Debbie Laskey's Blog: HOLIDAY LEADERSHIP SERIES

With the arrival of the holiday season, it's time for the memorable end-of-the-year advertising campaigns and familiar music to hit the airwaves; our TV's, radios, and computer/tablet/smartphone screens will be bombarded by reminders of the season. Since I've been honored to share several inspiring series on my blog over the last year including my #FallBacktoReadingSeries, #SpringLeadershipSeries, and #OlympicsLeadershipSeries, I've decided to end the year with my #HolidayLeadershipSeries.

I've asked 10 thought leaders to chime in and share some of their holiday thoughts as they pertain to leadership and marketing specifically during the holiday season. Enjoy, and happy holidays!

And now, for today's post, I'd like to introduce Erika Andersen. I've had the pleasure of knowing Erika for many years, and she first appeared in a Q&A on my blog in 2011. She is the founding partner of Proteus, where she and her colleagues support leaders at all levels to get ready and stay ready to meet the future. Erika advises senior executives and also shares her insights through her books, speaking engagements, and social media. In addition to her latest book, Change from the Inside Out, she is the author of four previous best-selling books: Be Bad First, Leading So People Will Follow, Being Strategic, and Growing Great Employees. Erika is also a popular leadership blogger at Forbes.com, and the creator and host of the Proteus Leader Show podcast.

QUESTION: What BRAND or PRODUCT is the most memorable during the holiday season?

ERIKA ANDERSEN: For me, Christmas trees have the most positive associations. My parents were not religious (my Mom, in fact, was a confirmed atheist), but they loved Christmas, and we always went all in. For us, it was a time of joy, hope, gratitude, and for the sharing of love through gifts (never lavish, always meaningful), food, and time together.

Finding, bringing home, and decorating our Christmas tree was the start of the season. When we were kids, lots of the tree decorations were homemade: strings of popcorn and cranberries; paper loops glued together into chains; clumsy, sweet ornaments we made at school.

Even now, when our end-of-year holidays are spent in Spain with a man-made (but still very realistic!) Christmas tree, I still have ornaments that were my Mom’s as a child, and these now 100-year-old delicate glass baubles are a wonderful reminder of her.

QUESTION: What is your favorite holiday ADVERTISEMENT?

ERIKA ANDERSEN: I love simple, classic holiday ads. Perhaps, my favorite Christmas ad of all time is the Hershey's Kiss "Jingle Bell" ad. It’s such a wonderful example of promoting a product in a timeless, clever, celebratory way. I understand that Hershey's has been using this ad since 1989. Hard to imagine how anyone could dislike it because it embodies joy without incorporating anything controversial or divisive.

QUESTION: What is your favorite piece of music or SONG during the holiday season?

ERIKA ANDERSEN: Wow, this is a hard one. I adore Christmas music – we have a rule in our house that I can't start playing Christmas music till after Thanksgiving – otherwise it’s overkill for my husband!

However, when I read this question, the first song that popped into my head was "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," the Frank Sinatra version. It always brings tears to my eyes. It really captures, for me, the hopeful, loving spirit of the season.

The Internet just informed me that it was written for Judy Garland in her 1944 movie, "Meet Me in St. Louis," and has since been recorded by at least 65 different artists.

QUESTION: Whose PERSONAL BRAND stands out during the holidays, and why? (Think outside the box and do not share any religious choices.)

ERIKA ANDERSEN: Nat King Cole. Though he was well-known for many, many non-Christmas hits ("Embraceable You" is one of my favorites), for me, the clarity and warmth of his voice are the essence of the season. In fact, my Mom always used to put him on the stereo when we were decorating the tree. His album, "The Joy of Christmas" is still one of the best-selling Christmas albums. To me, he always sounded like he was thinking about how wonderful the holiday season can be, and encouraging us to experience it with him.

QUESTION: And lastly, since this is a leadership series, what is your favorite LEADERSHIP QUOTE?

ERIKA ANDERSEN: As you know, Debbie, I have roughly a zillion favorite leadership quotes and can usually offer one that's appropriate for almost any circumstance. So, here's one that seems perfect for the holiday season from Brené Brown: "It’s not joy that makes us grateful, it's gratitude that makes us joyful."

Debbie Laskey's Blog

Monday, November 4, 2024

HOLIDAY LEADERSHIP SERIES – Featuring Erika Andersen

SHARE THIS: It’s not joy that makes us grateful, it's gratitude that makes us joyful. ~Brené Brown via @ErikaAndersen #HolidayLeadershipSeries #DebbieLaskeysBlog

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