, inspire clear and compelling roadmap, and cultivate a culture of trust. 

Data Management as the Catalyst for AI's Full Potential

In today's fast-paced digital landscape, the synergy between data management and artificial intelligence (AI) has become indispensable. The power of AI to revolutionize industries is undeniable, yet its success is directly tied to the quality and management of data. High-quality data is the bedrock upon which informed, impactful decision making, and as AI continues to advance, it resurrects the time-honored principles of comprehensive and effective data management.

 

The concept of data as a critical asset first gained traction in the 1980s, but the focus on data quality management birth its footing during that time. Over the decades, this focus has evolved, incorporating robust governance frameworks and compliance standards. However, the true awakening occurred when organizations began to recognize data as a living, dynamic asset, capable of driving genuine digital insights. This shift accelerated the creation of data-driven revenue streams but also positioned the chief data officers and evangelists as a central figure in strategic decision-making. The discovery of new business opportunities, fueled by data, has given organizations a competitive edge in an increasingly competitive market.

 

The complexity of data, both structured and unstructured, poses challenges that can significantly impact risk management. Standardized practices, or the lack thereof, play a crucial role in this arena, influencing how data is secured and how initiatives cross organizational boundaries. The advent of AI, alongside generative AI (Gen-AI) and machine learning (ML), marks a convergence of data management and AI technologies, ushering in a new era of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategy. Studies confirm that AI is not just a passing trend; it is here to stay, enhancing data analytics and decision-making processes in ways previously unimagined.

 

At the core of this transformation lies the principle of data consistency and continuous growth. To mitigate biases, it is imperative that outputs are self-checked against expansive data literacy standards, fostering collaboration and addressing ambiguities. While the term "big data" has been a longtime buzzword, the disciplines of data collection and cleansing are equally critical. Organizations that master data-based decision-making are propelled to new heights, driven by real-time insights and unprecedented speed.

 

Success in this domain is underpinned by a solid foundation, where Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) play a vital role in ensuring that target goals align with the outcomes of data-driven decision-making. The adage "what gets measured, gets managed" remains as relevant as ever. By analyzing trends and patterns, organizations can further contextualize data insights, enhancing both strategy and execution. A centerpiece to measuring success is consumer and customer experience. The synergy between data-centric management and AI empowers businesses produces enhanced consumer experiences which results delivering personalized services. This holistic approach ensures that consumers receive the right products and services at the right time, fostering a more engaging and satisfying relationship with the brand.

 

Ultimately, harnessing the value of data builds trust and accountability, bridging business boundaries and enhancing acumen. As AI continues to evolve, it is clear that the interplay between data management and AI is not just symbiotic but essential. This relationship is steering organizations toward a future where data, recognized as a vital asset, becomes powerful catalyst for innovation and sustainable growth.

Data-centric strategy building

A successful data strategy is anchored in effective data management and sustainable governance. The guiding principles must align with our overarching business strategy, be championed by committed stakeholders, and seamlessly integrate with our IT architecture and support systems. Clearly defining value-driven business cases and demonstrating ROI is critical to crafting a cohesive and impactful strategy. 

 

To ensure sustainability and adaptability in the face of evolving business needs and technological advancements, it is ideal to establish a data council and organization. This council should encompass a broad spectrum of roles, from steering committee members to data custodians. This approach will facilitate the planning, execution, and support of a continuous data management lifecycle.

 

Key components in building foundational standards for our data strategy include:

• Data Posture and Environment Mapping – Understanding the current landscape and readiness.
• Resource Allocation and Skills Competencies – Ensuring the right talent and capabilities are in place.
• SWOT Analysis – Defining and understanding competitive advantage and data quality.
• Tool and Capabilities Assessment – Evaluating our technological tools and capabilities.
• Regulatory and Security Requirements – Ensuring CSS compliance and robust security measures that align with privacy requirements.
• Risk Tolerance and Management – Defining acceptable risk levels and mitigation strategies.
• IT Architecture and Support – Integrating IT architecture with data analytics goals.
• Communication Strategy – Establishing clear and effective communication channels.
• Change Impact and Management – Managing the impact of changes, investment , and ensuring smooth transitions.

 

Sustainable data governance is the cornerstone of this strategy, enabling us to meet performance targets, oversee SLAs effectively, and adopt emerging technologies. Ultimately, this approach ensures that we can realize the full value of our data and foster a culture deeply ingrained in data-driven decision-making.

Leadership is the art of navigating shifts, building teams, and maximizing potential

Leadership is about influence and the ability to motivate others. It requires humility, selflessness, and a commitment to listening to and learning from others. In a world where change is constant, great leaders are those who adapt, inspire, and build up the people around them, ensuring lasting success for their teams, the organization, and society.

 

Today's fast-paced and ever-changing world, leadership demands intentionality and adaptability. Successful leaders understand that influence is not static but requires continuous evolution, accounts for changes and trends, and it is earned. A leaders ability to pivot is not merely about responding to variables but anticipating, drawing from past experiences, and leveraging expertise to navigate dynamic challenges. Remaining true to core principles and refraining from conforming to mere compliance purposes is essential to adaptation.

 

True leaders understand that they cannot climb the ladder alone and accepts there success is coupled with their organization. They must orchestrate collective effort and foster an environment where mutual support thrives. Achieving personal and organizational goals requires strategic thinking, market analysis, and a clear vision. Moreover, it also demands patience and openness to feedback. Leaders who seek internal motivation, especially during challenging times, are more likely to inspire their teams to exceed expectations.

 

Leaders make it a point to understand change. Effective strategies must address key questions including: do you care for your team, do you deserve their trust, and can you help them succeed. Leaders are not all alike, and the style of leadership they employ should be tailored to the needs of their teams. Transformational leadership begins with personal growth and extending that approach to others in today's dynamic environment. It is not focus on personal gain over the well-being of their team which results in lack of trust and loyalty of their followers. 

 

The right mindset and adaptive approach makes a respectable leader. Leaving the comfort zone is a critical aspect of leadership. Leaders must navigate through different zones- coasting, comfort, challenge, and creative, according to John Maxwell's Leadershift. True growth happens in the challenge and creative zones, where innovation and the willingness to embrace mistakes are paramount. Leaders are lifelong learners, open to change, and committed to building other leaders ensure the sustainability and success of their organizations.

 

Leadership also thrives in the context of teamwork. According to Simon Sinek's Leaders Eat Last, Leadership is not about quick fixes but can be mistaken in today's superficial interactions including liking a post or message without actionable result or output. Instead, it is about building trust, inspiring others, and prioritizing the organization and communities' well-being. Compassionate leaders who build teams based on mutual respect and shared goals create environments where collaboration, not rivalry, thrives.

Maximizing leadership potential involves understanding that leadership is not about position but about influence. John Maxwell's 5 Levels of Leadership, identifies the journey through five progressive stages of leadership - Position, Permission, Production, People Development, and finally Pinnacle. At the foundational level, leadership may begin with a title, but true leadership emerges when leaders build genuine relationships and care about their teams. Leaders evolution of these stages evolve from merely managing tasks to developing and empowering others.

 

The pinnacle stage of leadership exemplifies leaving a legacy, extends beyond their industry, which is seen in less 1% of all leaders. These leaders have mastered people development, drives organizational success, and exhibits broader landscape of influence. An important contributor is forming an inner circle of trusted advisors who can provide honest feedback, as failure at this level can have far-reaching consequences. Succession planning and commitment is a crucial aspect of pinnacle leadership. As a change agent, leaders ensure organization's success continues long after they have moved on. Leadership, at its core, is orchestration of vision and mission, starting with the end in mind, and embodying everyone that surrounds them.

 

An interpretative summary of three books on leadership as cited above.

Recipient of the 2024 Global Leadership Award

Leaders exemplify the pinnacle of personal branding and legendary leadership. True leaders strive for excellence, embracing vulnerability and dedicating themselves wholeheartedly to every endeavor. It is a compassion to share knowledge, experiences, and strive for truth to foster growth and fulfillment within their teams.

 

As a CISO, maintaining strong relationships with all Business Line Officers is vital. Clear communication about business risks and organizational impacts is essential to highlight the importance of cybersecurity. Successful business-technology initiatives rely on effective engagement with the C-suite, prioritizing the well-being of associates, alignment with customer needs, and addressing motives of business partners both internal and external relationships. 

 

A servant leadership style helps build trust and understanding, ensuring that all discussions reflect these core principles. As a leader, emphasizing the "why" behind ideas and strategies and authentically aligning company principles with personal values. Great leaders often draw inspiration from influential Thought Leaders. One such adage I take to heart is, "You can never be overprepared," underscores the importance of thorough preparation and readiness for any challenge. Moreover, feedback, and adaptability are key to successful communication with teams, senior leadership, and the board.

 

Endorsing a global brand involves active participation in conferences and forums, focusing on leadership, transformation, and governance. The Global Leadership Award is a testament to the value of innovation, collaboration, and a winning mindset. 

Thank you, HMG Strategy!

Paradigm shifts to 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

Habits of principle-centered leaders entail proactive mindset, long-term goals, clear priority, winning together, seeking to understand, and fostering synergy. 

·      Paradigm shifts unfold gradually, becoming evident as our perceptions evolve. A proactive approach and taking responsibility for our actions rather than attributing blame to others or external factors is essential. This mindset not only empowers us but also sets a positive example our all who we interact with.

·      It's essential to understand the circle of influence. This concept includes the areas that concern us most, such as finances or weather, and the things we can change. Acknowledging that our control diminishes as the circle narrows helps us focus our energy on what we can truly influence. How we react to challenges within our circle is key to addressing them.

·      The power of proper planning is essential for the execution of any worthwhile goal. Taking the time to visualize outcomes and avoid rushing into actions ensures that we begin with a clear end in mind. A well-defined goal and mission statement provide the foundation for our actions, guiding us toward success.

·      Spending time achieving priorities, rather than scheduling them, is pivotal. By focusing on what is important rather than what is urgent, we ensure that our efforts align with our strategic objectives. This model of prioritization fosters a more effective and fulfilling environment.

·      Adopting a win-win mindset creates positive relationships that last. There is no need to manipulate or pressure others when we approach situations with sensitivity and patience. Win-win mentality encourages mutual benefits and strengthens long-term collaborations.

·      Investing in others' emotional capital by keeping promises and expressing empathy is crucial. Hurting others deprecates their capital and damages trust and rapport. Personal integrity and loyalty are fundamental, and accountability strengthens these values. By showing genuine interest and respect, we build strong, reliable relationships.

·      Respectful and open communication drives synergy. Taking responsibility and valuing others' contributions fosters an environment where collaboration thrives. Demonstrating pure motives on one another becomes the cornerstone of mature, effective teamwork, and leads to greater collective achievements.

In conclusion, by embracing these principles fosters personal and professional growth that navigate paradigm shifts effectively, build resilient and synergy that drive long-term success.

 

Our digital infrastructure is under attack, hashtag RANSOMWARE

The ever-evolving ransomware threat poses significant risks to global economy, health, and safety. Financially motivated, these cyberattacks incapacitate organizational infrastructure, halting essential services with repercussions of epic proportions. As highlighted in my previous article, the threat extends to endangering patient care, disruption widespread mobility and travel, and undermining overall societal functionality and norms.

 

Ransomware Trends

The State of Ransomware 2024 report by Sohpos revealed a 6% decline in rate of ransomware attacks this from previous 2 year however, targets are not bias to organizational size since cyberattacks are increasing with sophistication and funding. The government sector remains the most targeted for ransomware attacks, experiencing the highest ransom demands and payments. The report indicate that the critical nature of government data and services makes these organizations prime targets for cybercriminals. Large enterprises, particularly those with revenues exceeding $5 billion, face the highest ransom demands and are more likely to pay above the initial demand. This trend underscores the significant financial impact of ransomware on large organizations. Small to medium enterprises (SMEs), particularly those with revenues between $50 million and $250 million, have shown notable resilience. They have managed to negotiate lower ransom payments and increasingly rely on backups for data recovery, demonstrating effective strategies to mitigate ransomware threats. 

 

Root Causes

Significant number of ransomware attacks originated from phishing emails and social engineering attacks. These tactics sought to exploit human tendencies or behaviors by tricking employees into clicking malicious links or downloading infected attachments. This attack vector is followed closely by unpatched software vulnerabilities that exploit weaknesses and quickly pivot to gain unauthorized access to systems and lateral movement, hoping from one system to another to gain elevated access. In addition to deploying ransomware, cybercriminals exploit credentials and executive brute force attacks. The absence of regular security awareness training results in employees vulnerable to recognizing and responding to threats. 

 

Ransom Demand and Payment

The decision to pay a ransom demand lies with the organization, its executives, and business goals. While victimized organizations aim to minimize financial losses and quickly restore operations, adversaries seek to extort as much money as possible in a short timeframe. Cybercriminals gather intelligence about their target organization, tailoring their demands on their understanding of the organizational revenue and cyber insurance limits. Sopho's study revealed about 24% of organizations that chose to pay the ransom match the demand while 44% paid less, and 31% paid more. While the incidence of lower ransom demands has declined, high payments have soared, indicating that larger ransom amount are becoming the new norm. Moreover, the largest organizations sampled was unable (or less likely) to lower the size of the ramson payment. Approximately one-quarter of the payments made were by insurance providers, another one-quarter by incident responder specialist, and nearly half were made by the organization and organization's legal firm.

 

Data Recovery 

Another spectrum of a ransomware response is recovery cost. Aside from the payment, organizational cost associated with mean time to recover has grown nearly $1 Millions dollars from pervious year totaling about $1.8 Million. According to Sopho's the upward trend was seen with lower or mid-revenue segments ($250-$500 Million in revenue). Data recovery timing is closely linked to the complexity of the ransomware. As a result, recovery times have steadily increased. Conversely, organizations with encrypted architectures take twice as long to recover. This underscores that compromised backups take significantly longer to restore compared to unaffected backups.

 

Security – The Call To Act

·      Ensuring timely updates and patches can help mitigate this risk

·      Strong passwords and multi-factor authentication mechanisms significantly reduces risks

·      Security-conscious workforce through continuous education and training is vital safeguards 

·      Empowering employees as first line of defense against attacks elevates overall security

·      Regular backups increase data recovery and recovery times

·      Documented and regularly updated comprehensive incident response plans is crucial for mitigating the impact

·      Security layers particularly EDR/XDR enhances protection levels

·      Effective negotiation strategies can drive reduction in payments

The flight against ransomware is far from over, but with preparedness and vigilance, organizations can turn tide in protecting our digital infrastructure, information privacy, and continuity of services. 

Cybersecurity breaches has taken a foothold of the healthcare industry in 2024

In 2024, the healthcare sector has faced significant cybersecurity breaches leading to data exposures, operational disruptions, and financial losses. Notable breaches at Ascension, Kaiser, and ChangeHealth resulted from ransomware attacks and improper code implementations. Common causes include phishing, unpatched vulnerabilities, and misconfigured or improperly handled sensitive data.

 

The impact extends widely, affecting operational continuity, partner relationships, and consumer services. The operational disruption caused a loss of access to critical systems, including the electronic medical record (EMR) system and patient information for over 110 million individuals. Financial losses accumulate due to breach response and investigation costs, increased cyber insurance premiums, and ongoing legal fees from 2024 breaches. Additionally, reporting to the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) introduces legal implications and extensive consequences. These issues irreversibly affect patient Protected Health Information (PHI) and erode customer trust.

 

Trending healthcare cyber incidents

• Ransomware and RaaS: Attackers leverage these models to launch campaigns more easily
• AI and Machine Learning: Attackers use these technologies to enhance attack effectiveness
• Nation-State Attacks: Increased geopolitical tensions lead to more state-sponsored attacks on healthcare infrastructure

Cost of breaches are on the rise

• The average cost has risen to approximately $10.10 million per breach, higher than in other industries due to the sensitive nature of healthcare data
• Contributing factors include detection, response, legal fees, regulatory fines, and business losses

Severity of impact

• Organizations: Experience operational disruptions, financial losses, and long-term reputational damage
• Customers: Face exposure to sensitive personal and health information, leading to potential identity theft and financial fraud
• Humans: Suffer psychological stress and loss of trust in healthcare providers

Future trends

• Increased Regulatory Scrutiny: Stricter regulations and higher fines for non-compliance with data protection laws
• Zero Trust Architecture: More organizations will adopt this model to enhance security
• Cyber Resilience: Emphasis on preventing breaches and ensuring quick recovery and continuity of operations

 

These catastrophic events have sparked key learning lessons: 

• Importance of well-defined incident response plans and protocols
• Reliance on robust backup systems
• Regular employee training on recognizing phishing and social engineering attacks
• Comprehensive cybersecurity measures and regular security audits
• Rigorous vetting of third-party tools and strict third-party data sharing policies
• Regular privacy audits to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities
• Implementation of advanced threat detection systems and regular security assessments
• Regular privacy impact assessments

 

Cybersecurity best practices is tables take for all organizations. 

• Detection: Implement advanced threat detection systems and continuous monitoring
• Prevention: Regularly update and patch systems, conduct employee training, and enforce strong access controls
• Mitigation: Develop and test incident response plans, maintain regular backups, and ensure quick isolation of affected systems
• Recovery: Establish clear recovery plans, including communication strategies and post-incident reviews to improve future responses

 

Healthcare organizations can enhance protection for themselves and their patients by understanding and pivoting security strategies towards emerging trends and implementing cybersecurity best practices.